Sexual Abuse Compensation Claims – A Guide To Seeking Justice and Compensation

By Danielle Knowles. Last Updated 28th May 2025. If you’ve experienced sexual abuse—recently or in the past—you may be wondering:

Can I claim compensation?
Does the abuser need to be convicted?
How much could I receive, and where do I start?

This guide is here to help. Whether you’re considering a claim against the person who abused you, an organisation that failed to protect you, or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), we’ll explain your rights clearly, and without judgment.

We understand how hard it can be to take the first step. That’s why our expert team is here to support you with confidential, trauma-informed advice—and if you’re eligible, we can connect you with specialist solicitors who handle these claims on a no win, no fee basis.

You can reach us in whichever way feels most comfortable:

• Or submit a secure enquiry form via our website
• Call us using the number at the top of this page
• Chat live with a trained advisor using the window in the corner

What Is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is a violation of a person’s bodily autonomy and a serious criminal offence under the law in England and Wales. It occurs when one person engages in sexual activity without the other person’s free and informed consent.

In many cases, the abuser exploits power, trust, or authority to commit acts that are deeply harmful and unlawful.

The law recognises that sexual abuse causes profound emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical damage. Survivors often feel shame or confusion, especially if the abuse was carried out by someone they knew or trusted. However, the responsibility always lies with the perpetrator, not the victim. Sexual abuse is never the victim’s fault.

Can I Claim Compensation For Sexual Abuse?

Yes, you can claim compensation for sexual abuse. Depending on the circumstances, your route to compensation may differ. Generally, there are two options:

• A claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
• A civil claim

Let’s look at each one:

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) Criteria

Claims for sexual abuse compensation could be made through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The CICA scheme is managed by the Ministry of Justice and offers compensation even if the abuser was not convicted. You can see the full eligibility criteria on gov.uk but below, we have summarised it for you:

• The incident must have taken place in Wales, Scotland, England or another relevant place.
• You must have been injured in a crime of violence, such as sexual abuse.
• You must have reported the incident to the police.
• You must also co-operate with the police investigation, such as provide evidence such as witness statements, text messages or emails, phone records and in some cases, physical DNA evidence.
• Your claim must be started within the time limits. We discuss what these are in the section below.

Additionally, you must be able to provide certain evidence to the CICA when claiming with them. These are:

• Medical evidence of your injuries.
• Proof that you meet the residency requirements.
• A police reference number, to prove that the incident was reported.

Is There A Time Limit To Claim Compensation?

Yes, there is a time limit to start a claim for sexual abuse within 2 years from the date of the incident. However, exceptions can be made.

For incidents involving children, even if the incident is reported to the police immediately, the 2-year time limit will not begin until they turn 18 years old. If the incident is not reported to the police and you report it when you turn 18, you have 2 years to start your claim.

For more information on making a claim for sexual abuse, speak with a member of our team today.

What If The Abuse Happened Decades Ago?

It could be that you were fearful or emotionally affected and felt unable to come forward until years later. You need to supply the CICA with a convincing argument to justify the delay in reporting the incident. Ultimately, it is up to them to decide whether or not the explanation is sufficient.

This is something we can help you with as part of your claim, so if you’d like to speak with us, just click the button below.

Making A Civil Claim

In some cases, it may be possible to make a civil claim under personal injury law for the sexual abuse you have experienced. The criteria is a little different, but the main points to take into account are:

• Is the person or organisation responsible for the abuse still alive or functioning?
• If so, do they have the resources to pay you compensation?

If, for example, you were abused by a teacher at your school and there were no safeguarding measures in place, it’s likely that you can make a claim against the body responsible for the school, be it the local council or a private education organisation.

We can help with all types of sexual abuse claims, so if you’d like to speak with us, please get in touch.

What Types of Sexual Abuse Can You Claim For?

You can claim compensation for many forms of sexual abuse, including isolated incidents or prolonged patterns of abuse.

This includes rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure, grooming, online sexual exploitation, and non-consensual touching.

Claims may relate to abuse by family members, partners, authority figures (such as teachers, clergy, or employers), or strangers.

Other examples of sexual abuse that you can claim for include:

• Childhood sexual abuse
• Institutional abuse (e.g., care homes, schools, churches)
• Sexual abuse in the workplace
• Sexual assaults by partners or acquaintances
• Historical abuse

Notable cases in the UK have involved the Catholic Church, Scouts, local authority care homes, and celebrities like Jimmy Savile.

The legal system acknowledges that sexual abuse can take many forms and does not require physical violence to be recognised. Emotional coercion, threats, and manipulation are just as valid in the eyes of the law.

If you experienced any form of sexual conduct that was unwanted and non-consensual, you may be eligible to make a claim.

For advice on what counts as sexual abuse, head here. You can find important information on the definition and how to make a claim.

How Much Compensation Can You Claim For Sexual Abuse?

In this section, we have included some example figures from the CICA’s tariff of injuries. Each award is a flat fee. Only a maximum of three injuries from this tariff can be awarded to a victim.

Only the injury with the highest value is awarded at full value. The second and third most valuable injuries can also be compensated, but only at respective rates of 30% and 15%.

