How Much Sexual Abuse Compensation Could I Claim?
If you’ve unfortunately experienced sexual abuse, we’re here to help you. At UK Law, we understand that no amount of money can undue what you went through. However, sexual abuse compensation could provide you with a sense of closure and legal justice. Please read our helpful sexual abuse compensation guide to learn how much you could receive by making a claim.
Key Takeaways
- Between 2021 and 2022, around 1.1 million adults were victims of sexual assault according to the Office for National Statistics
- According to the Crown Prosecution Service, there has been a 15.5% increase in adult rape-flagged charges between January to March 2025.
- Sexual abuse can include historical abuse, sexual abuse at school and institutional abuse
- You can still make a claim for sexual abuse compensation even if the perpetrator was never convicted
- You could make either a civil or criminal injury claim for sexual abuse compensation, provided that you satisfy the necessary eligibility requirements.
Our advisors work around the clock to answer any questions you may have about sexual abuse claims. As part of the free services that we offer, you could receive an eligibility assessment to look at the merits of your case. If your claim is strong, you could be connected with one of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel to help you. The solicitors from our panel have decades of experience and they strictly adhere to the rules of confidentiality. To start your claim today, get in touch:
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Contact us by completing our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Sexual Abuse Compensation Could I Get From The CICA?
- Can Sexual Abuse Compensation Cover Other Expenses?
- Can I Make A Sexual Abuse Claim?
- What Types Of Sexual Abuse Can Compensation Be Claimed For?
- How Long Will I Have To Claim For Sexual Abuse Compensation?
- How Can A Solicitor Help Me To Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse?
- What Can UK Law Do For My Sexual Abuse Claim?
- More Information
What Sexual Abuse Compensation Could I Get From The CICA?
You could be awarded with sexual abuse compensation following a successful claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA.) Sexual abuse compensation is valued in line with the fixed tariffs set out in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.
Under the CICA, you can claim compensation for up to 3 criminal injuries. This means, under the multiple injuries formula, you would receive:
- The full amount for the highest valued injury
- 30% for the second
- 15% for the third
You could also receive additional payment if the criminal incident caused you to lose a foetus, become pregnant or contract an STI.
Please see the table below, which includes entries from these fixed tariffs; the top entry shows the maximum amount of compensation that can be claimed through CICA.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe criminal injuries with special expenses | Severe | Up to £500,000 |
| Non-Consensual Penile Penetration | Resulting in serious internal injuries and a severe mental illness | £44,000 |
| Pattern of repetitive incidents lasting 3+ years | £22,000 | |
| Resulting in a permanently disabling moderate mental illness | £22,000 | |
| Sexual Assault | Resulting in permanent and severe mental illness | £27,000 |
| Resulting in permanent and moderate mental illness | £22,000 | |
| Resulting in serious internal bodily injuries | £22,000 | |
| Pattern of frequent severe abuse for 3 years or more | £8,200 | |
| Pattern of frequent severe abuse for up to 3 years | £6,600 |
For an in-depth assessment of your personal experience, please contact one of our advisors today.
Compensation Payouts For Civil Claims
You may also make a civil claim for sexual abuse compensation. However, this would be applicable to cases where you are claiming against the perpetrator or a vicariously liable party.
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are often used by those assigning values to injuries. Please see the following entries that have been taken from the JCG, aside from the first figure. Please also note that the entries are merely guidelines and do not guarantee how much compensation you could receive.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Pay-out |
|---|---|---|
| Several serious injuries with financial losses such as special damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000 |
| Sexual Abuse | Severe | £109,000 to £183,050 |
| Moderately Severe | £54,920 to £109,830 | |
| Moderate | £25,100 to £54,920 | |
| Less Severe | £11,870 to £25,100 |
Can Sexual Abuse Compensation Cover Other Expenses?
Yes, sexual abuse compensation from the CICA can cover financial losses you experienced as a result of the abuse you experienced through special expenses. Namely, special expenses can include:
- Care costs, such as help with preparing food or assisting with bodily functions
- Costs of damaged equipment you depended on, such as glasses
- Costs of equipment you need to support your criminal injuries, such as chairlifts and hoists
- Supervision costs if there’s a substantial risk to yourself or others
- Admin costs that may have arisen from a disabling mental injuries
In order to receive reimbursement for the above, the special expenses must be:
- Reasonable
- Necessary
- Directly as a result of your injury
- Unable to be claimed for free
You could also claim for any loss of earnings you experienced if you had time off work due to your injuries. Please see the eligibility criteria to learn if you could include this in your claim.
To find out more about special expenses, please contact one of our friendly advisors today.
Can I Make A Sexual Abuse Claim?
