By Lewis Hendrix. Last Updated 28th September 2023. If you’ve suffered injuries as the victim of a violent crime, you may be wondering if you could seek compensation. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) allows eligible victims of violent crime to seek compensation for their injuries if there is no other route to compensation for them. But how are criminal compensation payouts calculated? And how do you know if you could claim?
This guide has been created to inform you about the process of making a criminal injury claim through the CICA. In it, we explore criminal injuries and their compensation amounts, along with the time limits for claiming compensation in this manner.
We also explain how our solicitors could help eligible claimants get the compensation they deserve. To learn more, read on, or contact an advisor for free legal advice.
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A guide to CICA payout amounts
Select A Section
- What Is The CICA?
- Payments Which The CICA Could Make
- Minimum And Maximum Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariffs
- Special Expenses Which The CICA Could Award
- CICA Payout Amounts Awarded For The Loss Of Earnings
- Could The CICA Withhold Or Reduce My Settlement?
- Appealing A Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Decision
- Do I Need Evidence To Make A CICA Claim?
- Criminal Compensation Amounts From The Criminal Injury Compensation Tariff
- Make A No Win No Fee Criminal Injury Claim
What Is The CICA?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is an executive agency that is sponsored by the UK government. Based in Glasgow, they deal with over 30,000 claims each year and payout more than £130 million to victims of violent crime.
The CICA consider applications based on the criteria defined in the government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which defines when they can payout and how much CICA payout amounts could be.
CICA is an alternative to a civil claim or personal injury claim. While it’s OK to seek compensation from the criminal, if you do so, CICA will expect you to pay their compensation back.
When could I claim?
The CICA can award compensation for mental or physical injuries sustained during violent crimes. While the rules state that a 2-year time limit applies, in cases involving extreme circumstances, the time limit could be extended. This could involve scenarios where your injuries left you unable to begin a claim. For cases of historical sex offences, the time limit will usually apply from when you reported the crime to the police.
For further advice on when you could claim for a criminal injury, and CICA payout amounts please speak with a member of our team today.
Payments Which The CICA Could Make
Here is the full list of reasons why CICA might consider making a payment from the scheme:
- Physical or mental injuries sustained during a violent crime.
- Sexual or physical abuse.
- Loss of earnings when your earning capacity is limited as a direct result of your injuries.
- Fatalities caused by violent crimes. This could include payments for loss of parental services and financial dependency, a bereavement payment and also payments to cover funeral expenses.
- Special damages.
Each claim for a criminal injuries compensation maximum payout is assessed following the scheme’s eligibility criteria. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible to make a claim, please continue reading or speak to a member of our team for free legal advice on your criminal compensation payouts.
Payments Made Through The Hardship Fund?
In some cases, the CICA may decide that your injuries are not serious enough to meet their compensation criteria. In these cases, you may be eligible to receive a payment from the hardship fund. This is generally only for very low paid workers who cannot work temporarily due to a violent crime. Note: the hardship fund is only for residents of England and Wales.
Minimum And Maximum Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Tariffs
According to CICA documentation, the criminal injuries compensation maximum payout amount is £250,000 based on the tariff of injuries. However, when all other aspects of the claim are considered, there is an upper limit of £500,000.
When you make a claim, it will be considered against the tariff of injuries which details a compensation amount for each injury. If the total amount of your claim is valued at less than £1,000, then no compensation will be awarded.
When you speak with a team member, your claim will be assessed on a no-obligation basis. If the advisor believes you have a chance of success, they’ll refer you to a specialist solicitor. After they’ve reviewed your claim, they should be able to estimate the maximum criminal injuries compensation you could be entitled to receive.
CICA Bereavement Tariffs
A qualifying relative may claim a bereavement award for cases involving fatal injuries. The amount payable is £11,000 in cases where a single claimant exists. In the case where multiple relatives make a successful claim, they’ll receive £5,500 each.
Special Expenses Which The CICA Could Award
Under the CICA scheme, there are several ‘special expenses’ that could be claimed. These could cover certain costs incurred due to your injuries.
Special expenses can only be considered if you can show that the product or service you’re claiming for couldn’t be paid for by other services such as the benefits system or the NHS. Also, the expense you’re claiming must be necessary, caused as a direct result of your injury and reasonable.
CICA payout amounts for special expense claims could include:
- Personal Property Damage.
This can be for any item that you relied on as a physical aid (which you owned) that was damaged during the incident. For instance, you could claim dentures, walking sticks or spectacles. You will need to provide receipts as evidence that you paid for these items. - NHS Treatment.
You could also claim for any costs that arise as a direct result of NHS treatment. - Special Equipment.
If your injuries mean that you need physical aids like adapted vehicles, kitchen implements or walking aids, then you could include the cost in your claim. - Home Adaptations.
Adaptations to the inside or outside of your home could improve your ability to get around, or your independence could also be considered. - Care Costs.
If you require support with bodily functions or preparation of meals, then you could claim back any associated costs.
As mentioned earlier, you must claim for everything you might be entitled to at the same time. Our solicitors could help make sure your claim is submitted properly to try and ensure you receive the correct amount of compensation for your injuries. Please call a member of our team for free advice on claiming.
CICA Payout Amounts Awarded For The Loss Of Earnings
When you’re unable to work as a direct result of a criminal injury, you could be entitled to claim for a loss of earnings payment.
The injuries you sustained during the crime must result in a total inability to work or lead to a very limited ability to work. To be eligible to claim a criminal injuries compensation maximum payout, you’ll need to show that:
- You were employed at the time of the incident; or
- There is a long history of work or a reason why you don’t have such a history, for the 3-years before the incident. For instance, you may have caring responsibilities, be in full-time education or unable to work due to your age; and
- The length of your loss was over 28 full weeks. Loss of earnings cannot be claimed for the first 28-weeks.
Loss of earnings payments are based on the current Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rate at the time of the claim.
Could The CICA Withhold Or Reduce My Settlement?
When you claim through the CICA scheme, your settlement could be reduced or refused for several reasons. They include:
- If you haven’t reported the crime to police. Also, your claim could be withheld if you didn’t report the crime as soon as possible.
- When you haven’t co-operated fully with the police or criminal justice system. You are expected to have done as much as possible to try and help the police catch the person responsible for your injuries (although they don’t need to have been).
- If you haven’t cooperated with CICA fully. This means you need to respond to queries from the CICA as soon as possible, update them with any change of circumstances, inform them of anything that could affect the claim, you fail to attend a medical assessment, or you exaggerate your injuries.
- If your actions before the crime contributed to it occurring.
- When you have unspent criminal convictions, in general, this means that the more serious a crime you’ve convicted in the past, the more likely it is that your payment can be withdrawn or reduced.
To find out if you’ll be eligible for a CICA compensation payment, please discuss your case with a member of our team.
Appealing A Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority Decision
The CICA consider all cases based on the scheme’s criteria. That means an assessor will consider your claim and the evidence you’ve supplied to determine whether you’re eligible to receive compensation and how much you might be entitled to.
In some cases, where you’re unhappy with the outcome, you might want to appeal the outcome of your claim; it can be sent back for re-assessment by a more senior member of the CICA team. You should bear in mind that the criminal injuries compensation maximum payout or the decision might not be changed.
Our advice is that you should consider letting one of our specialist personal injury solicitors help you prepare your case to try and ensure enough supporting evidence is submitted and that the application is filed correctly.
Please call an advisor today if you’d like help making a CICA claim for an injury or injuries sustained in a violent crime against you.
Do I Need Evidence To Make A CICA Claim?
When claiming through the CICA for criminal injuries compensation, you’ll need to provide the following evidence. Without it, you may not be able to make a claim through them.
- A police reference number to prove that the crime was reported.
- Evidence that proves you meet the residency requirements.
- Medical evidence regarding your injuries, such as a copy of your medical records or the findings of an independent medical assessment.
It is also important to note that the CICA will be able to liaise with the police for any information they may need regarding the incident.
To discuss your CICA claim and to receive free advice, you can contact one of our advisors. They may also connect you with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors who could assist you with your claim.
Criminal Compensation Amounts From The Criminal Injury Compensation Tariff
Criminal compensation amounts claimed through the CICA are listed in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tariff. Each injury, whether physical or psychological, is assigned a set figure. Below, we have included some examples of CICA payouts from the tariff.
If claiming for more than one injury, only the most valuable injury is awarded at its full rate. Following this, the 2nd and 3rd most valuable injuries are generally awarded at respective rates of 30% and 15%.
However, for certain criminal injuries, the compensation amounts are not reduced if there are multiple injuries being claimed for. For instance, the loss of a foetus or the contraction of an STI is always awarded at the full rate.
Take a look at the illustrative criminal compensation amounts in the table below and get in touch with any questions.
Injury Compensation Detailed Information
Arms £82,000 The loss of one arm with no remaining hand or arm function.
Thumbs £55,000 Loss of both thumbs
Feet £13,500 Fractured tarsal bones, in both feet, causing significant disability.
Ear £11,000 The loss of one ear.
Face £11,000 Multiple fractures to the face (Le Forte types 1 and 2)
Hand £6,200 Fracture to both hands leading to continuing significant disability.
Legs £4,600 A fractured femur resulting in continuing significant disability.
Jaw £3,500 A dislocated jaw leading to a continued significant disability.
Neck £3,500 Whiplash injuries or a strained neck (non-permanent)
We have also mentioned that criminal injuries compensation amounts awarded via the CICA could attract compensation for certain financial losses and costs. If you would like to check your eligibility to claim such compensation, we could go through the eligibility criteria with you to check whether you could claim. We could also help you work out which injuries you could include within your claim if you have suffered multiple injuries. Simply call our team for free legal advice and guidance.
Make A No Win No Fee Criminal Injury Claim
When claiming criminal injury compensation, you might benefit from enlisting a solicitor to represent your case. They’ll be able to help you gather evidence and ensure your criminal injury claim is submitted in full.
Our No Win No Fee solicitors can offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement meaning they won’t ask for a fee for their services upfront or whilst the claims process is underway. Furthermore, they won’t expect you to pay them for their services if your claim does not succeed. Should you successfully claim compensation, a success fee is deducted from your award. This fee is subject to a cap under the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Get in touch for your free consultation if you would like to work with an expert criminal injury claims solicitor on the basis of a No Win No Fee agreement. Our advisors can also answer any questions or discuss examples of CICA payouts.
Below are a few ways you can contact our team:
- Call our 24/7 advice line for free on 0800 073 8801
- Speak with an advisor via the live chat function below
- Or contact us to request a free call back
Learn More About Criminal Injury Payout Amounts
This is the final section of our guide about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority maximum payout and CICA payout amounts. To help you further, we’ve provided some links to additional guides relating to criminal compensation payouts. We also offer helpful external resources. Please speak with an advisor if you require any further information.
- NHS Broken Bones – Information from the NHS could help you determine if you’ve broken a bone.
- Report A Crime – A guide that explains the different ways in which you could report a crime to the police.
- Victim Support – A charity that aims to support the victims of crime and traumatic events.
- Assault Compensation Claims – Guidance on how you could claim compensation following a criminal assault.
- Claiming For Historical Abuse – Information on how you could be entitled to claim for historical sexual abuse outside of the CICA time limits.
- Fatal Accident Claims – This guide provides information on claiming for wrongful death and fatal accidents.
For further information on CICA payout amounts or to ask us questions about criminal injury payouts we’ve achieved previously, please contact our team.
