Waiting for Justice - CICA Claims Hit Record Delays

The CICA exists to provide financial redress to people who have been victims of violent crimes, in particular at Jordans Solicitors we have a specialised team dealing with CICA claims for survivors of Abuse.  For many, a successful claim isn’t just about monetary compensation it is part of their recovery and closure of what they have been through.

From the Annual Report 2024-2025 which was published by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority earlier in the year, it shows;

• There has been an increase of 4% in the amount of new applications received, with nearly 43,000 new applications.
• There has been an increase of 15% in the amount of live (unresolved) claims to just over 55,000
• The target of 70% of all new applications being decided within 12 months was not met, only 66% of decisions were made within 12 months
• The target of 70% of cases with a review decision within 6 months also fell short, at only 68%
• Nearly half of live claims are now over 12 months (47%)
• Only   just over 35,000 applications were decided which was down from the previous year

The delays are referenced within the report as being down to a number of factors;

• The rising number of applications,
• The backlog of cases they now have,
• complexity of some cases – particularly abuse cases which often need psychiatric medical evidence
• Outside agencies delays such as Police / Courts / medical practitioners

In October 2024 the CICA announced significant changes to its communication process.   These changes included limiting updates to just twice a year and doubling the action timeframe from 3 to 6 months.  The implications of these administrative changes for survivors particularly of abuse are hugely detrimental, in most cases these applicants are re living the trauma of what happened in some instance many years ago in their childhood, to be simply silenced for months without any communication is not aiding their recovery, in fact it can have the opposite affect and prolong their suffering.

Our experience is when decisions are being sent out they are lacking the evidence and full explanation as to why these decisions have been made, which cause further delays having to make Subject Access Requests for the documentation.

The 2024-2025 data for the CICA shows a system under pressure with more applications, more live cases and a failure to meet its own turnaround targets.  For victims of violent crime, this means longer waits for compensation that they are legally entitled to, and which can aid their recovery. 

Jordan’s Solicitors try to be as proactive as possible with all applications and support the CICA with obtaining as much of the evidence they will need to consider but without the increased funding the CICA needs to reduce the backlogs the delays will remain at the detriment of the very people is was set up to help.