For the year ending 2025, the Office for National Statistics reported that there were 535 homicides in crime-related acts of violence, highlighting the prevalence of murder within the UK.
If, unfortunately, you have lost a loved one due to a violent crime, in addition to experiencing emotional harm, you may also be stressed about the financial losses this has led to. That is where our solicitors at Legal Expert could help you claim criminal injury compensation.
You might be eligible to make a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This is a governmental body which has the power to award compensation for those who have been bereaved due to a crime of violence. To learn more about who the CICA are, please see our dedicated page here.
We understand that making a claim for compensation for a murdered relative cannot bring your loved one back, nor can it undo the pain you are enduring; it can, however, provide much-needed financial relief.
Use our contact details below to be connected with one of our advisors, who are available to discuss any questions you might have.
Contact Us
If you have lost a relative to a criminal injury, such as a stabbing, you can reach us by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Filling out our contact us form
- Using our live chat
Who Can Claim Compensation For A Murdered Relative
Who can claim compensation for a murdered relative is outlined within paragraph 59 of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. This includes:
- A spouse or civil partner of the deceased person, who had been living in the same household
- A partner of the deceased who had lived with them for at least two years immediately before the death
- Someone who could satisfy either of the above, but didn’t live with the deceased due to ill health
- Spouse or civil partner, or a former spouse or civil partner who was financially dependent on the deceased
- A parent of the deceased
- A child of the deceased (this spans to adult children)
However, in order to claim any compensation from the CICA, the following criteria must be met:
- Firstly, the deceased must have been fatally injured in a crime of violence. Under Annexe B of the scheme, assault, arson and sexual assault are all classified as crimes of violence. Here, murder would constitute this type of crime.
- Additionally, the crime of violence must’ve taken place in England, Wales, Scotland or another relevant place registered in one of these countries, such as a vessel.
- The incident must have also been reported to the police.
If you’d like to discuss how to claim compensation for a murdered relative, our advisors are here to help. We understand that no amount of compensation can undo the hurt caused by this enormous loss, but it can help provide financial assistance during the most difficult time.
Our advisors are happy to discuss any aspects of a claim with you and offer support and guidance.
How Much Murdered Relative Compensation Can Be Awarded?
How much murdered relative compensation can be awarded will depend on who you were in relation to the deceased and what payments you qualify for.
Below, we explore the different types of compensation that could be awarded:
Bereavement Award
A bereavement appointment may be made to a qualifying relative who isn’t:
- A former civil partner or spouse of the deceased
- A person who was estranged from the deceased at the time of their death.
Per chapter 62 of the CICA Scheme, where more than one person qualifies for this award, the amount payable per person is £5,500. Otherwise, if only one person qualifies, the amount is £11,000.
Financial Dependency Claims
If you were financially dependent on a loved one who has been lost, you could claim for this. This payment will be calculated from the date of death and end on whichever date comes first:
- If the claimant is a child, the day before their 18th birthday.
- The date which the deceased would have reached state pension age.
- The expected end of the qualifying relative’s life/
- The 50th anniversary of the date of death.
- The date which the deceased’s life would have been expected to end if the criminal incident had not occurred (in accordance with Table C of Annexe F of the Scheme or other available medical evidence).
Currently, this payment is calculated at the weekly rate of Statutory Sick Pay, which is presently £118.75 per week. Again, where there is more than one qualifying relative, the financial dependency payment would be divided equally.
Physical Dependency Claims
Where a lost loved one was your main carer, you could be entitled to a physical dependency payment. A main carer here is a family member who met a bulk of your care needs through gratuitous care. This would be paid from the date of the deceased’s death.
This can be applicable where you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that makes it difficult to do everyday tasks.
This dependency payment can consider the costs of:
- Personal hygiene, such as bathing, showering or toileting
- Food preparation and eating
- Medication and treatments
- Continence management
Loss Of Parent
If you have a child under the age of 18 who was dependent on the deceased’s parental services, a child’s payment could be made. This payment serves the purpose of attempting to provide some recognition of what has been lost as a result of experiencing the death of a parent. This can consider:
- The loss of love and affection
- Loss of being involved and engaging in family trips, activities and holidays
- The loss of care and supervision
- Treats they used to provide
This compensation will begin from the date of the passing and continue until the day prior to the 18th birthday. The payment will be a fixed payment of £2000 per each full year, and reduced proportionally for part years. This payment is valued as a lump sum and will be paid when the child reaches the age of 18.
Psychological Injury
A claim could be made through the CICA if, unfortunately, you witnessed the incident where your loved one was murdered or the immediate aftermath of this incident. This claim can consider the level of psychological injury caused by witnessing this horrific event.
You can only claim if witnessing this event resulted in a disabling mental injury. The CICA categorises this as a mental injury which is so disabling that it has an adverse effect on a person’s capability to carry out their normal daily activities. This disabling mental injury must be diagnosed by either a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist.
