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Criminal injuries claims in the UK are handled by a government organisation called CICA (criminal injuries compensation authority). Its function is to pay out compensation to people who are victims of violent crimes and have been mentally or physically injured. It offers a free application process service to the public. This article will explain the rules of eligibility and how to go about submitting an application.

Decisions are based on a set of regulations known as the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. It guides CICA on eligibility and the amounts of compensation that can be made. The existing scheme came into being on 3 November 2008 and it applies to all applications for compensation submitted after this date. If you lodged a claim earlier, different regulations may apply.

You may eligible if you were injured seriously enough to qualify for the minimum payout. Also, if the act of violence occurred in Wales, Scotland, or England, you may be eligible. Even if the offender was not charged or convicted of the crime, this does not affect eligibility.

Furthermore, your application will be considered if you submit it within 2 years of sustaining the injury. However, CICA may still consider the application if it was not possible for you to lodge it within two years. In this case, mitigating reasons will be asked for.

If the incident occurred outside of Wales, England, or Scotland, or after 1 July 2005, CICA can assist you to apply for compensation from any of these countries. The EUCAT (European Union Compensation Assistance Team), which operates from Glasgow, will access information about the compensation system in the relevant country. EUCAT will also provide application forms, tell you what other documentation is needed, and tell you where to send the completed form.

You will not be considered eligible if the incident took place prior to 1 August 1964, or if you made application for the same injury before the 2008 scheme was introduced. This refers to the scheme mentioned earlier that relates to Scotland, Wales, and England. Neither will you be eligible if the injury was sustained prior to 1 October 1979. This also applies to an injured member of your family or someone else living in your home at the time of the incident.

The application might be declined if you conducted yourself badly before, during, or after the violent crime in which you were hurt. It may also be rejected if you have a criminal record or failed to co-operate with the police or other officials. In addition, the application might be turned down if you did not inform the police about the incident.

There are three ways to submit applications. Firstly, this can be done on CICA's official website. The entire process only takes about half an hour if you have all the relevant information on hand.

Secondly, you can get free help from Victim Support which is a national charity that assists people injured in violent crimes. This organisation will help you fill out the forms. Some offices will even deal with CICA on your behalf. The third method of submission is by post.

Once CICA receives the completed application, you will be given a reference number. This will help CICA to track your case efficiently if when you make enquiries as to the progress of the claim. After this, CICA will contact the police and, if necessary, the hospital or doctor that treated you, plus any other people or organisations that have relevant information about your case.

Once the police report has been obtained, as well as any other supporting information, a decision can be made regarding your eligibility. Before a final decision is reached, CICA might have to gather extra information. Therefore, it can take some time but every effort is made to work as quickly as possible. You will regularly be kept informed about the progress.

It may take 12 months, or longer, before a final conclusion is reached. Cases that are more complex will take longer, particularly if they involve ongoing medical expenses or loss of earnings. Whenever possible, CICA endeavours to settle claims by paying out one lump sum.

Making lump sum payments for criminal injuries claims is only possible when the extent of the financial losses or medical expenses (past and future) have been calculated precisely. If this is going to take a long time, but you have been declared eligible for compensation, CICA might pay portion of the settlement before the final payment is made. All information provided by claimants is held in the strictest confidence in terms of the Data Protection Act of 1998. You are allowed to access this information at any time in the future.