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How CICA can help you

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority offers a free service, processing applications and making awards that range from £1,000 to £500,000.

If you want to make an application, you can do this yourself, or you can get help from Victim Support or the Citizens Advice Bureau. You could also pay a solicitor to help you, although you should be aware that CICA cannot pay the costs of this for you.

• Contact details for Victim Support

• Contact details for Citizens Advice

• Contact details for Citizens Advice Scotland

• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - apply online Opens new window

Checking your eligibility for compensation

You may be eligible if:

• you have been injured seriously enough to qualify for at least the minimum award (£1,000) - follow the first link below to the 'Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2008' to check the amounts for each type of injury
• you were injured in an act of violence in England, Scotland or Wales - an offender does not necessarily have to have been convicted of, or even charged with the crime
• you are making your application within two years of the incident that caused your injury - however, applications may still be accepted after two years if, in your particular case, it wasn’t reasonable to expect an application to be made within this time

Reasons your compensation may be refused or reduced

CICA can decide to reduce or completely refuse your compensation for the following reasons:

• your behaviour before, during or after the incident in which you were injured
• your criminal record
• your failure to co-operate with the police, or with CICA
• your delay in informing the police, or other organisation, or person of the incident

• Download 'Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Scheme 2008' (PDF, 1044K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

How to apply

You can apply online by following the link below.

If you need help with your application, you can call CICA's freephone number 0300 003 3601.

Lines are open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, except Wednesday, when you can call between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm. Calls are free from UK landlines, and are monitored for training purposes.

• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - apply online Opens new window

Types of compensation you can apply for

There are four types of compensation:

Compensation for injuries (including sexual offences)

This type of compensation simply recognises that you have suffered the injury. CICA calls this the 'standard amount of compensation' or 'tariff award'. As well as this, they can also compensate for loss of earnings and special expenses. However, you can only get those if you also qualify for the tariff award.

Compensation because a loved one has died

If a loved one has died as the result of a violent crime, you may get this type of compensation. This could be your parent, child, husband, wife or partner (including a same-sex partner). The amount is currently £11,000 if one person is claiming or £5,500 each if there is more than one person claiming. If you depended financially on the person who died, you may also be able to claim compensation for this.

CICA can also refund funeral expenses to the person who has paid for the funeral. However, they cannot pay funeral expenses before the claim has been assessed.

Compensation for loss of earnings

You may claim if you have lost earnings, or the ability to earn, for longer than 28 weeks as a direct result of the injury. If you qualify for an award for loss of earnings, CICA will pay compensation from the 29th week that you cannot work.

If you want to apply for loss of earnings compensation as well as the standard ‘tariff award’, you should let CICA know. There is a separate form and guide that they will send you for this.

Compensation for special expenses

Details of other expenses you can claim for are in the Scheme. They can include:

• medical treatment which cannot be provided by the NHS
• care provided by a residential establishment or home
• adaptations made to your home as a result of the injury

How CICA makes a decision

CICA makes its decisions on eligibility and the amount of payment it can make following a set of rules called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The current scheme was introduced on 3 November 2023 and applies to applications made on or after that date. Follow the link below for details of the current scheme.

If you applied before 3 November 2008, follow the relevant link below for details about previous schemes.

• Download 'Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Scheme 2008' (PDF, 1044K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Criminal injuries: if you applied before November 2008 Opens new window

Appealing against a decision

If you are not happy with CICA's decision, you can appeal to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Panel (First Tier Tribunal Criminal Injuries Compensation). This panel is independent of CICA. CICA can provide you with an appeals form, together with a guide to the appeals process.

• Appealing a Criminal Injuries Compensation decision

Special arrangements for paying awards

CICA may sometimes make special arrangements for paying an award, to take account of the circumstances of the victim or of other relevant issues. For example, if the victim is a child, the award will be kept in a bank account until the child is 18 years old. The award would earn interest during this time.

Awards for adults legally incapable of handling their own affairs might also be paid into trusts for the applicant's benefit.