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Criminal Injuries Compensation (CICA) Claims

When someone is injured by a violent crime, the criminal court process focuses on punishing the offender — not compensating the victim. Compensation for victims of violent crime in the UK comes from a separate government scheme: the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, or CICA. The scheme is independent of the police and the criminal courts, and crucially, you can claim CICA compensation even if the offender was never caught, was never charged, or has no money to pay.

In this guide

This hub explains who can claim CICA compensation, the eligibility rules, the tariff system used to calculate awards, the strict two-year time limit, and how to start a claim on a no win no fee basis. Detailed pages on specific types of CICA claim are linked throughout.

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What Is CICA?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a government body that administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme — the statutory scheme for compensating blameless victims of violent crime in Great Britain. The current scheme is the 2012 Scheme (with amendments), and Northern Ireland operates a similar but separate scheme.

CICA compensation is funded by the taxpayer, not by offenders. The amounts available are fixed by a published tariff — they are not the same as compensation from a civil court, and are usually substantially lower. But the scheme exists specifically because civil claims against violent offenders are usually impractical (most offenders have no money, no insurance, and often cannot be identified). CICA provides a route to recognition and meaningful financial support when the civil system cannot.

Who Can Claim CICA Compensation?

You may be eligible for a CICA award if you were the direct victim of a “crime of violence” in Great Britain. The most common scenarios include:

You can also claim as a secondary victim:

  • Bereaved relatives — where a family member has died as a result of a crime of violence. Bereavement payments are made under the scheme. See our fatal CICA claims guide
  • Witnesses to violent crime against someone close — particularly close family members who witnessed serious injury or death and developed psychological injury as a result
  • Mental injury sustained while trying to help a victim — for example, being a first responder or family member who attended the scene

CICA also covers some non-violent injuries caused by criminal acts — such as injuries caused by exceptional risk-taking in trying to apprehend an offender, or in trying to prevent a crime.

The Two-Year Time Limit — Critical

CICA has a strict two-year time limit from the date of the incident to make a claim. This is shorter than the three-year limit for civil personal injury claims, and the CICA scheme is far less flexible about extensions.

For applications made outside the two-year window, CICA may exercise discretion to consider a late application — but only where:

  • It was not reasonably practicable to apply within two years (for example, the claimant was a child, was hospitalised, or was suffering from significant psychiatric injury)
  • The application could be properly investigated despite the delay

For child victims, the two-year clock generally does not start until their 18th birthday — meaning they have until age 20 to make their own application. Historic abuse claims by adults can sometimes be brought decades after the events, where the discretion is exercised. See our CICA two-year deadline guide for the rules.

Must I Have Reported the Crime to the Police?

Yes, generally. The scheme requires that the incident was reported to the police “as soon as reasonably practicable”. This is one of the most common reasons CICA applications fail. For domestic abuse and sexual assault cases, reporting delays are common — and CICA does exercise discretion where reporting was delayed for good reason (such as fear, coercive control, or psychological reasons).

You also need to cooperate with the police investigation. If you refuse to give a statement or refuse to attend court when asked, your CICA claim may be reduced or refused. Co-operation does not require successful prosecution — the offender does not need to be caught or convicted for you to recover compensation.

The CICA Tariff — How Compensation Is Calculated

CICA awards are calculated using a published tariff that sets out fixed amounts for specific injuries. The tariff has 25 levels, ranging from Level 1 (£1,000) to Level 25 (£250,000). Examples from the current tariff:

  • Sprained ankle (disabling at least 6 weeks) — Level 1 — £1,000
  • Loss or fracture of front tooth — Level 1 — £1,000
  • Broken nose with displacement — Level 4 — £2,000
  • Loss of teeth requiring multiple implants — Level 6 — £3,500
  • Severe psychological injury — Level 10 — £6,200
  • Permanent significantly disabling fracture (e.g. hip, knee) — Level 12 — £11,000
  • Loss of vision in one eye — Level 17 — £33,000
  • Multiple severe fractures — varies by combination
  • Loss of one limb — varies by limb, typically Level 18 to Level 22 — £33,000 to £82,000
  • Total blindness — Level 23 — £110,000
  • Quadriplegia — Level 25 — £250,000

These figures are the standard award only. For multiple injuries, CICA pays the highest tariff figure in full plus a percentage of the second and third highest. The maximum award for tariff injuries alone is £500,000.

Compared to civil court awards, CICA tariff figures are usually significantly lower. A spinal cord injury that would attract £230,000+ in a civil claim might attract £110,000 to £175,000 under CICA. The tariff is structured this way because CICA is a state scheme of last resort — not a substitute for civil litigation where civil claims are available.

Additional Awards Beyond the Tariff

In addition to the standard tariff figure, CICA can pay additional amounts for:

Loss of Earnings

For applicants who have been incapacitated for more than 28 weeks. The scheme caps loss of earnings at 1.5 times the gross average industrial earnings — currently around £25,000 to £30,000 per year. This is well below typical civil court awards but provides meaningful support for serious injuries with long absence from work.

Special Expenses

Costs the applicant has incurred or will incur because of the injury — including private treatment costs, equipment, mobility aids, home adaptations, and care. Special expenses are paid in addition to the tariff figure and the loss of earnings figure.

Bereavement and Dependency Awards (Fatal Cases)

For deaths caused by crimes of violence, CICA pays bereavement payments (£11,000 to certain qualifying relatives) plus dependency awards for spouses, partners, and children who were financially dependent on the deceased. See our fatal CICA claims guide.

When CICA May Reduce or Refuse an Award

CICA can reduce or refuse a claim in certain circumstances. The main reasons:

  • Unspent criminal convictions — applicants with unspent criminal convictions for serious offences can have their award reduced or refused entirely. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applies to the assessment
  • Failure to cooperate with the police — including refusal to give evidence in subsequent prosecution
  • Late application — outside the two-year window without good reason
  • Late reporting to the police — without good reason
  • Conduct contributing to the incident — for example, being voluntarily involved in a fight rather than being an innocent victim
  • Character considerations — CICA can consider conduct other than convictions in limited circumstances

These rules are applied strictly. If you have unspent convictions or there were circumstances that might lead to a reduction, a specialist solicitor can advise on prospects honestly before you apply. See our how a criminal record affects a CICA claim guide.

How Long Does a CICA Claim Take?

CICA decisions typically take 12 to 18 months from application to first decision. Complex cases — particularly those involving severe injuries, multiple injuries, or psychiatric injury — can take longer. The two-year limit is for applying, not for receiving the decision; once your application is in, CICA will work through it at their own pace.

If you disagree with CICA’s first decision, you can request a review (within 56 days). If you disagree with the review decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation). The tribunal is independent and many appeals succeed in increasing the award. See our CICA appeal guide for the process.

No Win No Fee CICA Claims

CICA claims can be run on a no win no fee basis by specialist solicitors. The fee model differs slightly from civil personal injury claims because CICA is a statutory scheme rather than a court process — but the principle is the same: you pay nothing upfront, nothing during the case, and nothing if your application fails. The solicitor recovers a success fee from the award if you succeed.

Unlike civil claims, CICA does not pay the legal costs of a successful applicant. The success fee comes from your award. A specialist solicitor will explain the fee structure in writing before you commit. See our how no win no fee works guide.

CICA Claims for Children and Historic Abuse

Two specific scenarios deserve particular attention:

Children Injured by Crimes of Violence

Applications on behalf of children can be made by a parent or legal guardian. The two-year clock generally does not start until the child’s 18th birthday. For children injured by abuse, the assessment uses the same tariff but particular care is taken with psychological evidence and the impact on the child’s development.

Historic Abuse Claims

Survivors of historic abuse — including childhood sexual abuse — can sometimes apply to CICA many years after the events. CICA exercises its discretion to consider late applications where it was not reasonably practicable to apply earlier. The “no later than 18 months from the offender’s conviction” rule that previously caught many historic abuse applications has been relaxed in practice, but each case is considered on its facts. Specialist solicitors regularly bring CICA claims for historic abuse, and parallel civil claims may also be possible. See our historic abuse claims guide.

What Evidence Do You Need?

A specialist solicitor will obtain everything you need. The strongest CICA applications include:

  • The crime reference number from the police
  • Police records of the incident and the investigation
  • Any victim personal statement made to the police
  • Medical records — A&E, GP, hospital — for all injuries claimed
  • Specialist medical reports, particularly psychiatric reports for psychological injuries
  • Photographs of injuries
  • Evidence of financial losses (wage slips, receipts)
  • For applications by relatives — death certificates, evidence of dependency
  • Any prosecution evidence — witness statements, charge sheets, court outcomes

You do not need a conviction of the offender to apply. Many successful CICA awards involve crimes where no offender was ever identified or charged.

Common Questions About CICA Claims

The person who attacked me was not caught. Can I still claim?

Yes. CICA does not require the offender to have been caught, charged, or convicted. The scheme exists precisely because civil claims against violent offenders are usually impractical. You will need to have reported the incident to the police and cooperated with their investigation, but the absence of an identifiable offender is not a bar.

I was attacked five years ago. Is it too late?

Maybe. The standard two-year time limit has passed, but CICA may exercise discretion to consider a late application if there were good reasons for the delay — such as psychological injury making it impossible to apply earlier, or significant other circumstances that prevented an earlier application. Specialist solicitors regularly succeed with late applications, particularly in abuse and serious assault cases. A free initial conversation will tell you whether you have a realistic prospect.

I have unspent convictions of my own. Can I still claim?

Possibly. The position depends on the nature of your convictions and how recent they are. Minor convictions may not affect the award; serious convictions may reduce it; very serious convictions may result in refusal. A specialist solicitor can give an honest view before you apply. See our how a criminal record affects a CICA claim guide.

My CICA award was much lower than I expected. Can I appeal?

Yes. You can request a review within 56 days of the first decision, and if you disagree with the review you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. Many appeals succeed in increasing the award, particularly where additional medical evidence is available. See our CICA appeal guide.

Can I also bring a civil claim against the offender?

Yes, in some cases. CICA and a civil claim are not mutually exclusive — although most violent offenders have no money or insurance, making civil claims impractical. Where there is a “deep pocket” — for example, an institution that was responsible for the victim’s safety (a children’s home, a school, an employer) — a civil claim may yield substantially higher compensation than CICA. A specialist solicitor will advise on whether both routes are worth pursuing.

How long will my CICA claim take?

Most CICA decisions take 12 to 18 months from application. Complex cases — particularly those with psychiatric evidence or appeals — can take longer. The two-year time limit is for applying, not for receiving the decision; once your application is in, CICA will work through it at their own pace.

Personal Injury Claims — UK No Win No Fee

Sexual Abuse & Assault Compensation Claims

Domestic Abuse Compensation Claims

Historic Abuse Compensation Claims

Stabbing & Knife Crime Compensation Claims

CICA Two-Year Deadline Explained

How a Criminal Record Affects a CICA Claim

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Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper

Claims Expert, Claims Bible

Gavin writes and reviews Claims Bible's guidance on compensation claims. Claims Bible is a trading style of Forces Compare Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA for claims management activities (FRN 785329).

Updated 14 July 2026 · Part of our Personal Injury guide

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