Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims

This guide will explore the sexual abuse compensation claims process. In some cases, you could make a claim directly against the perpetrator or against a third party that is vicariously liable. However, in other cases, where the perpetrator is unknown or doesn’t have the means to pay, you could claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). We will explore this further in our guide.

sexual abuse compensation claims

Sexual abuse compensation claims guide

Additionally, we will provide guidance on the steps you can take when making a criminal injuries claim, including the evidence you can gather to support your case.

Furthermore, we will offer information on how compensation may be calculated.

Although we have aimed to cover the information you need, we understand if you still have questions. If so, you can get in touch with our team of advisors. They can offer free legal advice about your potential claim.

Also, they may be able to put you in touch with criminal injury solicitors from our panel to discuss making a claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

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Sexual Abuse Compensation – When Can A Claim Be Made?

There are various types of sexual offences that result in compensation being claimed. For example:

  • Being touched in a way you don’t like without giving consent or permission
  • Being flashed or having someone expose themselves to you either online or offline
  • Being forced to have sex
  • Assault without penetration
  • Assault with penetration

As mentioned, you could make a claim directly against the perpetrator or another vicariously liable party. However, if the perpetrator is unidentified or doesn’t have the means to pay compensation, claims can be made through the CICA instead.

In order to be eligible to receive criminal injuries compensation through the CICA, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. These are set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 and include:

  • The incident must have occurred in Great Britain or another relevant place
  • The incident must have been reported to the police
  • You must ensure you submit your application to the CICA within the relevant time period.

You might be concerned about how long you have left to make sexual abuse compensation claims. If so, get in touch with our team. They can provide further guidance on the criminal injury claims time limits.

What Steps Are Involved In Making A Sexual Abuse Claim?

When making sexual abuse compensation claims directly against the perpetrator or a vicariously liable third party, there are several steps you could take. For instance:

  1. If you have not done so already, you should report the incident to the police. 
  2. Gather evidence where possible, such as CCTV footage or photographs of any injuries and any medical evidence which can include hospital or doctor reports.
  3. Seeking legal representation from a solicitor who is experienced in handling criminal injury claims. If this is something you would like to learn more about, our team of advisors could help. They can assess whether you are eligible to have a solicitor from our panel represent your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

For more information on seeking compensation for sexual abuse, call our team.

How To Make Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims Through The CICA

If you are unable to make a claim directly against the perpetrator or another liable party, you could make a claim through the CICA. The CICA provides those who have suffered physically or mentally after being the victim of a violent crime in England, Scotland and Wales, with a way to seek compensation.

When you apply for compensation through the CICA, you are asked to provide:

  • Your crime reference number as confirmation that the incident was reported to the police
  • Proof that you meet the residency requirements
  • Medical evidence demonstrating that you suffered harm that the CICA can compensate for.

There are certain elements that make affect your claim made through the CICA, including:

  • Whether you have previous unspent criminal convictions
  • If you fully cooperated with police during their investigation
  • If you have made reasonable attempts to seek compensation from another channel

Call our advisors for further information on the process of making sexual abuse compensation claims. 

Compensation Payouts For Sexual Abuse Claims

When you receive compensation from the CICA for sexual abuse, your injuries are valued in line with the tariff of injuries in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.

Under the CICA scheme, your injury must be valued over £1,000 or no payment will be made to you. Furthermore, if you have sustained two or more injuries, you could receive:

  • 100% of the tariff amount for the injury with the highest value
  • 30% of the tariff amount for the injury with the second highest value
  • 15% of the tariff amount for the injury with the third highest value

If there are any injuries that have an equal value, these will also be subject to the multiple injury formula.

Although the CICA cannot award compensation for more than three injuries, there are additional payments you might be entitled to as a direct result of suffering sexual abuse, including:

  • Losing a foetus
  • Becoming pregnant
  • Contracting sexually transmitted diseases

Below we have included figures from the tariff of injuries which outlines compensation figures for different injuries. This can be used in lieu of a sexual abuse compensation calculator.

Please note, if you make your claim directly against the perpetrator or other liable third party, your compensation may be valued differently.

InjuryCompensation Amount Notes
Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of vagina, anus or mouth £44,000This will have resulted in a serious internal injury alongside a mental illness that is permanently disabling and has been confirmed by a psychiatric prognosis.
Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of vagina, anus or mouth£27,000This will have resulted in a permanently disabling severe mental illness confirmed by psychiatric prognosis.
Sexual Assault£27,000This results in a permanently and disabling severe mental illness confirmed by psychiatric prognosis.
Sexual Assault£27,000The victim will be a child under the age of 18 or an adult unable to give consent and will suffer severe mental illness that is permanent and disabling as a result of the assault.
Sexual Assault£8,200There will have been a pattern of repetitive and frequent incidents over 3 or more years.
Sexual Assault£1,000Minor non-penetrative sexual physical acts over clothing
Mental Injury£19,000The injury is moderately disabling and was confirmed by diagnosis or prognosis of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
Infection with one or more of HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C which has been sustained as a result of any crime of violence£22,000This payment is not subject to the multiple injury formula.
Pregnancy £5,500This payment is not subject to the multiple injury formula.
Loss of foetus which has been sustained as a result of any crime of violence£5,500This payment is not subject to the multiple injury formula.

What Else Could Be Awarded In Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims?

Additionally, you may claim for loss of earnings. You can only claim these back if your criminal injury was serious enough to limit or remove your ability to undertake paid work.

Also, you will only be awarded compensation for loss of earnings after you have lost earnings for 28 weeks. As such, they will award it from week 29 and onwards. Before this point, you could be eligible to receive statutory sick pay.

You may also claim for special expenses caused by the injury you sustained. This can include:

  • Damage to your property or equipment as a result of the incident
  • Special equipment such as physical aids
  • Adaptation to your property

Our advisor could help you understand what sexual abuse compensation claims could be made and what you could receive when claiming through the CICA.

Claiming For Sexual Abuse With No Win No Fee Solicitors

The solicitors from our panel all have experience in handling criminal injury claims. Also, they can offer their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

This is a type of No Win No Fee service. Under a CFA, you won’t need to pay for your solicitor’s services upfront or if the claim fails. You will need to pay a success fee from your compensation if the claim succeeds. This fee is capped by law.

Find out below how you can get in touch with an advisor to see if they can provide a solicitor from our panel to represent your claim.

Contact Us To Learn More About Sexual Abuse Claims 

We hope this guide on the sexual abuse compensation claims process has helped. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. An advisor can provide further guidance.

Additionally, they can assess the validity of your claim and could potentially assign a solicitor from our panel to represent your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

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Learn More About Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims

We have shared some additional resources that you may find helpful:

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For more information on the sexual abuse compensation claims process, get in touch with our team on the number above.

Writer Lewis Jacks

Editor Meg Maloney