Important Claims Information
Eligibility for an award
There are several reasons why the CICA do NOT pay out compensation. You should be aware of these reasons:
Initially, the Claims Assessment Section will write to the police and ask for details of the incident. When this information is to hand, a caseworker is assigned to your claim.
Enquiries do take time and there can be quite a wait in some circumstances. Sometimes the CICA will have to request further details if something is not clear at first instance. When the police information is assessed, the CICA will contact the hospital and your doctor/dentist for information about your injury. Again, this may take some time.
1. The Claimant failed to notify the police WITHOUT DELAY ( or another appropriate person or body ) about the assault.
2. The Claimant failed to co-operate with the police, in an attempt to bring the assailant to justice. For example, if you refuse to make a statement or decline to give evidence at court.
3. The Claimant failed to give assistance to the CICA.
4. The Claimant's criminal record makes it inappropraite to make an award.
5. The Claimant's consumption of alcohol and or drugs contributed to the incident.
6. The adult Claimant continues to live with the assailant. Otherwise the assailant may well benefit from the Claimant's compensation.
7. The Claimant's conduct, before, during and after the incident, makes it inappropriate to make an award. For example, the Claimant started a flight or provoked another to do so.
8. The Claimant has made an application too late. In usual circumstances, the CICA will not accept claims that are older than 2 years of the date of the incident. Although, the CICA can waive this , if they think it reasonable and in the interest of justice to do so.
9. The Claimant has only a slight injury.
10. Where the applicant is a minor, it may be detrimental for an award to be paid out at a later date, as it may have an adverse effect on the Claimant.