Last Updated 3rd November 2025. You can claim domestic violence compensation through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA awards compensation to victims of crimes of violence in Great Britain. These awards can cover physical injuries, psychological suffering, recovery of certain costs (special expenses) and loss of earnings up to £500,000. To qualify to claim compensation in this manner, it must not be possible to claim against the perpetrator, the domestic abuse must have been reported to the police and you must cooperate with their investigation.
No one should ever have to experience domestic violence. Those affected can feel extremely isolated. However, 2.3 million people experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024. You are not alone in your experience. Various physical and psychological issues can arise, which the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA) can provide domestic violence compensation for. This is the body that pays compensation to victims of violent crime in Great Britain when it is not possible to claim against a perpetrator.
You can enquire with our advisors today to find out how a solicitor from our panel could help you to claim compensation for domestic violence. They have decades of combined experience in criminal injury law and can provide invaluable support throughout the whole claim. If you’re not sure whether you would like to claim, our advisors may assist you in your decision. You may benefit from a free case assessment to explain what specific factors your compensation could account for.
Frequently asked questions
- How is domestic violence compensation assessed? The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 establishes set compensation tariffs for different types of injury.
- How long does the CICA process take? The CICA typically makes a decision within 12 months of submission, although this is not guaranteed.
- What evidence will I need? You must be able to provide proof that you meet the residency requirements, medical evidence and a police reference number.
- Can I claim for my financial losses? Yes, some losses can be recovered. For example, you can claim for costs relating to the replacement of physical aids and adaptations made to your home.
- What if I had to take time off work? Loss of earnings payments can be given by the CICA if you meet the requirements.
Select A Section
- Could You Claim Domestic Violence Compensation?
- Types Of Domestic Abuse
- How Much Compensation For Domestic Violence?
- Case Study: Jenny’s Story
- Get Help And Support For Domestic Violence Compensation With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Could You Claim Domestic Violence Compensation?
We understand that you may be going through an extremely difficult time at the moment. Making a domestic violence claim may not be something you have thought much about. However, you may be entitled to domestic violence compensation for your suffering.
You may be eligible to claim through the CICA if you meet the following criteria:
- You reported your domestic violence to the police
- Your abuse occurred in Great Britain
- You are claiming within two years from when you reported the abuse
If you wish to claim compensation for domestic violence, our friendly advisors and panel of solicitors are here to support you throughout each stage of the claims process and help you seek closure from your suffering.
How To Claim Domestic Violence Compensation Through The CICA
To claim domestic violence compensation through the CICA, you must:
- Report the incident to the police. You will not be able to proceed with a CICA claim without a crime reference number. The CICA will also ask for the date and location of the incident plus the name of the police force you reported it to.
- Cooperate with any police investigation. The CICA will liaise with the police in order to decide the outcome of your claim for domestic violence compensation. You may not be compensated if you don’t cooperate with the police.
- Confirm you meet the eligibility requirements discussed above. Additionally, the CICA may ask for the name and address of your GP and/or dentist.
- Speak to one of our advisors. An advisor can assess whether you have a valid domestic abuse claim and if you do, you can be connected to a solicitor from our panel who can guide you through the criminal injury claims process.
Is There A Time Limit When Making A CICA Claim?
We do recognise that it may be difficult for you to go through the claims process soon after experiencing domestic violence. However, there are some time limits to starting a claim through the CICA, which are necessary to be aware of.
Typically, you must start your CICA claim within two years of the incident (or final incident). However, as the circumstances of all claims differ, some exceptions may apply to this when the time limit is prolonged, such as:
- when the claim could not have been made earlier due to exceptional circumstances
- when a minor has suffered from domestic violence
To claim compensation for domestic violence, please get in touch with our friendly advisors today. They can discuss your eligibility status, compensation amounts and how our solicitors can support you at this time.
Can I Still Claim If The Defendant Has Not Been Convicted?
Yes, you can. It is not necessary that the perpetrator be convicted to seek compensation for domestic violence through the CICA.
Our advisory team are available 24 hours a day via the contact information given below. They can assess your eligibility to begin a criminal injury claim, and offer further guidance on the CICA claims process. If eligible, you could be connected with one of the highly experienced criminal injury solicitors from our solicitors.
Types Of Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can be split up into different kinds of abuse. We have explained some of these in greater detail below.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse occurs when someone attempts to control another person through manipulation or coersion. The CICA can pay out compensation for crimes of violence. As per the CICA Scheme 2012, a crime of violence includes a threat against someone where that person feared immediate violence and had reasonable firmness to experience this fear.
