General
Making an application
Applying for a review
General
How quickly do I need to inform the police?
Unless there are good reasons, you should report the incident personally to the police immediately.
Who else can I turn to for support after the incident?
Victim Support provides free support and information for anyone who has been affected by crime. You will find details of your local Victim Support branch in the phone book, or you can contact their Supportline on 0845 303 0900.
You can find out more about the help they offer at www.victimsupport.org.
I was assaulted whilst on holiday abroad can you help?
If you were injured outside Great Britain, you may be able to claim under a similar Scheme operated by the country concerned. If you were injured in a country outside of the European Union, please contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (their contact details are available at www.fco.gov.uk).
If you are a UK resident and were injured in another European Union country after 1 July 2005, we can help you apply for compensation from that country. Please call our helpline on 0300 003 3601 or email eucat@cica.gsi.gov.uk.
The leaflet Applying for criminal injuries compensation in other European Union countries gives more details on the level of service you can expect to receive and also includes a list of the countries currently in the European Union.
Making an application
Do I need to have legal advice or representation to apply for compensation?
You do not need a paid representative (for example a solicitor or a claims management company) to apply for criminal injuries compensation. If you choose paid representation we cannot meet the cost of this - you will have to pay these costs yourself.
Am I eligible for criminal injuries compensation?
If you have been the blameless victim of a violent crime in England, Scotland or Wales you may be able to get compensation for your injuries from the government. There are a number of factors that we take into consideration. See our Am I eligible? page or phone our helpline number 0300 003 3601.
How can I apply?
You can apply on-line for all cases, or if your case involves a single assault in which no-one was killed, you can also apply over the phone by calling our helpline number 0300 003 3601. If these options don't suit you, you can apply by post.
If you want free independent help with your application you can contact Victim Support on 0845 30 30 900 (England and Wales) or 0845 60 39 213 (Scotland). They can also be e-mailed at supportline@victimsupport.org.uk.
What information do I need to complete an on-line or telephone application?
Our Apply online page gives you more details about what you need before you apply.
Do I need to send original marriage or death certificates?
No, please just send a clear photocopy of the certificate - we will get back to you if we need anything else.
What if I am applying on behalf of my child?
If we need a copy of your child's birth certificate or other documentation we will contact you. Awards to minors will normally be retained in an interest earning deposit account operated by CICA until the minor turns 18. We will not normally consider an advance from this account for the payment of legal fees.
What happens to my claim after it has been registered?
Once we get your application, we will gather the information we need to make a decision from the police, medical services and any other relevant parties.
How long will it take to decide my claim?
The length of time needed to decide your claim will vary depending on how complicated it is.
Can I contact the police and hospital to speed up their replies?
If you wish to contact them yourself you may do so.
Can I submit my own medical evidence?
Yes, we will take any report you send us into account when making our decision. However, we will normally ask for reports from those people who you have told us provided or are providing treatment for your injuries. If you do send us a report we may not reimburse you for the cost of that report.
Can I have copies of the medical evidence used to make a decision?
Yes, you can ask for copies of the medical evidence.
How do I make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act?
If you wish to make a request, phope us and we will send you a form to complete.
Does my assailant need to be convicted in order for me to be eligible for an award?
No. We decide cases on what is called the 'balance of probabilities'. This means that our decision is based on what is more likely to have happened than not have happened. We do not need to have something proved 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.
What can I do if I am unhappy with the decision that has been made on my application?
If you disagree with the original decision you can ask us to review it.
Applying for a review
What happens if I ask for a review?
Your case will be looked at again by a different claims officer than the one who made the original decision. It is important you understand that we can increase or reduce the decision or keep it the same as the original decision.
How long will a review of my case take?
If we don't need any more information, we aim to tell you our decision within six weeks. If we do need more information, we aim to tell you our decision within six weeks of getting it. We will keep you up-to-date throughout.
When does the time limit for applying for a review expire?
You must apply for a review within 90 days of the decision being made on your case. This will be the date of the letter telling you our decision.
Can I get an extension to the 90-day limit?
We may extend this time limit, but only if you have contacted us in writing and there are exceptional circumstances that justify doing so.