Sexual abuse compensation can be awarded to those who have been physically or psychologically harmed due to such an event. Such claims can be made against the perpetrator, a vicariously liable party, or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Additionally, sexual abuse could also lead to you needing to take time off work, paying for therapy, or other expenses. How much compensation you could be awarded for such an incident would depend on the avenue through which you make your claim.
Here at Legal Expert, not only do we understand the mental, physical, and financial impacts sexual abuse can have on a person, but also the stress that can come with claiming for such events. That’s why our dedicated team of solicitors are here to help you through each step of the claiming process. They can compassionately represent you with expertise, handle all relevant documents, and help you obtain the support you need, all on a No Win No Fee basis.
Contact our advisors today to learn more about how we can help you with claiming sexual abuse compensation.
4.8 (466 reviews) How Much Sexual Abuse Compensation Can I Claim?
How much sexual abuse compensation you could claim will depend on the types and severities of harm you have suffered, your financial losses, and whether you are making a civil (against a perpetrator or a vicariously liable party) or criminal injury claim (through the CICA).
Below, we explore both of these options and the compensation that could be awarded in more depth.
Sexual Abuse Claims Against A Vicariously Liable Party
Compensation payouts for civil sexual abuse claims against a vicariously liable party (such as your employer) or against the perpetrator directly will reflect the severity and nature of the physical and psychological harm experienced.
When making a civil claim, legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to calculate the value of the harm you endured. The JCG is a useful document for this task, as it contains compensation guidelines for a range of injuries, including those for sexual abuse.
In the table below, we have listed these particular JCG figures. Please keep in mind that they are guidelines only, not guarantees. Additionally, the top entry has not come from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries with special damages | Severe - special damages for financial losses such as lost earnings, medical expenses and travel costs. | Up to £250,000+ |
| Sexual and/or physical abuse | Severe - Suffered both serious abuse over a prolonged period with a severe to moderately severe psychiatric injury. | £109,830 to £183,050 |
| Moderately Severe - Suffered serious abuse and/or a severe to moderately severe psychiatric injury. | £54,920 to £109,830 | |
| Moderate - The abuse is less serious and prolonged. | £25,100 to £54,920 | |
| Less Severe - Abuse is a lower-level of seriousness and is short-lived. | £11,870 to £25,100 |
Sexual Abuse Claims Through The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Sexual abuse claims made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority are valued in line with a set tariff within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the ‘Scheme’). The CICA uses this Scheme to assess applications for compensation and to value injuries.
Since the tariff amounts are fixed, this means you will receive the exact amount listed for your injury. We have used some of these tariff amounts in the table below. However, please note that the top entry represents the maximum amount the CICA will pay.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple criminal injuries with lost earnings and special expenses | Severe - special expenses for damaged physical aides, home modifications, and mobility aides. | Up to £500,000 |
| Non-consensual penile penetration | Resulting in serious internal injuries and a severe mental illness. | £44,000 |
| Resulting in serious internal injuries and a moderate mental illness. | £33,000 | |
| Resulting in a confirmed severe mental illness. | £27,000 | |
| Incidents lasting 3+ years and show a repetitive pattern. | £22,000 | |
| Sexual assault | Resulting in a confirmed severe mental illness. | £27,000 |
| Resulting in a confirmed moderate mental illness. | £22,000 | |
| Resulting in serious internal injuries. | £22,000 | |
| Incidents lasting 3+ years and show a repetitive pattern. | £8,200 | |
| Incidents lasting up to 3 years and show a repetitive pattern. | £6,600 |
You can claim compensation for up to 3 injuries through the CICA multiple injuries formula. Under this, the following amounts would be awarded for each type of injury:
- 100% of the tariff amount for the highest valued injury.
- 30% for the second-highest valued injury.
- 15% for the third-highest valued injury.
Additional compensation not subject to this formula can be awarded if the sexual abuse led to you becoming pregnant, losing a foetus, or contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your case and see whether you could be eligible to make a compensation claim.
Can Sexual Abuse Compensation Cover Special Expenses?
