Domestic abuse and how to claim your government award
If you have suffered injury or harm as a result of domestic violence or sexual abuse in the UK then you may be able to claim much needed government funded criminal injuries compensation to help you recover from your ordeal.
Find out more regarding the claims process for domestic violence and abuse victims and how much compensation can be claimed through a government Scheme. This page relates to abuse or assault committed by partners in a relationship.
📋 Key Takeaways: Domestic Abuse Compensation
✅No win No fee: Guaranteed with our service✅Claim Time Limit: Usually 2 years from police report (but some late claims allowed)✅Average Payout: £1,000-13,500*
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over (1.6 million women and 712,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in year ending March 2024. {source}
HELP & SUPPORT: If you need abuse support right now - help is available
You can contact a local service for confidential advice here or use the links at the foot of this page.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) run a government compensation scheme specifically for cases involving violence, sexual abuse or assault.
Are you eligible to claim?
The government compensation scheme was set up to provide victims of violent or sexual crime with much needed compensation following their ordeal. The scheme itself has a number of quirky and very strict eligibility rules and their criteria must be met in order for any award to be made. The key criteria is that your complaint must be reported to the police, you must apply within 2 years of this date and must cooperate at all times during the police investigation. Your criminal record will be checked to see if you personally have any convictions - this can lead to a claim being refused. More here on why unspent criminal convictions can be a serious issue.
3 good reasons for claiming compensation claim for domestic violence:
The government pay your award from public funds - domestic abuse victims compensation is not paid by the offender(s).
Amounts starting from £2000 for physical injury or up to £22,000 for permanent mental harm can be claimed. More on this below
All domestic abuse claims are strictly private & confidential.
Get the advice you need NOW to claim - speak confidentially to a specialist legal advisor. Call us to discuss your case today - 01423 593002 by Whatsapp / text 07707 338965 or complete our enquiry form.
If the police drop the case - can you still claim?
You can still submit an application for CICA domestic violence compensation even if the police decide against taking the offender to court. There can be many reasons why court action does not take place and the police will usually explain fully why a prosecution is not possible. If you wish to dispute a "no further action" (NFA) decision please read our advice page. A decision not to proceed may have an impact on your compensation claim as the CICA will need convincing that the crimes occurred in the way described. However we find that a supportive police team can be a huge benefit if you are to make a claim.
How the police sign off on the case can influence the CICA and if they find you credible and offer a sympathetic view of your case this may help your claim prospects.
Top 4 reasons why some domestic violence claims are rejected.
Not all applications will lead to an award being made to a victim of domestic violence. These cases are difficult for the CICA to assess because they involve relationships and families. So what issues may lead to a claim for domestic abuse being refused? Here are the top 4 reasons why some applications are refused:
The applicant is still in a relationship or has communication with the offender
The applicant has “live” or unspent criminal convictions - the CICA will refuse payment in such cases
The applicant failed to cooperate with the police during the investigation and this frustrated the prosecution process
The claim was submitted too late, in other words after the permitted application deadline
How much compensation can you claim following domestic violence including GBH?
Note: You will typically receive the full tariff amount for the most serious injury, and reduced amounts (30% or 15%) for additional injuries.
Claiming for serious psychological conditions such as PTSD.
It is highly probable that anyone who endures a rape or sexual assault will suffer a psychological impact. Many victims are diagnosed with depression or anxiety but also Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is a condition that can be easily identified by mental health specialists. Treatment can include cognitive behavioural therapy otherwise known as CBT and medication. More serious long-term sufferers may revert to more specialised therapy known as "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing" (EMDR). This therapy is highly effective but not commonly available across the UK under the NHS.
In order to receive an award for a serious mental health issue any condition must be classified as a "disabling mental injury" and as stated above diagnosed by a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. PTSD would certainly come under the disabling category but you must ensure that you have the necessary medical evidence in place. The CICA do not accept evidence from your GP or counsellor / therapist.
Violent assault claims for grievous bodily harm (GBH) or actual bodily harm (ABH).
Most domestic cases that we deal with involve violent assault. Such crimes usually fall into two categories of charges: ABH and GBH. Here we explain more about these offences.
What is the difference between ABH and GBH? Actual bodily harm (ABH) is a criminal offence under Section 47 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and generally relates to cases where less serious injuries have been sustained by the victim. Grievous bodily harm (GBH) is a criminal offence under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. This category is for cases where the injuries inflicted cause permanent harm or damage or are otherwise deemed more serious.
You can obtain compensation for violent assault where your partner has injured you in such circumstances and the matter has been reported to the police. You must fully cooperate with the police in any subsequent investigation and contribute fully to a prosecution if charges are brought.
Call us to discuss your domestic abuse case today - 01423 593002 by Whatsapp / text 07707 338965 or complete our enquiry form
