Domestic violence compensation claims

Domestic abuse - 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 husbands, wives and partners in a relationship.

The criminal injuries compensation Scheme is specifically for cases involving violence, sexual abuse or assault. Emotional abuse or coercion cases that do not involve any violence or sexual assault can be much more difficult as the Scheme does not cover such crimes. The same applies to economic or financial abuse issues but help for victims can be found on this website.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (known as the CICA) run a compensation scheme for blameless victims of violent crime in the UK. If you have suffered domestic or relationship abuse of a violent or sexual nature, you may be able to make a claim to the CICA subject to their eligibility criteria. Compensation can be claimed for both physical and mental injury (subject to psychiatric or clinical psychologist evidence).

Domestic abuse cases are on the rise in the UK.

The latest statistics for 2022 suggest that more than 900,000 cases of domestic abuse were recorded by the police in England & Wales within a 12 month period. An increase of 14% on the year before. Around 6% of people aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse during this period. What is less clear is how many of the offenders were prosecuted. More data here.

3 very good reasons for making a compensation claim following domestic violence:

1. The government pay your award from public funds - domestic abuse victims compensation is not paid by the offender(s).
2. Amounts starting from £2000 for physical injury or up to £22,000 for permanent mental injuries can be claimed. More on this below
3. All domestic abuse claims are strictly private & confidential.

Get the advice you need NOW to claim - Call our helpline and 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.

Domestic violence police investigation questions.

• What happens when you report domestic violence to the police?
• What is the next stage and will the case go to court?
• If the police drop the case - can you still claim?
• If a case is going to court - is it better to delay a claim?

More about claiming compensation from the CICA.

• About the CICA claims process online and scheme rules
• Top 4 reasons why some domestic violence claims are rejected

How much compensation can you claim following domestic violence?

• CICA compensation awards for domestic violent assault including GBH
• Claiming for serious psychological conditions such as PTSD
• Violent assault claims for grievous bodily harm (GBH) or actual bodily harm (ABH)

Call us to discuss your case today - 01423 593002 by Whatsapp / text 07707 338965 or complete our enquiry form

Has your case already been decided by the CICA? Please read our advice pages here on the initial decision review process or Tribunal Appeal applications. Please also read our dedicated page for victims of knife crime.

Dont know what to do next or where to start?

Speak to a friend: Be brave and tell a friend or relative about your situation. You need help and understanding, you will not be judged by people who really care you and your family.
Tell your GP: Your GP will listen and give you both medical attention and may offer some guidance.
Seek help from a charity: There are a number of very active and supportive charities who have experienced staff on hand to help you with advice and if needed, intervention. This could involve moving into a refuge or similar “safe house”.

Suffering in silence may just lead to more suffering for you and your family.

Read our dedicated domestic abuse support page here. Or visit the Womens Aid charity website for hands on support and local resources..

What happens when you report domestic violence to the police?

If you have been the victim of a crime then you would ordinarily report the matter to the police without hesitation. This rule may not always apply to domestic violence. Most victims will put up with a huge amount of abuse or physical pain before making the brave decision to contact the police. There is a point at which your personal wellbeing and safety, not to mention the safety of your children, must become your top priority.

All police authorities across the UK have dedicated staff to assist victims and their families. Your case will be taken seriously and you will be in safe hands. The support networks that are funded and promoted by the police will ensure that you receive the help you need whilst the criminal acts are investigated.

You will not be turned away. You will not have to deal with uncaring or unwilling professionals. You will be looked after and safeguarded. If the crimes are serious enough, your partner may be charged. Prosecutions are now very common and you will need to cooperate where possible.

A common offence used in domestic violence is Grievous bodily harm (GBH) which is a criminal offence under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. This very old but still effective legislation is in place to protect victims of violence.

More advice here on what happens when you report domestic abuse to the police.

YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY – COME FIRST

What is the next stage and will the case go to court?

The police will want to interview all relevant parties and witnesses to the domestic abuse. The witness statement from the “complainant” will usually be in video form once the initial disclosure has taken place. The offender may also be interviewed under caution on video. Additional evidence will be considered such as medical records, phone based media evidence and any witnesses spoken to. The matter will in due course be considered for a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England & Wales or the The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in Scotland for the decision to be made on a possible prosecution (which means going to court). If the case is to proceed a trial date or window will then be set. The process can take anywhere from 1-2 years.

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.

If a case is going to court - is it better to delay a claim?

If a case is likely to go to trial it is sensible in many cases to consider delaying your claim. The objective of any criminal investigation is to successfully prosecute the offender to protect you and the public. The problem however is that the CICA compensation rules stipulate you must make a claim within 2 years of the incident or the police being involved. Some leeway is allowed when criminal proceedings are ongoing but if you are wary of missing your deadline you may wish to claim sooner rather than later.

About the CICA claims process online and scheme rules.

The CICA was set up in 1964 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.

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:

1. The applicant is still in a relationship or has communication with the offender
2. The applicant has “live” or unspent criminal convictions - the CICA will refuse payment in such cases
3. The applicant failed to cooperate with the police during the investigation and this frustrated the prosecution process
4. 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?

Some common domestic violence example award payouts are listed below:

• intermittent physical assaults resulting in an accumulation of healed wounds = £2000
• Severe abuse pattern of repetitive violence resulting in minor disfigurement = £5,500
• Persistent pattern of severe abuse over a period more than 3 years = £8,200

You can read more about GBH and ABH below.

Many domestic violence victims will suffer from serious mental health issues due to their abusive experiences. If you suffer with such issues you can claim for this element but subject to very specific medical evidence, you may also be able to claim a criminal injury loss of earnings award. Your condition must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist and there has to be a direct link to the events (abuse) not other factors in your life. This is the standard of evidence that the CICA require and the bar is set deliberately high. *But* if you have a diagnosis and can provide such evidence, the following compensation awards are achievable:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) recovery likely within 3 years = £6,500
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) recovery likely but lasting 5 years or more = £13,500
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) condition likely to be lifelong/permanent = £22,000
• Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) generally deemed lifelong/permanent = £22,000

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

Here are just a few charities we would recommend:

Domestic violence justice campaign - End Violence Against Women

Womens Aid & Refuge helplines

Victim Support

NHS domestic abuse support page