Yes, sexual abuse compensation can cover special expenses for certain financial losses when making a criminal injury claim through the CICA.
To claim for special expenses, you need to show that the costs incurred are reasonable, necessary, not available for free elsewhere, and directly stemming from your criminal injury. Examples of special expenses you can claim for through the CICA include:
- Any physical aids that were damaged in the incident, such as glasses or hearing aids.
- Care costs relating to your bodily functions or food preparation.
- Home modifications you require, such as ramps or stairlifts.
- Mobility equipment you need, such as a wheelchair.
You may also be eligible to claim for loss of earnings, but specific eligibility requirements must be met.
When making a civil claim, you could be awarded special damages as part of your sexual abuse compensation for any financial losses your injuries have caused you to suffer. To learn more about special damages, you can contact our team of advisors.
Can I Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse?
Yes, you could claim compensation for sexual abuse either against a vicariously liable party, the perpetrator, or through the CICA.
Below, we explain in more detail how to claim against these parties.
Claims Against The Perpetrator
If you know who the perpetrator is and that they have the means to compensate you for your injuries, you could claim directly against them.
Claims Against A Vicariously Liable Party
Civil claims can also be made against a vicariously liable party, such as your employer, a school, or a care home.
Essentially, your claim would need to demonstrate:
- You were owed a duty of care – this is a legal responsibility placed on a person, organisation, or business to ensure your reasonable health and safety. For example, your employer has a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety.
- This duty of care was breached – for example, you reported to your employer that a colleague was making sexual threats towards you, yet your employer continued to schedule you both to work together alone on the night shifts. This would amount to a breach of the duty of care owed to you as an employee.
- This led to you suffering from sexual abuse – you could have suffered both physical and psychological injuries. These must directly result from the breach.
Claims Through The CICA
Claims for sexual abuse could also be made through a government-funded executive agency called the CICA. This body can compensate those who have been criminally injured and have no other means to claim compensation.
To be able to claim through the CICA for being sexually abused, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- You were injured in a violent crime, as defined by the CICA Scheme. This includes sexual abuse and other incidents such as assault (such as actual bodily harm or domestic violence) and arson.
- The incident occurred in Great Britain or another relevant location, such as a boat registered in England, Scotland, or Wales.
- You reported the incident to the police.
- You are beginning the claim within 2 years of the sexual abuse.
Can I Claim If My Sexual Abuse Was Historical?
Yes, you could claim if your sexual abuse was historical. This refers to abuse that took place while you were under the age of 18. Such claims are usually made through the CICA.
Contact our advisors today to see if you could be eligible to claim sexual abuse compensation.
4.8 (466 reviews) The Sexual Abuse Compensation Claim Time Limits
The sexual abuse compensation claim time limit will depend on whether you are pursuing a civil or criminal injury claim. Below, we explain the time limit for each of these in more depth:
Time Limit For Civil Claims
When making a civil claim for sexual abuse, you will generally have 3 years to begin your claim. This time limit is set out within the Limitation Act 1980 and runs from the date the incident took place.
There are exceptions to this time limit, which apply to cases where the claimant cannot pursue compensation independently because they are:
- Under the age of 18 – the time limit is paused until they turn 18, giving them until their 21st birthday to claim.
- Lacking mental capacity – the time limit is suspended. It will only be reinstated if the claimant regains this capacity and will run from this date.
In both of these instances where the claimant cannot make their own claim, a loved one can do so on their behalf by assuming the role of a litigation friend.
Time Limit For CICA Claims
When making a claim through the CICA, you generally have 2 years from the date the incident occurred to start a claim. You may be able to claim outside of this timeframe if you can prove that you were unable to do so due to circumstances that were exceptional. However, the CICA will assess these on a case-by-case basis.
In child sexual abuse claims, the time limits are as follows:
- If the incident took place and was reported prior to your 18th birthday, you will have 2 years from turning 18 to claim.
- If the incident took place before your 18th birthday, but it wasn’t reported to the police until after you became an adult, you will have 2 years from the date this report was made. However, you will need to prove that the report could not have been made sooner due to exceptional circumstances, such as cases of historical sexual abuse.
