Rape victim compensation advice

Rape and sexual assault victim compensation

If you have been the victim of a non-consensual penile penetrative sexual assault (otherwise known as a rape assault) you may be able to claim government compensation.

Quick Guide: What you need to know about claiming

We are the Criminal Claims Bureau a regulated firm who represent victims of rape wishing to claim compensation. Our updated 2025 compensation guide below will answer many of your questions but you can call us for advice on 01423 593002 or by Whatsapp / text 07707 338965 chat with our team online if we can assist you further.

Am I eligible to claim? (CICA Criteria)

The government compensation scheme in the UK for victims of violent and sexual crime is managed by an agency called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (or CICA) who are part of the Ministry of Justice.   

Eligibility rules are strictly applied. To claim under the scheme:

• You must report the crime to the police and there must be a full investigation
• You must cooperate fully with the investigation and assist any prosecution
• You must make your application for compensation WITHIN 2 YEARS of first reporting the abuse to the police

There are some exceptions to the 2 year time limit rule based on for example ill-health grounds but you should not miss the deadline if you can avoid doing so. Even if your police case has not been concluded.

CICA Payout awards for rape & sexual assault

The following figures are based on the official Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority tariff.

Cases where no court action is taken - police drop the complaint

It is not necessary for a case to go to court in order for a CICA claim to be considered following a rape assault. A victim can submit an application at any time following disclosure to the police. However it is advisable to await the end of the investigation if at all possible before claiming (subject to the application deadline being adhered to). If the police drop the case and investigation it may be more difficult to obtain an award. The official statistics show that the police do not have good success rates when it comes to handling sexual assault cases. However each case is assessed on its own merit and all award decisions are made on the civil law test "balance of probability" which is not the same burden of proof required in criminal proceedings.

Find out what you can do if the police decide not to prosecute an offender. Also read more about the appalling conviction rate for rape offences in England & Wales. The CICA will refuse to pay some claims - read why.

Call us to discuss your case today - 01423 593 002 or complete our enquiry form

How do you know your case will be accepted and you will receive an award?

Whether your rape assault compensation case is accepted or not will depend entirely on the CICA criteria being met and whether there is sufficient evidence to show that on the “balance of probability” a crime occurred. If your case has been to court, that is usually a good indicator of probability but it is also possible to receive a payout even if your case does not reach court as stated above. It really is a question of assessing the available evidence. If the police are supportive this can be a huge help to your case.

Top 4 reasons why some rape assault claims are refused

Not all applications will lead to an award being made to a victim of crime. Rape assault cases are notoriously difficult not only to bring to court but also in terms of their prospects of success compensation wise. Here are the top 4 reasons why some claims are refused:

• There is insufficient evidence to show that a crime occurred - usually concerning the question of consent
• The applicant has “live” or unspent criminal convictions - the CICA will refuse payment in such cases
• The applicant failed to cooperate with or otherwise assist the police during the investigation
• The claim was submitted too late, in other words after the permitted 2 year application deadline

If your case has been refused it may still be successfully reviewed or appealed - please SPEAK TO US on 01423 593002 or by Whatsapp / text 07707 338965

In the UK from 2023 - 2024 there were 200,000 sexual assault or abuse crimes recorded by the police. Almost 40% of these cases involved rape. (Source). What many sexual assault victims do not know is that they may be entitled to claim a government compensation payout through a scheme managed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (or CICA for short). Start your claim here.

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