Furthermore, the amount of compensation could vary depending on the severity of the psychological injury. For example, less severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder where recovery is likely might be awarded up to £13,500. Cases where PTSD could have lifelong impacts might receive £22,000 for this disabling mental injury. Both of these figures have been taken from the tariff of injuries listed within the CICA Scheme.
Funeral Expenses
The CICA will make payments for funeral costs if a loved one has been lost in a crime of violence. You do not have to be a qualifying relative to apply for this payment, as it is made for the benefit of the deceased’s estate.
A fixed rate of £2500 is made to cover the basic costs of the funeral. If specific circumstances mean that the fixed rate will not cover costs, a further payment of £2500 can be made; however, no more than £5,000 will be paid. This can only be claimed if there is evidence to prove all of the incurred costs, and the additional payment is paid at the CICA’s discretion.
This payment can cover expenses such as:
- The tombstone
- Flowers
- Provision of a funeral
- Memorials
- Transporting the deceased back to their origin country
- Newspaper announcements
- Funeral breakfasts and non-alcoholic refreshments
To see what types of compensation for a murdered relative you could qualify for through the CICA, you can contact our advisory team.
Do I Need To Provide Evidence When Claiming Murder Compensation?
Yes, you do need to provide evidence to claim compensation for a murdered relative. The following evidence must be provided in order to make a claim through the CICA:
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements for claiming
- A crime reference number given to you by the police to prove that the incident was reported
- A death certificate
- Financial documents to determine dependency or the costs of the funeral
- Medical records, such as your GP record, to highlight any disabling mental injuries if you witnessed the criminal incident or the immediate aftermath
Our solicitors could help you to gather this evidence. In addition to this, if the crime was recorded on CCTV, the CICA will liaise with the police for any additional evidence they might need for your claim.
Contact our advisory team today to learn more about how our solicitors could help you.
How Long Will I Have To Make A Murder Compensation Claim?
You generally will have 2 years from the date of the murder to make a compensation claim. This time limit might be extended in cases where it can be shown that exceptional circumstances prevented you from being able to start a claim within the limitation period.
These exceptional circumstances could be if your physical or mental health prevented you from claiming earlier, or if there were other relevant circumstances. The CICA will then assess these circumstances and clarify whether you’d still be eligible to make a claim.
There may be other exceptions to this time limit, and you can contact our advisors to learn more.
Will I Need To Go To Court For A Murdered Relative Claim?
It is highly unlikely that a claim for a murdered relative would go to court. This is because the CICA have an appeals process for cases where your claim might be rejected or if you are offered a lower award than expected.
Our solicitors could help you navigate this appeals process to avoid the need for court proceedings. They are well-versed in attending tribunals and advocating on behalf of those who have lost a loved one to a criminal injury.
Please don’t worry too much about whether your CICA claim would go to court, as our solicitors will do all that they can to prevent this.
Contact us today to discuss how to make your own compensation for a murdered relative claim, and learn how our team could help you.
How Can Legal Expert Help Me?
Here at Legal Expert, our solicitors are committed to providing you with support, respect and guidance throughout your claim. We can’t begin to imagine the position you are in, where, unfortunately, you have lost a loved one because of a criminal injury. Our solicitors are not only expertly trained in the legal world, but can help connect you with bereavement specialists, such as therapists or charities, that can offer assistance during this difficult time.
Additionally, through working with our specialist solicitors, you could expect:
- Assistance with ensuring that your evidence satisfies the CICA’s requirements
- Discussing your claim with the CICA so you can focus on grieving and recovering
- Appealing your case if it is rejected or if you disagree with the decision made by the CICA
- Ensuring your claim is started within the time limit
This isn’t all that our solicitors could help you with. We understand that making a claim during this time could feel like the last thing you want to do, which is why our solicitors would manage the entire process for you.
As well as this, our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis by offering their clients a Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that you will have no upfront or ongoing payments for your solicitor’s work. You also will not need to pay them for their work if your claim were to fail.
Instead, a small percentage (a success fee) would be deducted from your compensation if you were successful. This fee is limited in accordance with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 to make sure that claimants receive the majority of their compensation.
Our solicitors have extensive experience navigating the complexities of claiming through the CICA. You can contact our advisors to see if they could help you.
Contact Our Solicitors
Get in touch with us today to be connected with one of our friendly advisors. They are on hand to discuss anything you might need, such as support options or how to start your compensation for a murdered relative claim. You can reach our team by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Filling out our contact us form
- Using our live chat
Learn More
Why not read our other guides on:
- How to make a manslaughter claim
- Who can claim under the Fatal Accidents Act
- Actual bodily harm claims
Helpful External Resources
- Governmental advice on death and bereavement
- NHS support for those suffering grief after a bereavement or loss
- How to manage grief, from Child Bereavement UK
Thank you for reading our guide on claiming compensation for a murdered relative.