Harm	Description	Amount
Sexual abuse and extra damages	Compensation for loss of earnings, special expenses and other injuries.	Up to £500,000
Non-consensual penile penetration of one or more of vagina, anus or mouth	Where serious internal bodily injuries and a disabling mental illness of a permanent and severe nature is caused.	£44,000
	Where serious internal bodily injuries and a disabling mental illness of a permanent and moderate nature is caused.	£33,000
	The result is a permanently disabling severe mental illness as confirmed by psychiatric prognosis.	£27,000
	Where serious internal bodily injuries are caused.	£22,000
	The result is a permanently disabling moderate mental illness as confirmed by psychiatric prognosis.	£22,000
	Where two or more attackers are involved.	£13,500
	One attacker is involved.	£11,000
Sexual Assault	A severe mental illness as confirmed by psychiatric prognosis.	£27,000
	Internal bodily injuries of a serious nature.	£22,000

There is a separate tariff for other injuries that occur as a direct result of an instance of sexual abuse. This includes:

Additionally, you can also be awarded a figure known as special expenses. They can reimburse you for certain losses and expenditures caused by your being subjected to sexual abuse. These costs must be necessary, reasonable and incurred as a direct result of the abuse you experienced.

In order to claim special expenses, you must have lost out on earnings for at least 28 weeks following the incident. Many special expenses can be backdated; however, if you’re claiming for a loss of earnings, this will only be paid to you from week 29 onwards and will be paid at the rate of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

You also do not pay any tax on sexual abuse compensation settlements.

Is There A Difference between CICA and Civil Payouts?

CICA payouts and civil compensation for sexual abuse differ in how they work and what you can claim.

The CICA scheme is government-funded, offering fixed payments to victims who report the abuse to the police—no conviction required. It’s often used when the abuser can’t be identified or sued.

Civil claims, on the other hand, are made against individuals or organisations and can result in higher, personalised compensation covering emotional harm, therapy, and lost earnings.

Civil cases require proof of fault but not a conviction. Time limits and legal processes differ, and in some cases, both routes may be possible.

Get in touch for more information for advice on the different routes available to you.

How Do I Start My Claim?

We appreciate you’ve been through an awful lot and it’s for that reason our claims process is simple, straightforward and stress-free. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Discuss Your Case With Us – we’ll review your case in detail during our free and confidential consultation. We’ll explain your rights, your options and whether we can represent you on a No Win No Fee basis (more on this below).
2. We Investigate And Lodge The Claim – if you’re happy to proceed, we’ll begin to gather evidence, build your case and initiate the claim with the opposite side.
3. Settlement Negotiations – we’ll respond to the opposite side’s queries, keeping you well informed every step of the way. If offers are received they’ll be discussed with you in full, with honest advice as to whether it is a fair offer or not.

Will I Have To Go To Court?

Many people worry about having to go to court and potentially facing their perpetrator. We would like to assure you that this outcome is very unlikely.

If you make a CICA claim, you will never have to see your perpetrator as the case is handled with the government directly. This way you maintain complete anonymity.

If you pursue a civil claim, there is a very slim chance (less than 5%) that your case would reach court. Many parties choose to agree a pre-action settlement due to the high costs of litigation.

No Win No Fee Agreements Explained

You might be worried about the legal fees involved in your claim for sexual abuse. However, if you have an eligible claim, our team can connect you to one of the No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel. They will work on your case on a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) basis. Therefore, you won’t have to pay any upfront fees to your solicitor for their work while your claim is pending.

If you receive sexual abuse compensation, your solicitor will deduct a fixed percentage as their success fee. There is a legal cap on this percentage to allow you to retain the maximum proportion of your compensation. If your claim isn’t successful, you won’t have to pay your solicitor for their service. You can contact us for more information on claiming compensation in sexual abuse claims.

Why Choose Our Sexual Abuse Solicitors?

We are specialists in the area of sexual abuse claims and we understand the challenges faced by victims and what the experience feels like for them.

As much as possible, we gender-match lawyers so that you feel comfortable and at ease discussing sensitive aspects of your case.

With their years of experience, they understand the claims process, how to navigate it smoothly and quickly, and how to get the best result for you possible.

To see if you could make a No Win No Fee claim, get in touch with us today. Our advisors are standing by and ready to lend a sympathetic and helpful ear about making a claim for sexual abuse.

All initial advice is free of charge. You can:

• Call us on the number at the top of the page
• Contact us through our website
• Use the live chat window in the corner

What Support Is Available For Anyone Who Suffers Sexual Abuse?

As well as wondering things like “do victims of abuse get compensation?” you may also be looking for things like emotional support and guidance. If you are, there are a number of different charities and organisations that could help.

In this section, we have compiled a list of some of them. For example:

Find a Rape Crisis centre in England and Wales

Speak with Survivors UK

Find support from The Survivors Trust here.

Further Resources About How To Claim For Sexual Abuse

• This guide on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will let you know whether you’re eligible and how much you could receive.
• NHS Guidance on seeking help following sexual abuse or rape.

You can also check out some more of our other guides below:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions on sexual abuse compensation claims.

Thank you for reading our guide on sexual abuse compensation claims.