You may be entitled to claim compensation if you suffered sexual abuse, sexual assault, or related psychological harm. Many sexual abuse compensation claims are made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), although civil claims against individuals or institutions may also be possible in some circumstances. A criminal conviction is not always required, and historic abuse claims may still succeed even where the abuse happened many years ago. Compensation can help address the physical, emotional, and financial impact of abuse, including psychiatric injury, counselling costs, and loss of earnings.
Speaking about sexual abuse can be incredibly difficult. Many survivors spend years trying to cope with the emotional and psychological impact before feeling ready to seek help or explore their legal options.
For some people, pursuing compensation is not simply about financial support. It can also be about recognition, accountability, and accessing the resources needed to move forward after deeply traumatic experiences.
Sexual abuse can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Survivors may continue to experience anxiety, PTSD, depression, trust issues, relationship difficulties, or long-term psychological trauma long after the abuse itself has ended. In some cases, the abuse happened recently. In others, it may have happened decades ago during childhood or within institutions that failed to provide protection.
At Legal Expert, we understand how sensitive these cases are. Our team approaches every enquiry with compassion, confidentiality, and care. If you’d like to arrange a free consultation to discuss what happened and to get advice on your options, please tap below.
To learn more about how sexual abuse compensation claims work, whether you may be eligible to claim, and what support may be available if you decide to move forward, please keep scrolling.
4.8 (466 reviews)
We're No Win No Fee Solicitors Trusted by thousands to win compensation.
Sexual abuse compensation claims are legal claims made by survivors who suffered physical injury, psychological trauma, or other harm because of sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, or related offences.
Many claims are brought through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which provides compensation to eligible victims of violent crime. In some situations, survivors may also be able to pursue civil claims directly against an abuser or against organisations that failed to protect them.
Sexual abuse can occur in many different settings, including:
Within relationships or families
In schools or religious institutions
In care homes or foster care
Through abuse by professionals or people in positions of trust
In workplaces, sports clubs, or youth organisations
Every survivor’s experience is different, and there is no “right” way to respond to trauma. Some people report abuse immediately, while others may not feel able to speak about it for many years.
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 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 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.
Claiming Through The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
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, 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.
There are some other considerations to make. Let’s take a look at these next.
Do You Need A Criminal Conviction?
No, not always.
A criminal conviction is not required in every sexual abuse compensation claim. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority can sometimes make awards even where:
No prosecution took place
The abuser denied the allegations
Criminal proceedings did not result in a conviction
There was insufficient evidence for a criminal trial
Claims are assessed based on the available evidence as a whole rather than requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Does Sexual Abuse Need To Be Reported To The Police?
In most cases, yes, particularly for CICA claims.
The authority will usually expect abuse to have been reported to the police as soon as reasonably practicable. However, it is recognised that survivors of sexual abuse may delay reporting because of:
Fear
Trauma
Shame
Grooming
Coercion
Psychological distress
Delayed reporting does not automatically prevent compensation, although supporting evidence explaining the delay may become important.
What If The Abuse Happened Years Ago?
Historic sexual abuse claims may still be possible even where the abuse happened many years or decades ago.
It is extremely common for survivors to disclose abuse later in life. Many people are simply not emotionally ready to come forward earlier, particularly where the abuse occurred during childhood or involved manipulation, fear, or abuse of trust.
The law recognises that trauma can affect reporting and disclosure. Historic claims are assessed individually based on the evidence available.
What If The Abuser Was Never Charged?
You may still be able to claim compensation even if the abuser was never formally charged or prosecuted.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority does not always require criminal proceedings to have taken place. Instead, it may consider:
Police records
Medical evidence
Counselling records
Witness statements
Safeguarding documentation
Other supporting evidence
The absence of criminal charges does not necessarily mean a claim cannot succeed.
Historic Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims
Historic sexual abuse claims involve abuse that happened months, years, or sometimes decades earlier.
These cases are sadly common. Many survivors only feel able to speak about what happened later in life, often after years of coping with trauma privately.
Historic abuse claims can involve:
Childhood abuse
Abuse within institutions
Abuse by family members
Abuse by people in positions of trust
Repeated abuse over long periods
Although evidence can sometimes be more difficult to gather in older cases, compensation may still be possible. Let’s take a close look at different types of historic abuse, and how claims around them work.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Claims
Childhood sexual abuse can have lifelong emotional and psychological consequences.
