Criminal Injury Compensation - CICA Claims Explained

If you have been injured as the innocent victim of a violent crime in England or Wales, you may be entitled to compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Unlike a claim against a negligent driver or employer, a CICA claim does not depend on suing the offender. Instead, it is a government-funded scheme that recognises the harm done to blameless victims of violence, even where the attacker was never caught, charged or convicted.

This guide explains, in plain English, how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme works in 2026: who can claim, the strict time limits, how awards are calculated, what can reduce or refuse a payment, and how MCR Solicitors in Manchester can help you build the strongest possible claim.

What is CICA and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme?

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is the executive agency that administers the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, currently the 2012 Scheme, on behalf of the government. It covers incidents that happen in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates a separate scheme with its own rules, so if you were injured there you should check the relevant Northern Ireland guidance.

The Scheme exists to compensate people who suffer a serious physical or mental injury because they were the direct and innocent victim of a crime of violence. Because it is funded by the taxpayer rather than by the offender, the rules on eligibility are strict and the awards are set by a fixed tariff rather than negotiated case by case. Importantly, applying to CICA is free and you do not need a solicitor to apply. However, the rules are technical, the evidence requirements are demanding, and mistakes can permanently reduce or defeat a genuine claim, which is where experienced legal help makes a real difference.

Who is eligible to claim criminal injury compensation?

To have a valid claim, you generally need to show that you were the victim of a crime of violence and that you suffered an injury serious enough to qualify for an award. The main categories of eligible applicant include:

• Direct victims of violent crime such as physical assault, wounding, robbery with violence, arson or an attack with a weapon.
• Victims of sexual assault, rape and child sexual abuse, including historic abuse that took place many years ago.
• People injured while taking a justified risk to stop a crime or apprehend an offender, sometimes called a claim by a would-be rescuer.
• Those who suffered a recognised mental injury as a result of witnessing, or being present at, a violent crime involving a loved one.
• Qualifying relatives of someone who died as a result of a crime of violence, who may claim a bereavement payment, dependency payments and funeral costs.

A crime of violence is central to the claim. Compensation is not usually available for pure property damage, for most road traffic incidents (which are generally handled through motor insurance or the Motor Insurers Bureau) unless the vehicle was deliberately used as a weapon, or for injuries where there was no violence involved.

Do you have to report the crime to the police?

Yes. One of the firmest requirements of the Scheme is that the incident was reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. A crime reference number is normally essential. CICA will also expect you to have cooperated fully with the police investigation and any prosecution. Failing to report the incident, withdrawing a complaint, or refusing to assist the authorities are among the most common reasons a claim is refused, so early reporting is critical.

Can you claim if the offender was never caught or convicted?

Yes. You do not need the attacker to be identified, charged or convicted for CICA to make an award. The Authority applies its own standard of proof and can decide that you were the victim of a crime of violence even where no one was ever prosecuted. This is one of the key advantages of the Scheme compared with suing an individual offender, who may be unknown or have no money to pay.

What are the time limits for a CICA claim?

Time limits are one of the most important and most misunderstood parts of the process. As a general rule under the 2012 Scheme:

• Adults must apply within two years of the incident that caused the injury.
• Children have different rules. Where the incident was reported to the police while the applicant was still a child, the two-year period generally runs from their 18th birthday. Where it was not reported at the time, the period usually runs from the date the incident was first reported.

CICA does have discretion to extend the time limit in exceptional circumstances, for example in cases of childhood sexual abuse where a victim could not reasonably have been expected to come forward sooner. However, an extension is not automatic. You will need to show both that the delay was reasonable and that a claim can still be fairly assessed on the available evidence. Because the two-year limit is much shorter than the usual personal injury limitation period, you should seek advice quickly rather than assume you have time.

How much compensation can you get? The CICA tariff

CICA awards are calculated using a fixed tariff of injuries set out in the Scheme, not by open negotiation. Each qualifying injury has a defined band and a corresponding payment. This means the outcome depends heavily on correctly categorising your injuries and providing medical evidence that supports the highest applicable tariff band.

A CICA award can be made up of several elements:

• A tariff payment for the injury itself, reflecting its type and severity, for example a fracture, scarring, loss of function, a recognised psychiatric injury or the effects of a sexual assault.
• Payments for multiple injuries, where the Scheme typically pays the full tariff for the most serious injury and a reduced percentage for the next most serious injuries, subject to the Scheme's rules.
• Loss of earnings, available only in more serious cases where you have little or no capacity to work, usually after an initial period of incapacity. Where payable, loss of earnings is calculated by reference to a statutory rate rather than your full salary, which surprises many applicants.
• Special expenses, such as certain care costs, specialist equipment, adaptations or property damaged in the incident, subject to strict qualifying conditions.
• Fatal-case payments, including bereavement payments for qualifying relatives, dependency payments and reasonable funeral expenses.

There is a maximum total award that can be paid under the Scheme, and there is also a minimum threshold, meaning the least serious injuries do not attract any payment. Because both the tariff figures and the earnings and expenses rates are set by the Scheme and can be updated, you should always check the current tariff and thresholds on the official CICA pages at gov.uk, or ask a solicitor to confirm the up-to-date figures for your specific injuries.

Loss of earnings and special expenses explained

Many applicants assume CICA will reimburse their lost wages pound for pound. In practice, loss of earnings is only considered once you have been unable to work, or had very limited capacity to work, for a defined initial period, and it is then generally paid at a set statutory rate rather than your actual salary. Special expenses are similarly restricted, usually only becoming available where your incapacity has lasted beyond a threshold period. Getting these elements right requires careful evidence of your medical condition, your work history and your ongoing needs.

What can reduce or refuse your CICA award?

Even a genuine victim can have an award reduced or refused. The most common reasons include:

• Unspent criminal convictions. The Scheme contains a strict points-based system. Certain unspent convictions can reduce your award, and more serious ones can lead to a complete refusal, even where the offence is unrelated to the attack you suffered.
• Failure to report promptly or cooperate. Not reporting the crime as soon as reasonably practicable, or failing to assist the police and prosecution, can defeat a claim.
• Your own conduct. If your behaviour before, during or after the incident contributed to what happened, for example your involvement in a fight or provocation, the award may be reduced or refused.
• Delay in applying beyond the time limit without a good reason.
• Character and conduct generally, where CICA considers it would not be appropriate to make a full award.

These provisions are complex and heavily fact-sensitive. If you have previous convictions or are worried about how your conduct might be viewed, it is far better to take advice before applying than to have a claim damaged by an avoidable error.

How to apply to CICA: step by step

1. Report the crime to the police and obtain a crime reference number if you have not already done so.
2. Get medical treatment and make sure your injuries, both physical and psychological, are properly recorded by your GP, hospital or a mental health professional.
3. Gather your evidence, including the crime reference, details of any prosecution, medical records and evidence of financial losses.
4. Submit your application, which can be done online through the official CICA service on gov.uk, or with the help of a solicitor who can prepare and present it for you.
5. Cooperate with CICA as it gathers police and medical evidence and assesses your claim. This stage can take many months, and complex cases such as historic abuse or serious injury can take considerably longer.
6. Receive the decision. If you are unhappy with it, you can ask CICA to review the decision, and if still dissatisfied you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

Because processing times vary and are subject to change, you should not rely on a fixed timescale. Ask CICA or your solicitor for a realistic estimate based on the current position and the complexity of your case.

Reviews and appeals if your claim is refused or too low

If CICA refuses your claim, or you believe the award is too low or has been wrongly reduced, you have the right to request a review within the Scheme's deadline. If the review outcome is still unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the independent First-tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation). These deadlines are short and strict. A well-prepared review or appeal, supported by fresh medical evidence and clear legal argument, can substantially change the outcome, which is where specialist representation is especially valuable.

Do you need a solicitor for a CICA claim?

You are entitled to apply to CICA yourself for free, and CICA does not pay your legal costs out of an award in the way an ordinary personal injury claim might. However, that does not mean legal help has no value. The most serious and highest-value claims, including complex psychiatric injury, serious physical injury, historic abuse and fatal cases, are precisely the ones where correctly categorising injuries, assembling the right medical evidence, dealing with conviction and conduct issues, and pursuing reviews and appeals can make a very large difference to the outcome. A solicitor can manage the whole process, protect you from avoidable mistakes, and make sure your claim is presented at its strongest.

How MCR Solicitors can help

At MCR Solicitors in Manchester, our personal injury team has extensive experience guiding victims of violent crime through the CICA process. We can advise you on eligibility and time limits, deal with the paperwork and evidence, address any conviction or conduct concerns sensitively, and represent you at review and tribunal stage if your claim is refused or undervalued. We understand that behind every claim is a person who has been through something traumatic, and we handle every case with care and discretion.

To find out whether you can claim criminal injury compensation, call MCR Solicitors today on 0161 466 1280 for a confidential, no-obligation discussion of your case. The two-year time limit is short, so the sooner you speak to us, the better we can protect your position.

Frequently asked questions about CICA claims

How long does a CICA claim take?

There is no fixed timescale. Straightforward cases may be decided in several months, while complex claims involving serious injury, historic abuse or a pending prosecution can take considerably longer because CICA must gather police and medical evidence. Ask CICA or your solicitor for a current estimate, as processing times change over time.

Can I claim if the attacker was never caught or convicted?

Yes. You do not need the offender to have been identified, charged or convicted. CICA can decide on its own assessment that you were the victim of a crime of violence, provided you reported the incident to the police promptly and cooperated with the investigation.

What is the time limit for making a CICA claim?

Adults generally have two years from the date of the incident. Different rules apply to children, and CICA has discretion to extend the limit in exceptional cases, such as childhood sexual abuse. Because the limit is short and extensions are not guaranteed, you should seek advice as soon as possible.

How much compensation will I receive?

Awards are based on a fixed tariff set by the Scheme according to the type and severity of your injury, with possible additional payments for loss of earnings, special expenses and, in fatal cases, bereavement and dependency. There is a minimum threshold and a maximum total award. Check the current tariff figures on gov.uk or ask a solicitor to assess your specific injuries.

Will my own criminal record affect my claim?

It can. The Scheme uses a points-based system for unspent convictions, and certain convictions can reduce or even completely refuse an award, regardless of the attack you suffered. If you have previous convictions, take legal advice before applying so your position can be assessed properly.

Does it cost anything to apply to CICA?

Applying to CICA is free, and you can do it yourself online through gov.uk. If you instruct a solicitor, you should discuss how any fees would be handled before you proceed. Many victims choose legal help for the more serious or complex claims, where getting the evidence and categorisation right has a major impact on the award.