Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme provides compensation to eligible victims who have suffered serious physical or mental injuries as a direct result of violent crime in Great Britain.

The scheme is funded by the government and administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, commonly known as CICA. It is intended to provide recognition and financial support where compensation is not available through another route.

Where Does the Scheme Apply?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 applies to qualifying incidents occurring in England, Scotland and Wales.

Northern Ireland operates a separate criminal injuries compensation scheme with different application and appeal procedures.

Who May Be Eligible?

You may be able to apply where:

• You suffered a qualifying physical injury because of a crime of violence
• You suffered a disabling mental injury caused by a crime of violence
• You were sexually or physically abused
• A close relative died because of a violent crime
• You witnessed a violent crime involving a loved one or were involved in its immediate aftermath
• You paid funeral expenses following a qualifying death

Compensation is not awarded merely because a crime occurred. The injury and circumstances must meet the detailed requirements of the scheme.

What Is a Crime of Violence?

A crime of violence can include:

• A physical attack
• A threat that caused a reasonable fear of immediate violence
• A sexual assault
• Arson or another act that created an immediate risk of physical harm
• Certain deliberate acts involving animals, vehicles or dangerous substances

The fact that someone has been convicted is helpful but is not always essential. CICA applies the civil standard of proof and may consider police evidence and the circumstances of the incident.

Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control

Victims of domestic abuse may qualify where the abuse involved a crime of violence and caused an injury covered by the scheme.

Controlling or coercive behaviour is a criminal offence, but it does not automatically qualify as a crime of violence for CICA purposes. Under the current scheme, the applicant will normally need to show a qualifying physical or mental injury directly caused by conduct involving physical contact or a threat of immediate violence.

This distinction has been criticised because some victims suffer serious psychological harm from prolonged coercive control without an identifiable incident of physical violence. The government considered extending the scheme but, in 2025, decided not to proceed with the proposed wider reforms.

Mental Injury Claims

A mental injury can qualify, but ordinary distress, fear or anxiety will not necessarily meet the scheme's requirements.

A qualifying mental injury must generally:

• Be disabling
• Have lasted for at least six weeks
• Be confirmed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist

A disabling mental injury is one that substantially affects ordinary activities such as working, studying, maintaining relationships or taking part in normal social life.

Reporting the Crime to the Police

The incident must be reported to the Police before an application is made.

Applicants are expected to report the crime as soon as reasonably practicable. An unexplained delay may result in the claim being refused, particularly if it prevented the Police from investigating properly.

CICA may accept that a delay was reasonable where, for example, the applicant was a child, traumatised, controlled by the offender or unable to understand that the conduct was criminal.

The Two-Year Application Limit

An application should normally be made within two years of the incident.

CICA may extend the deadline where exceptional circumstances meant that the applicant could not apply earlier and the available evidence still allows the claim to be determined without extensive further investigation.

The exception is applied narrowly. Applicants should not delay merely because criminal proceedings are continuing or the offender has not been convicted.

Time Limits for Children

Different rules apply where the victim was under 18 when the incident occurred.

If the crime was reported to the Police before the victim turned 18, an application will normally be accepted until their 20th birthday.

If the incident was not reported during childhood, the applicant will usually need to report it to the Police and apply within two years of the date it was first reported.

Historical abuse claims can involve complex exceptions, and Advice should be obtained as early as possible.

How Much Compensation Is Available?

Payments for individual qualifying injuries are set by a statutory tariff rather than being calculated in the same way as damages in an ordinary civil claim.

Individual injury awards generally range from £1,000 to £250,000. The maximum total payment available under the scheme is £500,000.

The value depends on the nature, severity and lasting effect of the injury.

Claims Involving More Than One Injury

Where an applicant has several qualifying injuries, CICA does not normally add together the full tariff amount for each injury.

The usual calculation is:

• 100% of the tariff for the most serious injury
• 30% of the tariff for the second most serious injury
• 15% of the tariff for the third most serious injury

Separate payments may be available for certain pregnancy-related consequences, sexually transmitted infections or loss of a foetus.

Loss of Earnings

A loss-of-earnings payment may be available where the applicant had little or no capacity for paid work for more than 28 weeks because of the qualifying injury.

No payment is made for the first 28 weeks of lost earnings. The calculation is based on a statutory rate rather than on the applicant's actual salary.

The applicant must also satisfy employment-history or other qualifying requirements set out in the scheme.

Special Expenses

Special expenses may be available where an injury caused loss of earning capacity for more than 28 weeks.

