If you have been sexually abused, compensation won’t make what happened right but it could help to deal with any physical or psychological injuries. In this guide on sexual abuse compensation claims, we’ll discuss when you could receive a compensation payout through a government-operated scheme. We’ll also explain how one of our specialist solicitors could help you through the claims process.

We have a team of specially trained advisors who treat all calls compassionately and in complete confidence. They’ll advise you on your options and review your case with you to see if you might be eligible to claim. If you decide to proceed and one of our solicitors agrees to represent you, they will manage everything for you. That means that once they’ve got all the information they need, you shouldn’t have to discuss the case with anybody else. What’s more, they’ll work on a No Win No Fee basis meaning any legal fees will be deducted from any compensation rather than having to be paid upfront.

Please call our free advice line on 0800 6524 881 if you’d like to discuss a sexual abuse compensation claim or continue reading to find out more.

Am I Eligible To Make A Sexual Abuse Compensation Claim?

Victims of sexual abuse may be entitled to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). They operate a scheme that compensates victims of violent crimes for their suffering. Importantly, claims can be made to cover both physical and psychological injuries.

You could be eligible to make a sexual abuse compensation claim through the CICA if you’ve been subjected to:

• Rape.
• Sexual assault.
• Child sexual abuse (a parent would claim on behalf of the child in this instance).
• Historical sexual abuse.
• Sexual exploitation.
• Other forms of sexual abuse.

Please contact us if you’d like to discuss your options or have any questions about claiming.

CICA Criteria For Sexual Abuse Claims

Claims that are made via the CICA scheme have different criteria than other types of personal injury claims. We’ve listed some of the most important rules relating to sexual abuse claims below:

1. You must have reported the crime to the police and have a crime reference number.
2. You must cooperate with the police so that they can investigate the crime fully.
3. Your claim must be made within 2 years of it being reported.

The time limit of 2 years can be extended in some circumstances. For example, the CICA may process claims after the deadline if the claimant has suffered from mental health problems.

Non-Recent Sexual Abuse Claims

Non-recent sexual abuse is another term for historical sexual abuse. It usually covers sexual abuse involving children. This may involve sexual abuse by parents, carers, siblings and other relatives.

It is important to remember that the 2-year time limit will not start from the date you were abused. That’s because many people aren’t able to talk about what happened to them until much later in life. Therefore, the time limit for historical sexual abuse claims through the CICA starts from when you reported the crime to the police.

Does The Abuser Need To Have Been Prosecuted?

The CICA operates in a different way from the courts when dealing with sexual abuse compensation claims. Where a criminal trial must prove guilt ‘beyond reasonable doubt’, CICA officers review claims on the balance of probabilities. To do this, they’ll review all of the evidence available to them.

This is important because it means you could claim compensation for sexual abuse even if:

• Your abuser was never identified, charged or prosecuted.
• The police dropped the claim.
• Your abuser has died and cannot defend themselves.

If you’re unsure whether you could claim compensation for sexual abuse through the CICA, please contact our team for a free initial consultation.

How Much Compensation For Sexual Abuse Could I Claim?

It’s not really possible to say exactly how much compensation the CICA may award until your claim has been properly reviewed. Each claim is unique and must be based on the severity of your suffering.

Therefore, when making a sexual abuse claim, you should consider how your physical and mental health has been affected. The CICA tariff of injuries lists different types of injuries and applies a compensation value for them.

A medical report from your GP may help you to claim for any physical injuries you’ve sustained. For psychological suffering, a report to confirm a diagnosis of a serious mental health injury will be needed from an independent specialist. A sexual abuse claim could include compensation to cover:

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Flashbacks.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Sleep problems.
• Panic attacks.

The CICA scheme lists compensation figures for sexual offences where the victim is any age (and was not compensated as a child) and sexual offences against children.

If you decide to make a claim with one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll find out exactly how you’ve suffered to try and ensure you receive the highest amount of compensation possible.

Please get in touch if you’d like your claim to be reviewed by one of our specialist advisors.

Other Compensation Offered In Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to your injury claim, the CICA may allow you to claim ‘special expenses’ if you’ve incurred costs or financial losses because of your injuries. This could include:

• Costs arising from any treatment.
• Adaptation of your property to help you cope with any long-term disability caused by your abuse.
• Care costs.
• Loss of earnings related to your injuries.

These expenses can only be claimed if they’re not already covered by other services such as the NHS. Any expense claim could also be reduced if the cost can be claimed through an insurance policy.

How Long Do Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims Take?

The CICA aims to process claims as quickly as possible. Generally, that means that most are assessed and paid out in around 12 months. However, some claims can take longer when further information is required from the police or other sources.

Complex cases can also take longer to process as sexual abuse compensation awarded by CICA is designed to cover any suffering you’ve already endured and any that may continue into the future. Therefore, if you are still receiving medical treatment or your prognosis is not fully understood, the claim may take longer than usual.

Can I Make A Sexual Abuse Claim On Behalf Of My Child?

The CICA scheme is open to anybody who has suffered criminal injuries. However, as children can’t represent themselves until they turn 18 years old, they will need an adult representative. While there is a 2-year time limit for CICA claims, cases involving children can be made at any point before they become an adult.

If your child is the victim of sexual abuse and you’d like to claim compensation on their behalf, our solicitors could help you. Please get in touch to find out more.

Can I Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse By My Partner?

Unfortunately, many victims of sexual abuse know their abuser. In many cases, sexual abuse is carried out by partners or spouses. Therefore, if you have been sexually abused by your partner, you could still claim compensation through the CICA scheme. Importantly, you must have reported what happened to the police and cooperated with them during their investigation.

Do I Need A Solicitor To Claim?

No, you don’t. However, we believe the stress involved with sexual abuse claims can be eased a little if you decide to work with one of our solicitors. That’s because they will manage everything on your behalf and work on a No Win No Fee basis.

That means that your solicitor will aim to:

• Gather any supporting evidence that is needed.
• File all of the paperwork with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for you.
• Deal with any queries or questions raised by CICA assessors.
• Try to make sure you receive a fair compensation settlement.

You will not have to pay for any of this work unless compensation is paid by the CICA. If that happens, a success fee will be deducted from your settlement to cover your solicitor’s work. The exact percentage for your claim will be clearly shown in your No Win No Fee agreement.

Starting The Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims Process

If you’d like to find out whether you could be eligible to claim compensation for sexual abuse or have any questions, please call us on 0800 6524 881. All calls are dealt with confidentially by a friendly specialist advisor.

There’s no pressure to file a claim but during your call, we’ll provide legal advice and explain your options for free. If you’d like to proceed and one of our solicitors works for you, their No Win No Fee service will mean that you don’t need to pay any legal costs upfront.

We know that discussing sexual abuse compensation claims can be stressful, so if you’d rather ask questions online, please use our free live chat service.