This means that, if your partner threatened you violently and you had reasonable grounds to think that you were in danger of being injured and you experienced mental injuries as a result, you may be able to claim domestic violence compensation.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is where someone injures you physically. This could include slapping, kicking, punching and biting. There are a number of different injuries you could sustain as a result of physical violence. They include:
- Broken bones, for example a fractured sternum or broken cheekbone
- Scarring such as facial scarring
- Soft tissue injuries
- Head injuries
- Burn injuries
- Eye injuries
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse or sexual assault is sexual contact that is not consented to. Rape is where someone uses their penis to penetrate the mouth, anus or vagina of another person without consent. Sexual abuse is considered a crime of violence according to the CICA.
The following incidents are examples of sexual abuse:
- Unwanted touching or groping
- Digital penetration or performing oral sex on someone without consent
- Rape
In some cases, an abusive relationship could include a combination of these different kinds of abuse. If you’ve been injured as a result of being abused in a relationship then you could receive domestic violence compensation from the CICA. Speak with an advisor today for additional information.
What Are The Signs Of Domestic Violence?
According to the charity Victim Support, domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour that is intended to exert control. Some of the signs include:
- Threats of physical violence
- Putting you down, either in private or while in public
- Physical violence, like slapping or punching
- Checking your phone and needing to know your whereabouts
- Controlling aspects of your life
- Forcing you to have sex or sexual contact
Domestic abuse could cause physical injuries if you’ve been violently attacked. For example, you could sustain broken bones, soft tissue injuries or scarring.
You could also sustain psychological injuries. For example, you might experience post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the abuse, or you could suffer from depression or anxiety. The CICA can consider the value of any mental harm you experience when valuing your claim.
How Much Compensation For Domestic Violence?
If your domestic violence compensation claim is successful, you can be paid up to two heads of claim. The first head of claim will cover the pain and suffering caused by your injury.
Compensation Table
The compensation amounts in this table are based on tariffs from the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme 2012. Please note that the first entry is the maximum amount the CICA will pay in any type of claim.
| Injury | Severity | Tariff Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Severe Injuries in addition to Loss of Earnings and Special Expenses. | Very Severe | Up to £500,000 |
| Major Paralysis | Substantially Complete paraplegia | £175,000 |
| Hemiplegia - Moderate | £55,000 | |
| Brain Damage | Moderately severe causing serious disablement with substantial dependence | £110,000 |
| Burns | Multiple areas covering 25% of the skin with significant scarring | £33,000 |
| Arm | Loss of Function in Non-dominant Arm | £27,000 |
| Chest | Extensive Removal or Repair of 1+ Organs | £16,500 |
| Head - Burns | Severe | £16,500 |
| Eye | Serious Permanent Blurred or Double Vision | £13,500 |
| Scarring - Face | Serious Disfigurement | £11,000 |
Special Expenses And Loss of Earnings In Criminal Injury Claims
You may be eligible to claim special expenses as part of your criminal injury claim. These costs must be directly resulting from the violent crime, necessary and not available free of charge elsewhere.
We have provided a few possible examples of such costs you could be reimbursed for here:
- Certain medical expenses.
- The cost of managing your affairs if your mental capacity has been reduced.
- Repairs or replacements to any personal aid equipment that was damaged in the incident.
- Domestic assistance relating to food preparation or bodily functions if you are unable to carry out these duties safely on your own.
You may also be able to claim for a loss of earnings, although certain eligibility criteria will apply. To learn more about claiming for additional costs through the CICA, or to get a free assessment of your eligibility, contact our advisory team today.
Case Study: Jenny’s Story
Following long-term physical, mental and financial abuse, ‘Jenny’ (a woman in her 50s) left her live-in partner. She reported various domestic violence incidents to the police and used her crime reference number to make a CICA claim, as she knew her husband did not have the means to compensate her. Jenny was compensated for her physical and mental injuries and loss of earnings. With the support of a solicitor from our panel, Jenny was also able to prove special expenses, which helped her recovery. In all, the CICA awarded her £60,000, which helped to rebuild her life.
Please note, that ‘Jenny’ isn’t a real person and has been created as an illustrative example of what can be awarded in domestic violence compensation. To discuss your situation and find out if you are eligible to seek compensation, please get in touch with an advisor.
Get Help And Support For Domestic Violence Compensation With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you wish to claim domestic violence compensation, we can provide you with a skilled criminal injury solicitor to handle your CICA claim. Moreover, our lawyers can handle your compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
You will not have to pay an upfront solicitors fee when making a No Win No Fee claim. A success fee will be deducted from your compensation payout in the event of a successful claim. If you are not awarded compensation, you will not have to pay your solicitor anything at all.
To begin your domestic violence claim, please get in touch with us right away:
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Further Resources
We hope that this guide to claiming a domestic violence settlement has been helpful. Please feel free to read these other guides if you wish to know more.
Assaulted At Work Compensation Claims
How To Make A Personal Injury Claim For Psychological Damage
NHS Help For Domestic Violence
Womens’ Aid- Domestic Abuse Charity
Gov.uk- How To Get Help For Domestic Abuse
If you have any more questions about claiming domestic violence compensation, speak with us today.
Article by AH
Publisher ET