Nayyars Solicitors · Personal Injury Guide

CICA Claims: Time Limits, Timescales and What to Expect

Being the victim of a violent crime can turn your life upside down. Alongside the physical injuries, many people live with fear, anxiety and financial strain long after the incident itself. Often the person responsible has no money, or was never caught, so suing them is not a realistic option.

That is where the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) comes in. CICA is a government body that pays compensation to blameless victims of violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. CICA claims have strict rules, including a two-year time limit, and knowing them from the start makes a real difference.

This guide explains who can claim, the time limits, how long CICA claims take, how awards are worked out, and what to expect at each stage. Our personal injury solicitors help victims of crime through the process, including reviews and appeals.

What is a CICA claim?

A CICA claim is an application for compensation from the state, rather than from the offender or an insurer. The scheme exists because many victims of violent crime would otherwise have no realistic way of being compensated.

A "crime of violence" is defined broadly. It includes physical assaults, sexual assault and abuse, including historic childhood abuse, and incidents where someone was deliberately put in fear of immediate violence. Injuries can be physical or mental, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, provided they are diagnosed by an appropriate professional. Family members of someone who died as a result of a violent crime may also be able to claim.

Who can claim?

To be eligible, you must normally be a direct victim of a crime of violence that happened in England, Scotland or Wales, and meet residency or nationality requirements. The incident must have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable, and you must cooperate as far as reasonably possible with bringing the offender to justice.

Importantly, the offender does not need to have been identified, charged or convicted. CICA makes its own decision on the balance of probabilities, using police records and other evidence. Northern Ireland has its own separate scheme.

CICA time limits

The CICA time limit is much shorter than for other injury claims. Adults must usually apply within two years of the incident, compared with three years for most personal injury claims through the courts.

Different rules apply to people injured as children. If the crime was reported to the police before your 18th birthday, you have until your 20th birthday to apply. If it was first reported when you were 18 or over, you have two years from the date of that first police report. This allows survivors of historic childhood abuse to apply once they feel able to come forward.

CICA can extend the time limit only in exceptional circumstances that prevented an earlier application, and only where the claim can still be decided without extensive further enquiries. Extensions are not guaranteed, so it is important to apply as soon as you can. Official details are set out in the GOV.UK guide to criminal injuries compensation.

How CICA awards are calculated

Unlike court claims, CICA uses a fixed tariff of injuries, with set amounts for each type of injury ranging from £1,000 to £250,000. Injuries that do not reach the minimum level are not compensated. Where you have several injuries, you receive the full amount for the most serious, 30% for the second and 15% for the third.

On top of the injury payment, you may receive a payment for lost earnings if you have been unable to work, or have had very limited capacity to work, for more than 28 weeks because of the injury. This is paid at a set rate rather than your actual salary. Special expenses, such as the cost of care, equipment and home adaptations, may also be paid in some cases. The total of all payments cannot exceed £500,000.

Where someone has died, qualifying relatives may receive a bereavement payment, help with funeral costs, and dependency payments if they relied on the person financially. Our fatal claims solicitors can support families with these applications.

When awards can be reduced or refused

CICA can refuse or reduce an award in several situations. These include failing to report the crime promptly or cooperate with the police, conduct before, during or after the incident that makes a full award inappropriate, such as being involved in the fight, and character, which is mainly assessed through criminal convictions.

An award will not be made if you have certain unspent convictions, such as a custodial sentence or community order. Other unspent convictions can lead to a reduction calculated using a points system. This rule has been criticised, particularly as it affects some survivors of abuse, but the government confirmed in 2025 that it was not changing the scheme in this respect.

Any compensation you have received from the offender, through a civil claim or a court compensation order, is also usually deducted.

How long does a CICA claim take?

CICA aims to decide most applications within 12 months, but more complex cases can take longer. Claims involving serious injuries, psychological injury, loss of earnings or historic abuse often need detailed medical evidence and records, which add time.

The main stages are:

1. You submit the application online, with details of the incident, the police report and your injuries.
2. CICA contacts the police to confirm the crime was reported and check your cooperation.
3. CICA gathers medical evidence about your injuries, which can take several months.
4. A claims officer makes a decision and, if successful, offers an award.
5. You accept the offer, or ask for a review if you disagree.

If your claim is likely to succeed but the final value cannot yet be decided, for example because you are still recovering, CICA may make an interim payment. Responding quickly to requests for information also helps your claim move faster.

Reviews and appeals

If you disagree with CICA's decision, whether it is a refusal or the amount of the award, you can ask for a review. A review must normally be requested within 56 days of the original decision, and it is carried out by a different claims officer.

If you are still unhappy after the review, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Criminal Injuries Compensation), usually within 90 days of the review decision. The tribunal is independent of CICA and can increase, reduce or uphold the award, so it is worth taking advice before appealing.

Do you need a solicitor?

You do not have to use a solicitor to make a CICA claim, and applying is free. Many straightforward claims are made directly. However, a solicitor can help where your injuries are serious or psychological, where you are claiming for lost earnings or special expenses, where eligibility is in doubt, or where you want to challenge a decision.

A specialist can also check whether you might have a separate claim against someone else, for example an employer who failed to protect you from violence at work, which may lead to higher compensation. Our criminal injury compensation solicitors will explain your options clearly, including any fees, before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time limit for a CICA claim?

Adults normally have two years from the date of the incident. If you were injured as a child and it was reported before you turned 18, you have until your 20th birthday. If it was first reported when you were 18 or over, you have two years from that report.

How long does a CICA claim take?

CICA aims to decide most applications within 12 months. Complex claims, such as those involving serious or psychological injuries, loss of earnings or historic abuse, can take longer.

Can I claim from CICA if the offender was not convicted?

Yes. The offender does not need to be identified, charged or convicted. CICA decides on the balance of probabilities, but the crime must have been reported to the police and you must have cooperated.

How much compensation does CICA pay?

Injury payments range from £1,000 to £250,000 under a fixed tariff. Payments for lost earnings and special expenses may be added, up to a maximum total award of £500,000.

Can I challenge a CICA decision?

Yes. You can request a review within 56 days of the decision. If you are still unhappy, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, usually within 90 days of the review decision.

Conclusion

CICA claims offer an important route to compensation for victims of violent crime, even when the offender is never caught. The rules are strict, though: you normally have only two years to apply, the crime must be reported to the police, and awards follow a fixed tariff with set reductions for conduct and convictions.

Most decisions are made within a year, but complex claims can take longer, and reviews and appeals are available if you disagree. Applying early, keeping good records and taking advice where your claim is complicated will give you the best chance of a fair outcome.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, so please contact Nayyars Solicitors for advice specific to your situation.