How Long Does Compensation Take To Come Through?

Last Updated 26th September 2025. Welcome to our guide, which answers the question, ‘How long does compensation take to come through?’

If you’ve suffered a physical or psychological injury and are in line to receive compensation, you may have many questions, such as:

• How long does compensation take to arrive in personal injury claims or other cases?
• How long does it take to receive compensation after accepting an offer?
• If my case is quite complex, how long does it take to get compensation as opposed to a more straightforward claim?

Not only does our guide cover these topics, but you can get in touch with our advisors for further free advice. You can also learn about the terms offered by our expert No Win No Fee solicitors.

Contacting us is simple and free, plus we’re available 24/7. Just choose one of these routes to begin:

How Long Does Compensation Take To Come Through After A Settlement Is Reached?

Once a settlement has been agreed, most people want to know how quickly the money will arrive. While every case is slightly different, there are some common timelines and steps you can expect.

In many personal injury claims, the defendant’s insurer or legal team will send the payment within 14 to 28 days of the settlement being confirmed. In fact, certain settlement agreements, such as Part 36 offers in England and Wales, include a strict rule that payment must be made within 14 days of acceptance.

After the defendant makes payment, the money is usually sent to your solicitor’s client account first. Your solicitor will then deduct any agreed fees, pay outstanding costs such as medical reports or court fees, and release the balance to you. This can add a few extra days before the compensation reaches your bank account. In most cases, the whole process takes around 3 to 4 weeks from the date of settlement.

There are, however, situations where payment may take longer. For example:

• Complex settlements involving multiple defendants or staged payments.
• Administrative delays with insurers or banks.
• Outstanding issues around costs or deductions that need to be resolved.
• Court enforcement if the defendant fails to pay on time.

If payment is not received within the agreed period, our solicitors can take enforcement action to ensure the settlement is honoured.

How Long Does Criminal Injury Compensation Take To Come Through?

There are several ways you could make a criminal injury claim. Therefore, the way you claim will have a bearing on how long the claims process will take.

If the defendant has been found guilty in the court of law, you could make the claim directly against them. However, there may be cases where your claim is successful, and they don’t have the means to pay compensation.

Alternatively, you can go through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This allows you to make your claim in circumstances where the defendant is unidentified, or if they don’t have the means to pay compensation.

Does It Take Long For Holiday Accident Claims Compensation To Come Through?

The nature of the holiday accident claim may influence how long compensation takes to come through. For instance, whether the claim is against a UK company or an overseas business.

If you bought a package holiday with a UK company, you could make your claim directly against the business. However, if you suffered an injury after slipping on a shop floor in a different country, it may be a different process.

Another example of this includes road traffic accident claims against a foreign lorry driver, where the green card system will be considered. A green card proves you have the minimum insurance to cover you driving in a different country. For instance, a UK citizen driving in the EU or a foreign driver in the UK.

For that reason, the type and complexity of the claim can have an effect on how long the claim may take to settle.

How Long Does Whiplash Compensation Take To Come Through?

The Whiplash Reform brought in changes to people in England and Wales who make claims for whiplash injuries. For drivers and passengers, this means that the claims process you go through can depend on the severity of your injuries.

The reform changes mean that claims for any injuries valued at less than £5,000 need to be made through the government’s online claims portal. If the injuries are valued at more than £5,000, then you can make a claim the traditional way.

This can have a bearing on how long your claim takes to settle. However, no matter whether you go through the claims portal or not, you can still seek legal representation.

If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a road traffic accident, we recommend seeking legal advice first to ensure you have an accurate estimate of your claim value. Our team can offer a free valuation of your claim to help you understand your options.

For more information on whiplash claims, you can get in touch with a member of our team using the number at the top of the page.

Interim Payments

An interim payment allows you to apply for part of your compensation early. However, they are only payable in the event that the result appears to be in the claimant’s favour or the defendant admits liability.

It happens more often in cases of serious injuries. For instance, if someone suffered a severe back injury after falling over equipment left out on the stairs at work. They could apply for an interim payment to cover care costs or home adjustments that may be needed before the claim settles.

For more information, call our team at the number above.

What Factors Could Affect How Long Compensation Takes To Come Through?

As each accident and injury is so different, there are many factors that can affect the settlement time of each claim. The following factors could impact your claim and how long compensation takes to process:

• The evidence needed to support your claim
• Whether the defendant admits liability
• If there is uncertainty about the prognosis due to ongoing treatment

Additionally, the injuries you’ve sustained could impact your claim. For instance, if you have multiple injuries or severe injuries, you may need to have several medical reports completed. This could affect how long it takes for your injuries to be valued accurately, so that the full impact will be known.

Make A No Win No Fee Claim

If you’re still in the process of deciding whether you want to pursue your claim with or without legal representation, we have an option you may like to consider.

The option involves having a solicitor represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This type of agreement means you avoid paying solicitor fees at the start of your case and during the course of your claim. In the event that your claim fails, you still won’t be required to pay solicitor fees.

If your claim wins, you will be required to pay a small success fee. This is a legally capped percentage that will be deducted from your compensation. However, you will be made aware of the fee by your solicitor before starting your claim.

We understand that you may have looked at submitting your claim without a solicitor; however, it can be beneficial to have legal help and advice. If this is something you’d like to explore in more detail, you can speak to one of our advisors by calling the number above.

Begin Your Claim

Whether you’re ready to start your claim or you just require further information, our team are available 24/7 to help. They can either answer your questions or assess your claim. If they find that the claim you hold is valid, they can appoint one of our solicitors to your case.

So, if you’re ready to get the compensation you deserve, get in touch with our team at the following details:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) On Compensation Payout Timescales

If you’d like to learn more about how long compensation takes to come through, these answers to frequently asked questions on the subject may help:

How Long Does It Take To Get Paid After A Settlement?

Once a settlement agreement is accepted (either privately or via court procedures), payment is often processed within 14 to 28 days. In many out-of-court cases, insurers aim to settle payments in about 14 days after acceptance of the offer.

How Long Does It Take To Receive Compensation After Accepting An Offer?

Typically, you can expect to see the funds arrive within two to four weeks. That said, the exact timing depends on your solicitor submitting the payment request and the insurer processing it.

How Long Does It Take To Get Compensation From Court (Court Award)?

Court judgments often include a deadline (commonly around 21 days) for the defendant to pay compensation. If they don’t comply, enforcement steps may delay receipt further.

What If Court Awarded Compensation Is Not Paid?

If compensation ordered by the court isn’t paid by the deadline, your solicitor can take enforcement action. This can include applying for a judgment enforcement order or garnishing assets. You may also be entitled to interest payments on top of your compensation award.

How Long Does Compensation Take To Go Into Your Bank?

Once the funds are released to your solicitor or you, bank processing times typically take 1 to 3 business days (or sometimes a bit longer if overseas transfers or cheque clearing is involved).

Why Might There Be Delays After Settlement Or Judgment?

Delays can occur due to administrative hold-ups, insurer processing backlogs, discrepancies in bank or account details, deduction disputes (fees, costs), or internal solicitor disbursement processing.

Related Claims

Thank you for reading our guide exploring the question: How long does compensation take to come through? You may be interested in more of our guides on related claims:

• Find out how to sue a company for an injury.
• Learn about the process of claiming for serious injuries.
• Get information on personal injury claims in Scotland.