Get help today with your criminal injuries claim
What is the CICA?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was set up to provide compensation to blameless victims of crime.
Funded by the Ministry of Justice using taxpayers’ money, the CICA can award settlements from £1,000 up to a maximum of £500,000.
The Government-run scheme aims to help people who have been mentally or physically injured as the result of a crime of violence.
An application can often be successfully made even if no-one has been identified, charged or convicted for the crime.
Claims can only be made for incidents occurring in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme.
The amount of compensation is based on a tariff system and relates directly to the nature of the different physical or psychological injuries suffered or the extent of the abuse.
The amount awarded depends on the severity of the injuries or abuse – with payments ranging from £1,000 to £500,000.
| Examples of the most common serious assault awards received include: | |
|---|---|
| £4,600 | Depressed fracture of the skull requiring an operation |
| £6,200 | Fracture to the jaw requiring surgery with a continuing significant disability |
| £11,000 | Strained neck or whiplash, seriously disabling or permanent |
| £11,000 | Nose total loss of smell or taste |
| £11,000 | Severe burns |
| £16,500 | Minor Brain Injury lasting 6 months – 2 years |
| £22,000 | Significant brain injury lasting 2 years or more |
| £22,000 | Loss of sight (One eye) |
| £33,000 | Loss of sight (One eye, where the sight in the uninjured eye cannot be corrected better than 6/36) |
| Moderate brain damage (Some dependence on others, intellectual deficit, personality change, ability to work reduced, some effect on the sesnes) |
|
| £27,000 | – Slight |
| £55,000 | – Moderate |
| £82,000 | – Significant |
| £110,000 | Loss of sight (Both eyes) |
| £110,000 | Moderately severe brain damage |
| £175,000 | Very serious brain injury (Severe physical limitation, significant effect on the senses with little insight or significant reduction in life expectancy. Little or no meaningful response to the environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and need for full-time or all day care and some night nursing care.) |
| £250,000 | Very serious brain injury (No useful physical movement, significant effect on the senses and with some degree of insight. Little or no meaningful response to the environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and need for full-time nursing care.) |
| The pattern of repetitive incidents, non-consensual penile penetration over a period of time. | |
| £6,500 | Up to 3 years |
| £22,000 | Over 3 years |
| Physical, Domestic and Sexual Abuse | |
| £1,000 | Minor sexual assault, non-penetrative sexual physical act(s) over clothing |
| £2,000 | Serious sexual assault, non-penetrative sexual physical act(s) under clothing |
| £3,300 | Severe sexual assault, non-penile penetrative or oral-genital act(s) |
| £5,500 | A pattern of repetitive violence resulting in minor disfigurement |
| £8,200 | A persistent pattern of severe abuse lasting more than 3 years |
| £22,000 | Resulting in serious internal bodily injuries |
| Psychological Injuries as a result of Sexual Abuse | |
| £6,200 | Lasting 2 years or more up to 5 years |
| £13,500 | Lasting 5 years or more but not permanent |
| £19,000 | Permanent and moderately disabling |
| £27,000 | Permanent and seriously disabling |
There are two main types of CICA claims:
- Assault claims: You can pursue a case for any incident which causes physical or psychological injury.
- Sexual and domestic abuse: This can be any instances of sexual or physical abuse or assault – as long as the allegations have been reported to the police.
You may be able to make claim through the CICA if you were:
- The victim of a crime of violence, or sexual and domestic abuse.
- Injured when taking reasonable steps to stop or prevent a crime.
- Psychologically damaged by seeing a loved one be a victim of violent crime.
For a CICA claim to be lodged successfully, you must:
- Report the incident to the police.
- Obtain a police reference number.
- Co-operate fully with any investigation.
Victims of crime can be awarded a settlement for:
- Injury payments
- Special expenses including cost of care and adaptation of accommodation
- Loss of earnings
- Fatal payments including bereavement payments, child dependency payments, family dependency payments and funeral costs.
Relatives may be able to make a CICA claim if a loved one dies as a result of a violent crime, or if they sustain a mental injury as a result of witnessing a loved one sustain a serious injury as a result of a crime of violence.
The people who can claim are:
- A spouse or partner
- Natural or adoptive parents
- A parental guardian
- A victim’s children or step-children
An application for compensation may be refused or reduced due to any of the following:
- Your injuries not being inluded in the CICA’s tariff of injuries.
- Your conduct before, during or after the incident in which you were injured.
- Having an unspent criminal conviction on your record.
- If you failed to co-operate as far as reasonably practicable with the police investigation.
- Failing to make your claim within the standard two-year time limit after the crime is reported to the police, however this time limit can be waived in exceptional circumstances.
- Your injury happening before 1 August 1964 – prior to scheme being set up.
- You’ve already applied for an award for the same injury under the CICA Scheme.
- The injury and the act of violence took place outside England, Scotland or Wales.
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