Yes, you could make a sexual abuse claim if you meet the relevant claiming criteria. Below, we explain the different avenues you could take:
Claiming Through The CICA
The CICA are a government body that can compensate those injured in crimes of violence. To make a claim through them, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must have suffered an injury in a crime of violence. Annexe B of the CICA Scheme labels this as an attack, act, or omission of a violent nature that causes harm, a threat of attack, sexual assault or arson.
- The incident must have occurred in England, Wales, Scotland or another relevant area (such as a boat registered to one of these countries)
- The incident must have been reported to the police
- Your claim must be made within the time limit (which will be discussed further in this guide)
You will also need to provide the following forms of evidence to make a CICA claim:
- A police reference number from when you reported the incident
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements
- Medical evidence of the injuries you’re claiming for
The CICA states, however, that they must be the last resort. You must prove to them that you tired to seek compensation via a different avenue before claiming through them.
The Process Of A Civil Claim
Civil claims can be made against either the perpetrator or a vicariously liable party.
When claiming against the perpetrator, you will need to know who they are and that they are able to compensate you.
When claiming for sexual abuse compensation against a vicariously liable party, you will need to prove:
- You were owed a duty of care
- This duty of care was breached by a third party
- The breach directly resulted in the injuries you sustained
For instance, you could make a claim against your employer; the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that employers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their staff. Therefore, if you experienced sexual abuse at work, you may be able to claim against your employer if they failed to protect you from harm and abuse.
What If The Perpetrator Was Never Convicted?
If a perpetrator was never convicted or even caught for the sexual abuse, you can still make a CICA claim, as long as you fulfil the eligibility requirements. You can still claim for sexual abuse compensation even if the perpetrator was never convicted.
To discuss your eligibility to claim, please contact one of our helpful advisors today.
What Types Of Sexual Abuse Can Compensation Be Claimed For?
As previously mentioned, there are no limits on what types of sexual abuse can be claimed for. Nevertheless, please see the following common examples that you could claim for:
- Historical sexual abuse. This is also known as non-recent child sexual abuse such as when an adult was sexually abused as a child. This may also present itself as contact or non-contact abuse. For instance, you may have experienced non-contact sexual abuse online and developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.
- Sexual abuse in the workplace
- Domestic abuse
- Institutional sexual abuse such as in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and religious organisations.
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive, and sexual abuse can present itself in many different scenarios. To discuss your experience with one of our advisors, please contact us today.
How Long Will I Have To Claim For Sexual Abuse Compensation?
You will generally have up to 2 years to make a claim for sexual abuse compensation through CICA. Moreover, the time limit will run from the date that the incident occurred. You may be able to claim outside of this time limit if exceptional circumstances prevented you from doing so; however, this will be up to the CICA’s discretion.
The time limit for child claims are as follows:
- If the claimant is a child and the incident was reported to the police, they will have 2 years from the date of their 18th birthday to claim.
- If you were a child when the incident occurred and the incident was not reported to the police, you will have 2 years from the date you reported it to claim. You will also need to prove why you were unable to make this report sooner.
If you’re making a civil claim, you will have 3 years to claim from the date of the incident as per the Limitation Act 1980.
There are two notable exceptions to this time limit; please contact one of our friendly advisors today to learn more or to see how long a CICA claim may take.
How Can A Solicitor Help Me To Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse?
Whilst it’s not a requirement to instruct a solicitor when making a claim for sexual abuse compensation, it could make the process much easier. For instance, the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel will work to adhere to stringent CICA deadlines and negotiate a settlement that reflects your pain and suffering.
The No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel also operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which may provide the following benefits:
- You won’t need to pay any fees for your solicitor’s services at the beginning of your claim or as it progresses
- No solicitor fees in the event that your claim is unsuccessful
- If your claim is a success, you will need to pay a small success fee for your solicitor’s services. This percentage is limited by the law and will be deducted from your compensation.
To learn more about the benefits of CFAs, please contact our team today.
What Can UK Law Do For My Sexual Abuse Claim?
At UK Law, our friendly team of advisors can help answer any questions you may have about making a sexual abuse claim. If you’re connected with one of the specialist No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel, they can help in the following ways:
- Regular claim updates
- Assistance with signing documents and explaining terminologies
- Help with evidence-gathering
-
Arrangement of appointments with a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist
Contact Our Advisors
To start your sexual abuse compensation claim, please get in touch:
- Call us on 020 3870 4868
- Contact us by completing our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
More Information
To learn more about the other types of claims we could help with, read our following guides:
- Get help with claiming compensation with a criminal record
- Learn about claiming for a fractured eye socket.
- See if you could claim for a broken collarbone.
Additional external resources:
- Learn about help after rape and sexual assault from the NHS
- See the following guidance on domestic abuse from the CPS
- Get help with sexual abuse support from Gov. UK
Thank you for reading our useful guide on sexual abuse compensation.