These can include reasonable costs relating to:

• Physical aids damaged during the incident
• Special equipment required because of the injury
• Adaptations to accommodation
• Care or supervision not available free from another source
• Administration of the applicant's affairs in certain cases

Strict conditions apply. Ordinary living expenses or private medical treatment will not automatically be reimbursed.

Bereavement Payments

A qualifying relative may be entitled to a bereavement payment where a person dies as a direct result of violent crime.

Additional payments may be available for:

• Funeral expenses
• Loss of parental services
• Financial dependency
• Mental injury suffered by certain close witnesses

Eligibility depends on the relationship with the deceased and the requirements of the scheme.

Criminal Convictions

An applicant’s criminal record can affect eligibility.

An award will normally be withheld where the applicant has an unspent conviction resulting in specified sentences, including a custodial sentence, community order or certain other disposals.

Other convictions or conduct may lead to an award being reduced or refused. There has not been a general change replacing these rules with a purely case-by-case assessment.

The conviction rules can be complicated, particularly where offences were committed when the applicant was young or where convictions have since become spent.

Conduct and Cooperation

CICA may reduce or refuse an award because of the applicant's conduct before, during or after the incident.

This may include:

• Provoking or willingly participating in the incident
• Failing to cooperate with the Police
• Failing to assist CICA with the application
• Giving false or misleading information
• Conduct that contributed to the injury

Being intoxicated or knowing the offender does not automatically prevent an award. The whole context must be considered.

Does the Offender Have to Be Convicted?

No. A criminal conviction is not an absolute requirement.

A claim may still succeed where the offender was not identified, was acquitted or was never prosecuted, provided CICA is satisfied that a qualifying crime of violence probably occurred.

Applicants must nevertheless cooperate reasonably with the Police and provide the information CICA requests.

How to Apply

Applications are normally made online through GOV.UK. There is no fee to apply directly to CICA.

You may need to provide:

• The police crime-reference number
• Details of the police force handling the matter
• Information about the incident and injuries
• Medical evidence
• Employment and earnings information
• Details of criminal convictions
• Evidence of expenses or financial dependency

CICA will usually obtain information from the Police and may request medical reports or other supporting records.

Accepting an Award

If CICA makes an award, the applicant will normally have 56 days to accept it.

The deadline may be extended in limited circumstances. Once an award is accepted and paid, it will generally bring the application to an end, subject to the scheme's limited reopening provisions.

Requesting a Review

If you disagree with CICA's decision, you can ask CICA to review it.

A review must normally be requested within 56 days of the decision. You should explain why the decision is disputed and provide any supporting evidence.

A reviewing officer will reconsider the claim. The outcome may be unchanged, increased, reduced or withdrawn, so applicants should consider the full decision before seeking a review.

Appealing to the First-tier Tribunal

If you remain dissatisfied after CICA's review decision, you may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

The appeal must normally be lodged within 90 days of the review decision.

The tribunal is independent of CICA and may:

• Confirm the review decision
• Increase the award
• Reduce the award
• Decide that no award should be made
• Require the matter to be reconsidered

There is generally no further ordinary appeal from the tribunal's factual decision. A legal challenge may sometimes be possible where the tribunal made an error of law.

Do You Need a Solicitor?

Applicants do not have to instruct a solicitor or claims company. Many straightforward applications can be made directly and free of charge.

Professional Advice may be useful where:

• The application is outside the normal time limit
• CICA relies on an unspent conviction
• The applicant is accused of contributing to the incident
• The claim involves serious psychological injury
• Loss of earnings or special expenses are disputed
• The application concerns historical abuse
• CICA has refused the claim
• An appeal to the tribunal is required

Applicants should establish how legal fees will be calculated and whether they will be deducted from any compensation.

Claims Against the Offender

A CICA application is separate from a civil claim against the offender and from any compensation order made by a criminal court.

CICA may reduce an award to take account of compensation received from another source for the same injury. Applicants must inform CICA of any other payments or proceedings.

Apply as Early as Possible

Victims should report violent crime promptly and consider applying without waiting for the criminal case to finish.

Medical evidence, police records and proof of earnings or expenses can become more difficult to obtain over time. An early application also reduces the risk of missing the strict time limits.

Getting Advice

Victim Support and other specialist organisations may provide free assistance with applications.

A solicitor experienced in criminal injuries compensation can advise on eligibility, tariff awards, convictions, late claims, reviews and tribunal appeals.

Disclaimer

Solicitors.com is not a firm of solicitors and does not provide legal Advice. This page provides general information about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate scheme. Eligibility and compensation will depend on the facts and the rules applying when the application is considered.

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