Scottish Government

Claiming compensation

You may be able to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

This is a financial award to compensate for the pain and suffering caused by violent crime such as rape/sexual assault. In some cases, an additional payment can be made for lost earnings or special expenses directly resulting from the injury. The injury can be physical or mental. It does not matter whether the attacker is someone you know or a stranger.

To claim, you must report the assault to the police and cooperate fully with them. The attacker does not have to be caught or prosecuted for you to claim.

You apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority ( CICA). CICA advises that you apply as soon as possible after the assault. You must apply within two years of the assault (except in certain circumstances).

You can get help with applying from an agency such as Victim Support Scotland or Citizen's Advice. You can also contact CICA direct.

If you are on welfare benefits, these could be affected by any money you receive. An adviser from one of these agencies can tell you more about this.

If your application is not successful or the award is less than you expect, you can ask for a review. If you are not happy with the review, you can appeal to an independent body, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Panel. Victim Support Scotland and Citizen's Advice can help with this.

You can get further information, download an application form and apply on line at www.cica.gov.uk

CICA

Tel: 0141 331 2726

Freephone helpline: 0800 358 3601 (open from 9am to 8pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 10am to 6pm on Saturdays)