What can you do when your CICA compensation is not enough money?
If you feel that your CICA compensation is not enough then you have a number of options open to you; as specialist CICA lawyer Liz Duncan explains:
If you have made an application to the government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and received an offer it can be difficult to know whether you should accept the offer or hold out for more money.
We have helped many people recover a higher amount of compensation. For example, this young man’s offer was increased from just over £4k to over £40k after we got involved:-
https://www.cicacriminalinjurysolicitors.co.uk/news-articles/cica-compensation-too-low.html
If you find yourself feeling that the offer you have received is far too low then here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding whether to accept it:-
- Have you suffered psychological harm as a result of the crime? If so you may be entitled to a payment under the Scheme for “disabling mental injury”. While this is not straightforward, as an opinion from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist is required, it can significantly increase the payment made to you.
- Have you been unable (or practically unable) to work as a result of the crime? If so, and if that has lasted more than 28 weeks, you may be entitled to receive an additional amount under the Scheme for lost earnings. The CICA does not pay anything for the first 28 weeks, but from week 29 onwards they will pay the rate of SSP if you satisfy the requirements of this section of the Scheme. While that is not very generous as it does not make up for what you would have been earning, it can amount to a significant figure.
- Have you suffered more than one injury as a result of the crime? If so, you may be entitled to a higher amount under the Scheme. Some injuries suffered during sexual crimes (such as certain infections, becoming pregnant, or loss of a pregnancy) are not subjected to reduction like other multiple injuries are under the Scheme.
- Do you need adaptations to your home or care from another person to help with your bodily functions or meal preparation? If so, you may be entitled to an additional payment.
- Do you need supervision and care to avoid danger to yourself or someone else? If so, you may be entitled to an additional amount for that care and supervision.
The CICA can be very slow and it is often understandably tempting to accept an offer to see an end to a stressful process. However this may mean that you do not receive all you should. There are only very limited circumstances in which an application can be re-opened so it is best not to assume you will have a second chance if you accept the first offer. Instead, we encourage you to reach out to our specialist team who can talk through the offer you have received and offer you guidance on your options. This service is offered free of charge. If you decide that you would like us to challenge the CICA decision and apply for a review or submit an appeal then we can do this on a No Win No Fee basis .
Our results in helping people recover increased sums of compensation speak for themselves:-
- KT – we helped a survivor of childhood sexual abuse get her offer increased from £11,000 to £44,755 on review
- SR – we helped a young man who had endured sexual abuse get his initial offer of £16,500 increased to £181,236 on appeal
- SH – this client had been subjected to a sexual assault as a teenager and received an initial offer of £2,000 which we got increased to £79,171 on appeal
- AW – we helped this young woman get her initial offer of £16,500 increased to £174,622 on appeal
- SJ – an initial offer of £22,000 was increased to £241,901 on review
As you can see, expert legal advice from a specialist CICA lawyer can make all the difference. So if you are questioning whether you should accept the offer you have received then please contact us without delay for a free assessment. Call our free CICA helpline on 0333 888 0446 or send us an email.