Compensation claims may still be possible even where the abuse happened many years ago during childhood.
Abuse In Schools And Institutions
Some claims involve schools, boarding schools, youth organisations, or other institutions where safeguarding failures allowed abuse to occur.
In these situations, claims may potentially involve:
Institutional negligence
Failure to supervise properly
Failure to respond to concerns
Failure to protect children or vulnerable people
Religious Organisation Abuse Claims
Sexual abuse claims may also arise within religious organisations or faith settings where individuals used positions of trust or authority to abuse others.
These cases can be particularly distressing because they often involve manipulation, fear, and breaches of trust within close communities.
Care Home Abuse Claims
Vulnerable adults and children living in care settings may face increased risks where safeguarding standards are inadequate.
Care home abuse claims may involve:
Abuse by staff members
Abuse by other residents
Institutional failures to protect vulnerable individuals
If you’ve experienced historic abuse in any of these settings and would like free, confidential legal advice, reach out to us today.
How Much Compensation For Sexual Abuse Could You Receive?
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.
Compensation Payouts In 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
Compensation Amounts Through The CICA
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.
Loss of Earnings And 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.
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.
Compensation For Psychological Trauma After Sexual Abuse
The psychological effects of sexual abuse are often profound and long-lasting. Many survivors experience:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Sleep problems
Dissociation
Self-harm
Difficulties with relationships and trust
Psychological injuries can affect education, employment, family life, and overall wellbeing for many years after the abuse occurred.
In many sexual abuse compensation claims, psychiatric injury forms a significant part of the claim. Medical evidence from GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, or counsellors may help demonstrate the extent of the trauma suffered.
Compensation For Physical Injuries And Sexual Assault
Sexual abuse and assault can also result in serious physical injuries and long-term health consequences.
These may include:
Soft tissue injuries
Scarring
Chronic pain
Sexually transmitted infections
Pregnancy-related trauma
Gynaecological injuries
Compensation may take account of both the physical harm caused and the emotional impact associated with the abuse.
Time Limits For Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims
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.
What Evidence Helps Support Sexual Abuse Claims?
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.
Parents or guardians may sometimes help pursue compensation claims for children while ensuring the child’s wellbeing remains the priority throughout the process.
Can You Claim Against An Institution?
Yes, potentially.
In some cases, compensation claims may involve organisations that failed to protect children or vulnerable individuals from abuse. Examples may include:
Schools
Religious organisations
Care homes
Sports clubs
Youth organisations
Employers
These claims often focus on whether the organisation:
Ignored warning signs
Failed to carry out safeguarding properly
Allowed abuse to continue
Failed to protect vulnerable individuals
Institutional claims can be legally complex, but they may provide an important route to accountability.
Can You Claim If You Still Know The Abuser?
Some survivors remain in contact with an abuser because of family relationships, shared parenting arrangements, financial dependency, or ongoing safety concerns.
You may still be able to seek confidential legal advice in these situations.
Your wellbeing and safety should always come first. There is no pressure to pursue legal action before you feel ready, and any conversations about compensation can usually take place confidentially and sensitively.
If you are currently in immediate danger, you should contact emergency services or a specialist support organisation as soon as possible.
How Legal Expert Can Help
At Legal Expert, we understand that sexual abuse compensation claims require care, sensitivity, and complete confidentiality.
Our team can:
Explain whether you may be eligible to claim
Help you understand the CICA process
Assess what evidence may support your case
Connect you with experienced abuse solicitors
Provide clear and compassionate guidance throughout the process
We know that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. Whether the abuse happened recently or many years ago, our team will listen without judgement and help you understand your options at your own pace.
No Win No Fee Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims
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
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:
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).
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 civil claims are usually settled without the need for court interference, and the CICA is a scheme that involves no court hearings at all.
Do I need a conviction to claim sexual abuse compensation?
No. Many claims succeed even where there was no criminal conviction.
Can I claim for historic sexual abuse?
Yes, historic abuse claims may still be possible even where the abuse happened many years ago.
Can I claim through CICA?
Yes. Many sexual abuse compensation claims are made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Can parents claim on behalf of a child?
Yes, parents or guardians may sometimes pursue claims on behalf of children.
Can I claim against a school or institution?
Potentially, yes. Claims may arise where organisations failed to protect children or vulnerable individuals from abuse.
Learn More
Learn more about how we could help you with claiming compensation:
Skip to content 
