If you are a survivor of sexual abuse considering your options for compensation, you may be grappling with getting answers to the many questions you have about the claims process. To support your compensation journey, we have made a guide on using a sexual abuse compensation calculator that addresses some common questions that survivors have.
Our guide will primarily focus on claiming through the government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). In particular, we’ll outline how the CICA decides someone’s eligibility to make a claim, how sexual abuse survivors might be compensated, and the evidence that could be needed.
Lastly, we take a look at how a specialist solicitor from our panel could help you claim compensation.
For more information about sexual abuse compensation claims and our panel of solicitors, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the details below:
- Contact us online.
- Ring us on 0800 408 7826.
- Talk to an advisor through our live chat.
Jump To A Section
- How A Sexual Abuse Compensation Calculator Could Help You
- Sexual Abuse Compensation Calculator – How Much Compensation?
- Do The CICA Award Compensation For Financial Losses?
- Could I Claim For Sexual Abuse Compensation?
- How To Start My Sexual Abuse Criminal Injuries Claim With CICA
- Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim Through CICA?
- Further Support For Victims Of Sexual Abuse
- More Information
How A Sexual Abuse Compensation Calculator Could Help You
A sexual abuse compensation calculator may be beneficial if you make a direct claim against your abuser or a third party that was vicariously liable (like a youth club or school). As an example of liability, a youth club might be held responsible for what you suffered if they failed to investigate reports that an employee was abusing children on their premises.
Sometimes, these routes aren’t viable. After all, you might not know who abused you. Even when their identity is known, an abuser needs to have enough funds to pay compensation for you to bring forward a claim against them.
For anyone who cannot pursue either of these two routes, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) becomes a “last resort” for seeking compensation. This option allows you to bring about a claim without needing your abuser to be identified or convicted.
Please keep reading to find out more about what the CICA does. For general information about sexual abuse claims, please speak to one of our trained advisors.
Sexual Abuse Compensation Calculator – How Much Compensation?
If you apply to the CICA for compensation, your case will be evaluated according to the rules of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. Often referred to simply as the Scheme, it uses a tariff-based system to assess the potential compensation someone can receive.
Depending on various factors, the Scheme offers a maximum compensation of £500,000 (which covers both injuries and some financial losses). As a reflection of the impact of abuse and sexual violence, the tariff system will consider whether you have multiple physical injuries, if you suffered a disabling mental injury, the pattern of abuse, and other aggravating factors.
For instance, the CICA may compensate assault claims differently depending on your age and whether you suffered both physical and mental injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Whilst you will be able to claim for up to three injuries, the CICA will make a compensation calculation through a “multiple injuries formula.” That means the Scheme pays out using the following method:
- The full compensation amount for the injury with the highest value
- 30% compensation for the second highest-paying injury
- 15% compensation for your third highest-valued injury
Alongside this formula, survivors may be entitled to further payments if their sexual abuse resulted in an STI or pregnancy (or the loss of a pregnancy). Since these are payments separate from the main tariff, the CICA will compensate survivors for the full amount.
Below is a table that includes some injuries outlined by the CICA (with the top figure not being from the Scheme). The compensation values listed are fixed, so what you receive won’t go under or above the amounts mentioned.
| Type of Criminal Injury | Notes | Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Forms of Criminal Injury And Special Expenses | This takes into account multiple injuries and special expenses like wheelchairs. | Up to £500,000 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration Of One Or More Of Vagina, Anus Or Mouth | Encompasses serious internal bodily injury and a severe type of mental illness that is permanent and disabling. | £44,000 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration Of One Or More Of Vagina, Anus Or Mouth | There will be multiple incidents spanning three years or more. | £22,000 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration Of One Or More Of Vagina, Anus Or Mouth | A single incident involving at least two perpetrators. | £13,500 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration Of One Or More Of Vagina, Anus Or Mouth | Involving a single perpetrator. | £11,000 |
| Sexual Assault | At least one instance of non-penile penetrative/oral genital acts causing a severe form of mental illness that is both disabling and permanent. | £27,000 |
| Sexual Assault | At least one instance of non-penile penetrative/oral genital acts causing a moderate form of mental illness that is both disabling and permanent. | £22,000 |
| Sexual Assault | Causing serious internal bodily injuries. | £22,000 |
| Infection With One Or More Of HIV, Hepatitis B Or Hepatitis C | Must be a direct result of the sexual abuse you suffered. This tariff is not subject to the multiple injuries formula. | £22,000 |
Do you have questions about our sexual abuse compensation calculator or the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme? Contact us today to speak with a team member.
Do The CICA Award Compensation For Financial Losses?
The CICA can reimburse certain financial losses as special expenses, but these must be reasonable and necessary. Further, the CICA states that it cannot cover costs that were otherwise available free of charge, such as medical treatment on the NHS.
