Criminal Injury Compensation Authority – Legal Update

23 January 2020

Criminal Injury Compensation Authority – Legal Update

There has been a recent change to the way that certain claims can be brought against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).  The ‘Same Roof Rule’ which has applied since the implementation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has now been abolished.

The ‘Same Roof Rule’ was a rule that meant that no compensation would be paid to a victim of abuse or assault if the victim lived under the same roof as the perpetrator. This was a rule that was seen as extremely harsh to the victims of such attacks and prompted a change to the law in 1979 whereby any victims after 1979 could now bring a claim for abuse or assault for the time period of when they lived under the same roof as the perpetrator.

The problem with the new rule was that retrospective claims could still not be brought, therefore still punishing those people who had been a victim prior to 1979. On the 13th June 2019, this rule was abolished allowing anyone prior to 1979 to bring their claim under certain stipulations.

All claims must be made within a two year window from the date of the rule change, 13th June 2019, therefore all claims must be brought by 13th June 2021. This claim is open to victims who have never attempted to claim before but also to victims who had claimed previously & had their claim rejected because of the previous rule.

The CICA can exercise their discretion with regards to if the claim is brought after 13th June 2021, however, we would advise that it is always beneficial to bring your claim sooner rather than later.

Here at Curtis Law we have a team dedicated to all types of Criminal Injury Compensation claims. We are professional and tactful when it comes to addressing the issue of violent crime.

If you have been victim of violent crime and sustained injury in the past 2 years (or prior to 1979 as explained above), get in touch and one of our dedicated team will be able to advise you and deal with your Criminal Injury case with professionalism and sensitivity. At Curtis Law, we are always on your side.

If you wish to enquire further then please contact us on 01254 297130.

 

Ashley Horne – January 2020