The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-funded agency established to give the victims of violent crimes a means of claiming compensation for their injuries. In this guide, we look specifically at historic abuse claims.
We’ll cover key aspects of claiming compensation for historic offences, including what a historic abuse claim is, the time limit in this type of claim and how the CICA calculate compensation from a fixed tariff of injury.
At the bottom of the guide, we examine the No Win No Fee agreement offered by our panel of expert criminal injury solicitors.
To get a free assessment of your eligibility to claim or to ask any questions about the CICA claims process, contact our team today using the contact information given here:
- Call us on 0800 408 7826.
- You can also contact us through our website by completing the callback form.
- Finally, open the live chat window on your screen now.
Select A Section
- Compensation Calculator For Historic Abuse Claims
- How Do I Make A Historic Abuse Claim?
- Is There A Time Limit For Historic Abuse Claims?
- What Do I Need To Claim Sexual Abuse Compensation With The CICA?
- Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim Historical Abuse Compensation?
- Will My Information Remain Confidential?
- Read More About How To Claim Compensation For Injuries
Compensation Calculator For Historic Abuse Claims
Compensation for historic abuse claims made through the CICA is awarded in line with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 tariff of injury. What this means is the injuries will be valued at a fixed amount which is then paid out to successful claimants.
You can make use of our CICA claims calculator to get a rough estimate of what your claim could be worth. Nevertheless we have collated some of the tariff values for your reference in the table below. The top entry is not a tariff figure; this is the maximum the CICA will payout, including any loss of earnings and special expenses payments in the event of a successful criminal injury compensation claim.
Compensation Table
Please be advised that the amounts given here are fixed.
Type of Injury | Tariff Amount | Notes |
---|---|---|
Sexual Abuse With Additional Damages | Up to £500,000 | Compensation for the harm caused by the abuse, in addition to special expenses and loss of earnings. |
Non-consensual Penile Penetration where the victim is a minor | £44,000 | Resulting in serious internal injury and permanently disabling severe mental illness. |
£27,000 | Non-consensual penile penetration that results in severe and permanently disabling mental illness. | |
£22,000 | Resulting in serious internal bodily injuries | |
Sexual Assault where the victim is a minor | £22,000 | Sexual assault that results in severe and permanently disabling mental illness |
£8,200 | Pattern of repetitive, frequent incidents over a period of 3 years or more. | |
£6,600 | Repeated and frequent abuse over a period of up to 3 years. | |
Other payments | £22,000 | Infection with one or more of HIV, Hepatitis B or C |
£11,000 | Contraction of an sexually transmitted infection other than HIV, Hepatitis B or C that causes permanent disability. |
In cases where more than one injury has been sustained, the CICA will apply the Multiple Injuries Formula in the following:
- 100% of the tariff amount for the injury with the highest value.
- 30% of the tariff amount for the injury with the second highest value.
- 15% of the tariff amount for the injury with the third highest value.
Further compensation could be awarded from a different tariff if the incident caused you to become pregnant, lose a foetus or contract a sexually transmitted disease.
Special Expenses in Historic Abuse Claims
As part of your claim, you may also be eligible to claim special expenses. This refers to certain costs incurred as a result of the injuries you suffered in the violent crime. We have provided a few examples here:
- The cost of managing your affairs if your mental capacity has been affected.
- Damage to equipment you relied upon as a physical aid.
- Home adaptations.
- The cost of care for food preparation and managing your bodily functions.
- Equipment needed to cope with your injuries.
You may also be able to claim for a loss of earnings if the injuries you sustained impacted your ability to undertake work. Certain eligibility criteria apply when claiming special expenses and loss of earnings payments.
You can get further information on historical abuse compensation by speaking to our advisory team.
How Do I Make A Historic Abuse Claim?
Historic abuse, also referred to as non-recent abuse, is abuse that occurred while the victim was still a minor. Historic abuse claims can be made through the CICA and valued according to the fixed tariff of injury from the 2012 Scheme.
In order to claim for historic abuse, through the CICA you will need to meet the eligibility criteria. These are:
- The incident must have taken place in Great Britain or another relevant place, such as a boar registered in England, Wales or Scotland.
- You must have been injured in a crime of violence as defined by the Scheme. This includes sexual abuse.
- You must have reported the incident to the police.
Does The ‘Same Roof Rule’ Still Apply?
The ‘same roof rule’ prevented those who were living with their assailant as a family member from being awarded compensation if the incident took place between August 1964 and September 1979.
In 2019, this rule was abolished, meaning that if you still currently live with your assailant as a family member, you are still eligible to claim criminal injury compensation.
Is There A Time Limit For Historic Abuse Claims?
Generally, you have 2 years to begin a claim through the CICA, starting from the date the incident took place. Exceptions can apply to this time limit, but it will need to be proved than excperional circumstances prevented you from starting your claim within this time. Additionally, the CICA will assess these on a case-by-case basis.
However, for those injured under the age of 18, the time limits are as follows:
- The incident was reported to the police – You will have 2 years from your 18th birthday to claim.
- The incident was not reported to the police – You will have two years from the date you make this report (following your 18th birthday) to claim. Proof will also need to be provided that shows exceptional circumstances prevented you from making this report sooner.
How Long Can Historical Abuse Claims Take?
There is no set time frame on how long historic abuse claims can take. Each claim will be assessed on its individual facts, and many different factors can influence the length of the claim.
These factors can include:
- The extent of the harm caused.
- Whether or not you’re seeking special expenses.
- Waiting for a healthcare provider to disclose medical documents.
- The length of the police investigation and waiting for the CICA to acquire that evidence.
However long your claim takes, the solicitors from our panel can help you build a case and support you throughout the process. To find out more about claiming assault compensation for historical abuse, speak to advisors using the contact information provided below.
What Do I Need To Claim Sexual Abuse Compensation With The CICA?
Making a criminal injury claim through the CICA will require the submission of some supporting evidence. The evidence you will need is as follows.
- Your police crime reference number. This is why you need to report the crime to the police.
- Medical evidence of the injuries you sustained.
- Proof you meet the residency requirements.
The CICA will never ask you for proof of the crime occurring. They will coordinate with the police to acquire that information and any additional information they need regarding your case.
You can inquire further about gathering evidence for a criminal injury claim by speaking to our advisors.
Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim Historical Abuse Compensation?
While you have no legal obligation to instruct a solicitor, you will definitely benefit from a knowledgeable and experienced legal representative in your corner. A solicitor could provide support throughout the claims process and assist you with tasks such as collecting evidence, explaining legal jargon and ensuring you’re meeting the relevant time limits.
Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Our panel of solicitors can offer their services under a No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This type of contract puts the advantage firmly with the claimants, delivering benefits including:
- No fees to pay for the solicitor to start work on the case.
- No fees for that work during the claims process itself.
- No fees if the claim does not succeed.
Should you win your claim however, you shall be awarded criminal injuries compensation. A percentage of this compensation will make up the solicitor’s success fee. As success fees are subject to a legally binding cap by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, you will keep most of any compensation that is paid out.
To see whether one of the solicitors on our panel could assist you with your claim, you can contact our advisors.
Will My Information Remain Confidential?
When it comes to historic abuse claims, we understand that confidentiality is a major concern. You can rest assured that our panel of expert criminal injury solicitors adhere to the strictest possible standards of confidentiality and have years of experience in dealing with these difficult and sensitive claims.
To learn about our confidentiality commitments, or to check if you’re eligible to make a claim, contact our advisory team today using the contact information given here:
- Call us on 0800 408 7826
- You can also contact us through our website by completing the callback form.
- Finally, open the live chat window on your screen now.
Read More About How To Claim Compensation For Injuries
We also handle more than just criminal injury claims:
- Use our work injury damages guide to see what you could claim after an accident at work.
- Learn more about calculating compensation for a brain injury with this guide.
- Read our guide on pedestrian accident claims here.
We have also included some external resources for additional information:
- Learn more about your rights after a crime with this Government resource.
- Access help and support from charity Victim Support through their website.
- You can report a crime to the Police by clicking here.
Thank you for taking the time to read our historic abuse claims guide. For further guidance, or a free assessment of your eligibility to claim, contact our advisors today using the contact details provided above.