You can appeal on your own, but having a specialist solicitor often makes the process smoother and improves your chances of success.

You don’t have to use a solicitor, but many people find it helps. CICA rules and evidence requirements can be complex, and mistakes can delay or reduce your award. Our CICA solicitors handle everything for you, from checking eligibility to appealing unfair decisions.

Not always.

Many survivors receive compensation based on the police report alone.

However, if you have medical or counselling evidence, including it may strengthen your claim and help you secure a higher award.

Yes. The CICA requires that domestic abuse or violence is reported to the police and that you cooperate with the investigation. If you’re worried about reporting, our solicitors can guide you through the process safely and confidentially.

No. You should not wait for a criminal trial to end. The CICA deadline runs from the incident date, not the court outcome.

No. Winston Solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis. There is nothing to pay if the claim does not succeed. If it does, our fee is capped at a fixed percentage of your compensation. (usually 25% plus VAT)

No, if the police investigation does not result in a conviction, or the alleged perpetrator is not convicted this does not necessarily mean you cannot claim compensation.

You can use our CICA time limit calculator online or contact us directly. We’ll check your dates and tell you straight away if you can still claim.

We’ll review your case in detail, help you prepare your statement, collect any useful evidence, and make sure you’re placed in the highest CICA tariff that applies to your situation.

We handle everything on a no win, no fee basis and provide full emotional support throughout your claim.

We provide confidential legal advice UK-wide, helping survivors understand their rights and options for justice or compensation. Our experienced solicitors guide you with care, clarity, and complete discretion.

You can reach our CICA specialists UK-wide by calling 0113 320 5000 or emailing cica@winstonsolicitors.co.uk. We’ll listen, explain your options, and support you every step.

You can contact us through our contact form or call us on 0113 320 5000.

Here are two stages to requesting a review. In the first instance, you usually have 56 days from the date of your decision letter to request a review.

The second stage is the appeal (tribunal), which is 90 days from the review (2nd) decision.

If you miss this, there are limited exceptions, so make sure to contact us quickly for advice.

Generally speaking, you have two years from the date of the incident to submit your application. If you were under 18 at the time, you have until your 20th birthday. However, for the best chances of success, we always advise submitting your claim as soon as possible, and to not wait out the 2 year deadline. The CICA can extend the deadline in exceptional cases, but extensions are not granted lightly and the application has to set out why an extension is needed. Again, this is something that is best discussed with an expert who can present your circumstances in a way that are likely to be accepted by the CICA.

This will depend on the circumstances of your injury; however, as a general rule; you have 2 years from the date of the incident to submit an application*. If you are under the age of 18 (or were under the age of 18) when the matter was reported to the police, then you have 2 years from the date of your 18th Birthday. If the criminal injury occurred whilst you were under the age of 18, but the matter was reported to the police as an adult, you have two years from the date the matter was reported to the police.

*There are exceptional circumstances where these time limits can be waived.

The usual time limit is two years from when the abuse happened or was reported. However, the courts often allow historic claims where trauma delayed disclosure. Winston Solicitors can assess your situation and explain your options.

In most cases, you must apply to the CICA within two years of reporting the abuse to the police.

The CICA’s normal time limit is two years from the date you reported the crime to the police.

If the assault happened when you were a child, or if trauma delayed your ability to come forward, this time limit can often be extended.

Winston Solicitors will help you show why your sexual abuse claim should still be accepted.

Most appeals take between 3–9 months, depending on complexity. We’ll keep you updated so you always know what to expect.

Straightforward applications can settle within 18 to 24 months. