CICA Tariff Bands & Compensation Amounts
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) operates a tariff-based system to determine compensation for victims of violent crime in the UK. Unlike civil claims which use the open-ended Judicial College Guidelines, CICA awards are fixed sums set by Parliament under the current scheme (the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012). Tariff awards range from a minimum of £1,000 for the most modest qualifying injuries up to £250,000 maximum for the most serious. Additional elements — loss of earnings, special expenses, and mental injury awards — can supplement the basic tariff, with total caps applying. Understanding the tariff structure helps survivors understand what compensation they may receive and how it compares to alternative routes.
This guide explains the CICA tariff structure, injury bands, additional elements, and how amounts compare across categories. For eligibility see our CICA eligibility guide.
The CICA Scheme 2012 Structure
Tariff-Based System
CICA awards are set amounts:
- Specific tariff for each injury type
- Based on injury severity rather than individual circumstances
- Parliament-set amounts
- No discretion to award outside tariff
This produces predictability but less individual variation than civil claims.
Total Cap
CICA awards are capped at:
- £500,000 total maximum
- Includes all elements (tariff plus additional)
- Reduced from previous scheme caps
Components of an Award
A CICA award can include:
- Injury tariff (the basic element)
- Loss of earnings (subject to caps)
- Special expenses
- Mental injury (separate element)
- Bereavement award (for fatal cases)
- Funeral costs
- Dependency for fatal cases
The Injury Tariff Structure
How Tariffs Work
Injuries are categorised into bands:
- Level 1 (£1,000) — minimum qualifying injuries
- Through to Level 25 (£250,000) — most serious
- Each level corresponds to specific injury types
- Multiple injuries combine subject to specific rules
Multiple Injury Rule
For multiple injuries from same incident:
- 100 per cent of highest tariff
- Plus 30 per cent of second highest
- Plus 15 per cent of third highest
- No further percentages
This formula recognises combined impact while avoiding pure addition.
Selected Tariff Amounts
Physical Injury — Lower Bands (£1,000-£5,500)
Modest injuries:
- Sprained ankle (substantial) — £1,000
- Black eye — £1,000
- Bruising significant — £1,000
- Disabling minor injury — £1,000-£1,500
- Concussion — £2,500
- Fractured nose (simple) — £1,500
- Cracked tooth — £1,500
- Lost tooth (excluding front) — £1,500
- Sprain (with continued disability) — £2,500-£3,500
- Soft tissue injury substantial — £3,500
- Fractured rib — £2,500
- Strangulation/asphyxiation (with no continuing impact) — £2,000-£5,500
Physical Injury — Middle Bands (£6,200-£22,000)
- Disabling mental injury 1-5 years — £6,200
- Fractured jaw (simple) — £4,400
- Fractured cheek bone (simple) — £3,500
- Lost front tooth — £4,400
- Multiple lost teeth — £4,400-£8,200
- Fractured arm bone — £3,500-£11,000
- Fractured leg bone — £4,400-£11,000
- Fractured wrist (substantial) — £4,400-£11,000
- Disabling mental injury 5+ years — £13,500
- Significant facial disfigurement — £8,200
- Fractured skull (simple) — £4,400-£11,000
- Fractured pelvis — £8,200-£11,000
- Stab wound (one) — £3,500-£11,000
Physical Injury — Higher Bands (£27,000-£82,000)
- Significant disfigurement (severe) — £27,000
- Permanently disabling mental injury — £22,000-£27,000
- Loss of central vision (one eye) — £22,000-£44,000
- Total deafness (one ear) — £16,500-£22,000
- Loss of speech (substantial) — £27,000-£55,000
- Loss of sense of smell — £8,200
- Loss of sense of taste — £8,200
- Brain damage moderate — £22,000-£82,000
- Spinal injury moderate — £27,000-£82,000
- Multiple fractures with continued disability — £27,000-£55,000
Physical Injury — Severe Bands (£82,000-£175,000)
- Total deafness (both ears) — £55,000-£82,000
- Total blindness — £110,000
- Brain damage severe — £82,000-£175,000
- Spinal injury severe — £55,000-£175,000
- Loss of arm — £55,000-£82,000
- Loss of leg — £44,000-£82,000
- Multiple amputations — £82,000-£175,000
- Loss of penis or testicles — £33,000-£55,000
Physical Injury — Maximum Bands (£175,000-£250,000)
- Very severe brain damage — £175,000-£250,000
- Tetraplegia — £250,000
- Total blindness with serious facial disfigurement — £175,000-£250,000
- Permanent quadriplegia — £250,000 (with PPO sometimes)
Sexual Offence Tariff
Sexual Assault Without Penetration
- Less serious — £1,000
- More serious — £2,000
- Severe — £3,300
Rape and Penetrative Sexual Assault
- Single incident — £11,000
- Repeated incidents over period — £16,500
- Repeated incidents over longer period — £22,000
- Resulting in pregnancy — £33,000
- Resulting in permanent disabling injury or disease — £27,000-£44,000+
- Pattern of incidents producing serious harm — up to £44,000+
See our sexual assault claims guide.
Mental Injury Awards
Disabling Mental Injury Tariff
Specific tariff for mental health consequences:
- Disabling mental injury less than 28 weeks — £1,000-£2,500
- Disabling mental injury 6 weeks to 1 year — £3,500
- Disabling mental injury 1-5 years — £6,200
- Disabling mental injury 5+ years (not permanent) — £13,500
- Permanently disabling mental injury — £22,000-£27,000+
What Counts as “Disabling”
CICA mental injury awards require:
- Significant impact on functioning
- Confirmed by medical evidence
- Specific psychiatric or psychological condition
- Not just stress or upset
Mental Injury Plus Physical Injury
Mental injury awards added to physical injury tariff:
- Subject to multiple injury rule
- Often substantial total awards
- Specialist psychiatric evidence essential
Loss of Earnings
Eligibility
Loss of earnings available where:
- Injury caused total or significant inability to work
- Lasting more than 28 weeks
- Demonstrable earnings loss
Calculation
Subject to specific limits:
- First 28 weeks excluded
- Net pay calculation
- Capped at 1.5 times national average weekly earnings
- Currently approximately £820 per week cap
Self-Employed
Specific provisions for self-employed:
- Net profit calculation
- Same cap applies
- Documentary evidence required
Future Loss
For permanent earning impact:
- Calculated using specific tables
- Subject to discount for early receipt
- Capped within total scheme limit
Special Expenses
Additional expenses can include:
- Special equipment
- Adaptations to home
- Care costs (limited)
- Treatment costs
- Travel for treatment
- Costs of administering compensation (for protected parties)
Limitations
Special expenses have restrictions:
- Reasonable and necessary
- Not already covered by NHS or benefits
- Documentation required
- Subject to total cap
Fatal Cases
Bereavement Award
For close family members:
- Specific qualifying relationships
- £5,500 for first qualifying relative
- £11,000 split between multiple qualifying relatives
- Specific rules on qualifying status
Funeral Costs
- Reasonable costs reimbursed
- Currently up to £2,500 for basic funeral
- Higher amounts in specific circumstances
Dependency
For dependants:
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of services (childcare, household)
- Calculated similarly to Fatal Accidents Act
- Subject to caps
Reductions and Refusals
Character Reductions
CICA can reduce or refuse awards based on:
- Claimant’s criminal record (specific scoring system)
- Claimant’s conduct during incident
- Failure to cooperate with police
- Failure to report promptly
- Provocation of incident
Application of Character Rules
Specific points-based system for criminal records:
- Recent and serious convictions weigh heavily
- Custodial sentences significant
- Multiple convictions cumulative
- Specific reductions or full refusals possible
Comparison with Civil Claims
CICA vs Civil Damages
Civil damages typically higher than CICA tariff:
- No tariff caps
- Full Judicial College Guidelines (often above CICA tariff)
- Full loss of earnings without cap
- Full special damages
- Interest on damages
Practical Considerations
Civil claims are not always preferable:
- Need identifiable, solvent defendant
- Often impractical for individual perpetrator claims
- CICA provides reliable state-funded route
- Combined CICA and civil claims maximise total
Coordination of Routes
Where both CICA and civil claim:
- Both can proceed in parallel
- CICA award typically deducted from civil settlement
- Total compensation maximised
- Specialist solicitors coordinate routes
How Awards Are Made
Application Process
- Online application typically
- Supporting evidence required
- CICA caseworker review
- Decision typically within 12-18 months
- Appeal route available
Payment
Award payment:
- Lump sum typically
- Periodical payments for serious cases
- Interim payments where appropriate
- For children, payment may be held until 18
Updating of Tariff
Current Position
CICA tariff has not been updated since 2012:
- Real-terms value erosion over time
- Calls for inflation-linking
- Government review ongoing
- IICSA recommendations relevant
Future Reform
Potential changes:
- Possible inflation adjustment
- IICSA-recommended improvements
- Same-roof rule reforms continuing
- Specific category reviews
Common Questions About CICA Tariff
How much will I get from CICA?
Depends on specific injuries. The tariff provides predictability — the amount for your injury type is set. Combined with mental injury awards (where applicable), loss of earnings (subject to caps), and special expenses, total awards range from £1,000 for minor qualifying injuries to a maximum of £500,000 for the most catastrophic cases. Specialist solicitors can give realistic estimates based on your specific injuries and circumstances.
Why are CICA awards lower than civil claim damages?
Different schemes with different aims. CICA is state-funded compensation for victims of violent crime where civil routes are typically impractical. The tariff system provides predictable amounts within a state-funded budget. Civil claims are funded by defendants (or their insurance) and reflect full individual circumstances using the open-ended Judicial College Guidelines. For most CICA claimants, the state-funded route is the practical option — civil claims against attackers are rarely viable. Where civil claims are possible against institutions, they typically produce higher awards.
Will my criminal record affect my CICA claim?
Possibly, through the character reduction rules. CICA uses a points-based system for criminal records — recent and serious convictions weigh heavily, with multiple convictions cumulative. Custodial sentences are particularly significant. Reductions can range from 10 per cent to 100 per cent of the award. Honest disclosure of criminal record is essential — concealment can disqualify entirely. Specialist solicitors assess the likely impact for your specific record.
Can I get more than the tariff amount for my injury?
Within CICA, no — the tariff is fixed. Combined with mental injury awards, loss of earnings, and special expenses, total awards can be substantial but each element is subject to its own rules and caps. For higher compensation, civil claims against identifiable defendants (perpetrators with assets, institutions with insurance) can produce higher awards. Many serious cases combine CICA tariff with civil damages from a separate defendant.
I have multiple injuries. How are they combined?
CICA uses a specific formula for multiple injuries:
- 100 per cent of the highest tariff injury
- Plus 30 per cent of the second highest
- Plus 15 per cent of the third highest
- No further percentages
This means the most serious injury dominates the award, with additional injuries adding modest amounts. The formula recognises combined impact while avoiding pure addition.
When will the tariff be updated?
Unclear. The 2012 tariff has not been updated, despite calls for inflation adjustment. Government scheme reviews continue, with IICSA having made specific recommendations. For now, claims operate under existing tariff. Survivors with current claims may consider proceeding with the available scheme rather than waiting for uncertain reform.
Related Guides
Criminal Injuries Compensation (CICA) Claims
CICA Eligibility | Who Can Claim?
Assault at Work Compensation Claims
Sexual Assault Compensation Claims (CICA)
Historic Abuse Claims | CICA & Civil Routes
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