So long as you meet the above criteria, you could claim for costs such as:
- Specialist equipment like wheelchairs
- Home improvements to accommodate your injuries, including handrails and ramps
- Damage to physical aids (like glasses and hearing aids) due to your abuse
- Care relating to bodily functions and/or food preparation
Claiming For A Loss Of Earnings Through The CICA
In addition to those special expenses, the CICA may compensate for a loss of earnings arising from your abuse if you meet their criteria. However, it’s best to remember that the CICA will only do so if you are unable to work for over 28 weeks. Essentially, that means the CICA does not cover any lost earnings incurred during the first 28-week period.
Would you like to know more about CICA claims calculations and how they affect financial losses? Connect with an advisor for free advice.
Could I Claim For Sexual Abuse Compensation?
If you file with the CICA, you will need to be sure that you meet their eligibility rules. The criteria is applied to all victims of violent crime and requires prospective applicants to show:
- The abuse was the result of a crime of violence (which includes the threat of violence as defined by the CICA)
- You are filing a claim within two years of the abuse (though the CICA may consider exceptional reasons for any delay)
- You made a report to the police and have a crime reference number
- Your abuse happened either in England, Scotland, or Wales or somewhere else that the law applies, including British-controlled aircraft and vessels
If you have questions about eligibility, reach out for free advice from our trained and friendly team. Otherwise, please keep reading our guide on using a sexual abuse compensation calculator.
How To Start My Sexual Abuse Criminal Injuries Claim With CICA
Once you’re certain about your eligibility, your next step will be to provide evidence to the CICA. Typically, you’ll need to have the following on hand when filing your claim:
- Medical evidence showing the injuries sustained due to your abuse
- Financial evidence detailing a loss of earnings or expenses directly resulting from your injuries
- Proof that you meet residency requirements set out by the CICA
- The crime reference number
After you file your claim, the CICA will communicate with the police using the crime reference number you supplied. If necessary, they may request additional information from you before making a final decision, but they will never ask that you give evidence proving your sexual abuse took place.
When you work with a solicitor from our panel, you can be confident that your legal representative will help with collecting any evidence that the CICA needs.
How Long Do I Have To Claim Through The CICA?
CICA claims usually need to be started within two years of the sexual abuse. Nevertheless, the CICA assesses every claim on an individual basis and considers applications made outside that window when there are exceptional circumstances (which can be especially relevant to cases of historic sexual abuse).
Moreover, the CICA makes allowances for children who were victims of a violent crime. However, the time limits here can be a little nuanced depending on what happened after the abuse:
- Survivors who informed the police at the time of their abuse have until their 20th birthday to begin a claim (unless someone with parental responsibility files for them before they turn 18)
- If the police were not informed when the abuse happened, survivors need to file a CICA claim within two years of making a police report
Our advisors are ready to answer any questions you have about time limits and evidence gathering.
Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim Through CICA?
Although you are under no obligation to use a solicitor, it can be beneficial to seek formal legal advice from experts familiar with the CICA and sexual abuse claims.
Our panel of solicitors have vast experience handling sexual abuse claims and prioritise the needs of every survivor. Indeed, working with us offers the following benefits:
- Clear advice that adheres to strict standards of confidentiality
- Help gathering supporting evidence
- All correspondence and paperwork handled where applicable
- A No Win No Fee funding arrangement for your claim
In particular, our panel of solicitors can offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). It essentially means you can start a claim without having to pay any immediate or ongoing fees for your solicitor’s work.
You also won’t have to pay a solicitor’s fee for a failed claim, but your legal representative will receive a success fee if you win. This fee is legally capped and is taken as a small percentage of your compensation.
Contact Our Panel
If you are a sexual abuse survivor and want to start a compensation claim with a solicitor from our panel, please get in touch using the details below:
- Contact us online.
- Ring us on 0800 408 7826.
- Talk to an advisor through our live chat.
Further Support For Victims Of Sexual Abuse
For some survivors, it can be difficult to find advice and support whilst processing the impact of sexual abuse. Whilst every survivor lives with different emotions and experiences, the following organisations may be of help:
- Rape Crisis England and Wales offers a 24/7 rape and sexual abuse support line
- The Survivors Trust provides specialist support services for survivors of sexual abuse and violence
- Rape Crisis delivers free specialist services across England and Wales
- Victim Support maintains support services for survivors of all forms of sexual violence
More Information
Read our guides on other types of claims:
- Calculating a personal injury claim for a brain injury.
- Detailing compensation for psychological injuries and anxiety.
- Outlining soft tissue compensation.
Additionally, you may find these to be helpful resources:
- The government sets out your rights following a crime.
- The charity Childline has guidance on sexual abuse.
- The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) charity has information about historic sexual abuse.
We appreciate you reading our guide about using a sexual abuse compensation calculator.