Criminal Injuries (CICA)
What is a CICA claim?
A CICA claim is an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) — a UK government body — for compensation if you have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of a violent crime or abuse. Unlike a personal injury claim, a CICA claim does not require you to sue the person who hurt you; the government pays the compensation instead, based on the severity of your injuries.
How long do I have to make a CICA claim?
You normally have 2 years from the date of the crime to make a CICA claim, or until your 20th birthday if you were under 18 when the crime happened. CICA can extend this time limit in some circumstances, for example in cases of longstanding abuse where a victim did not feel able to come forward sooner.
Compensation for CICA claims is set at fixed levels depending on the type of injury you have suffered and the severity of it. The CICA calculates awards using a tariff system and pays out on up to three injuries if each is so serious that they would qualify for individual awards themselves:
- 100% of the injury that achieves the highest compensation.
- 30% of an injury that is worth either equal to the most serious injury or the second-highest compensation.
- 15% of an injury that is worth either equal to the second most serious injury or the third-highest compensation.
It is worth noting that your compensation award may be reduced if there are issues relating to your conduct. Claims can also be rejected by the CICA if you delayed reporting the crime to the police, if you failed to cooperate with the police investigation, or if you have an unspent conviction.
If you have been the victim of violent crime or abuse, then please contact us free of charge and in confidence on 01254 385104 or at [email protected] for specialist legal advice. Alternatively, you can complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Personal Injury team will contact you. You can find out more about the team here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
CICA compensation is paid according to a fixed tariff, so the amount you receive depends on the type and severity of the injury or injuries you have suffered rather than your earnings or expenses. If you have more than one qualifying injury, CICA can also pay a percentage of the tariff for additional injuries on top of your main award.
Yes, you normally need to have reported the crime to the police as soon as reasonably possible, and CICA can reject a claim if you did not or if you did not cooperate with the investigation. There can be some flexibility where reporting was delayed for genuine reasons, such as fear or trauma following abuse.
Yes, you can still make a CICA claim even if the offender was never identified, charged or convicted. CICA compensates victims of crime based on the evidence of what happened to them, not on a criminal conviction.