If you are unsure whether you are still within the time limit to make a sexual abuse compensation claim, please contact our advisory team to find out.
How Can I Begin A Claim For Sexual Abuse Compensation?
To begin a claim for sexual abuse compensation, you should seek medical attention for any physical or psychological harm you have suffered, and seek out legal advice regarding whether you should make a civil or CICA claim.
If you speak to our advisors about your case, they could connect you with one of our expert solicitors who can advise you on the type of claim you should make, ensure it’s submitted within the time limit, and also help you gather supporting evidence.
When making a civil claim, some examples of evidence our solicitors could help you gather include:
- Your medical records, detailing the harm you have suffered
- Any CCTV footage of the incident taking place.
- Photographs of any visible injuries, such as scarring or bruises.
- Helping you detail any physical and psychological symptoms you suffered.
Alternatively, when making a CICA claim, they require specific types of evidence that our solicitors can also help you gather. These are:
- Medical evidence regarding your criminal injuries.
- Your crime reference number from when you reported the incident to the police.
- Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
- If the CICA requires any additional information, they can liaise with the police.
Contact our advisors today to discuss your sexual abuse compensation claim and see how one of our solicitors could help you.
Will I Need To Go To Court To Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse?
You will not necessarily need to go to court to claim compensation for sexual abuse. Most claims are usually settled without the need for court interference. This could also help ease any worries you may have about facing the other party in court when making a civil claim.
If your claim does need to go to court, one of our solicitors could help you prepare for this and arrange a barrister to represent you.
If you have any questions about the sexual abuse compensation claims process, you can contact our advisors.
How Can Legal Expert Support My Sexual Abuse Claim?
Legal Expert can help support your sexual abuse claim as our solicitors are experienced in such claims and can offer you a compassionate approach. Regardless of whether you are making a civil or a CICA claim, some of the expert services our solicitors can offer you include:
- Helping you gather the necessary evidence for your claim.
- Ensuring your claim is submitted within the relevant time limit.
- Helping arrange any rehabilitation or therapy you need to help with your physical and psychological injuries.
- Organising an independent medical assessment to help assess the extent of the harm you suffered.
- Ensuring your compensation covers the harm you suffered and any associated financial losses.
To learn more about how one of our specialist solicitors could help you with your claim, you can contact our advisory team.
Claim With Our No Win No Fee Solicitors
Our solicitors here at Legal Expert can help their clients claim sexual abuse compensation on a No Win No Fee basis. Specifically, they offer a contract known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. With this in place, you will not need to pay them for their services:
- Prior to the claim starting
- While the claim is underway
- If the claim is not a success
However, should the claim be a success, you will need to pay your solicitor a success fee. This fee is a legally limited percentage of your compensation. This legal cap helps ensure the majority of the compensation stays with you.
Contact Us
Contact us today to discuss your sexual abuse compensation claim, receive free advice, and potentially be connected with one of our expert No Win No Fee solicitors:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Use our live chat
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse Claims
You can find further information on sexual abuse claims in our answers to some frequently asked questions about the process.
What If The Sexual Abuse Happened Abroad?
If the sexual abuse happened abroad, you may still be able to pursue a claim if the violent crime happened in a country that has a compensation scheme available to UK residents. These countries include:
- France
- Finland
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Switzerland
Is There Support Available For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse?
Yes, support is available for survivors of sexual abuse from voluntary organisations that provide a range of services around the UK. The NHS provides information about some of these organisations, as well as guidance on the help available from sexual assault referral centres (SARCs).
Learn More
Learn more about how we could help you with claiming compensation:
- Guidance on how much compensation for assault could be awarded.
- Learn if you could claim compensation if you were attacked on a night out.
- Learn how long a criminal injury claim takes.
External resources:
- Help after rape and sexual assault from the NHS.
- Support for victims of sexual violence and abuse from Gov.UK
- Advice on how to report a crime to the police.
Thank you for reading our guide on claiming sexual abuse compensation.
