How much CICA compensation will I get for mental injuries?
If you are wondering, ‘How much CICA compensation will I get for mental injuries’, then this brief article will give you an idea of what to expect. We specialise in CICA claims, including claims for mental or psychological injuries. If you would like us to deal with your CICA compensation claim then give us a call on 0333 888 0446 or send an email to [email protected]
What is the CICA?
The government operates a scheme to compensate victims of violent crime.
The CICA criminal injuries compensation scheme compensates victims of a crime of violence in Great Britain.
Can you get CICA compensation for a psychological or mental injury?
Compensation is available for both physical and mental injuries.
The CICA’s definition of a “crime of violence” includes not only physical attacks, but also threats which cause ‘fear of immediate violence’. So there is no requirement either for physical violence or physical injury in order to be eligible for CICA compensation.
Sexual or physical abuse is regarded as a crime of violence.
How serious does the mental injury need to be?
The CICA specifically excludes mental injury that amounts to ‘temporary mental anxiety’. This rules out the type of reactions that most people will experience when they find themselves the victims of crime.
You can claim CICA compensation if you suffer a ‘disabling mental condition’. This is one that has a substantial impact on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This can include your performance at work or at school, or where it has an impact on your social relationships. Your mental condition must be verified by a specialist medical practitioner.
How much CICA compensation will you get for your mental injuries?
Awards of CICA compensation are assessed by the Authority according to the severity of the injury. The assessment is made on the basis of a medical report from a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist and the amount of compensation is determined according to a set tariff.
The tariff is periodically updated. Currently (April 2021) the tariff for disabling mental injuries from which the victim makes a recovery is as follows:
- Mental injury lasting between 6 weeks to 28 weeks: £1,000
- Mental injury lasting 28 between weeks to 2 years: £2,400
- Mental injury lasting between 2 years to 5 years: £6,200
- Mental injury lasting 5 years or longer but which is not permanent: £13,500
If the victim’s mental injuries are permanent then the compensation you will get will be as follows:
- Mental injury that is moderately disabling: £19,000
- Mental injury that is seriously disabling: £27,000
What other compensation can I claim?
In addition to the sums mentioned above you can also claim compensation for:
- lost earnings;
- costs incurred as a direct result of an incident where you have been unable to work or incapacitated to a similar extent for more than 28 weeks;
- bereavement payments, payments for loss of parental services and financial dependency, and funeral payments where there has been a fatality.
How we can help you get CICA compensation for mental injuries
While you can make a CICA claim yourself, many people choose to use a solicitor in cases where the injuries are particularly serious or the CICA has rejected the application. We have an excellent track record of recovering substantial sums of compensation under the CICA scheme. We helped one client challenge the CICA’s offer of £16,500, resulting in the award being increased to £181,000. In another case we recovered £210,000 for a client who was due to receive only the basic award of £22,000. And in this case we recovered compensation for metal distress after the CICA had rejected our client’s application.
Do I have to pay legal costs?
The CICA does not pay legal fees. Because most people do not have the money to pay for a solicitor we can work on a no win, no fee basis. This means that if the compensation claim is not successful you do not have to pay for the work we have carried out. And if you do receive compensation then our fees are deducted from the money awarded. We will explain precisely how this works before you go ahead and let you know what the fees are likely to be.
Free CICA criminal injuries helpline
Call our free criminal injuries helpline on 0333 888 0446 or send an email to [email protected]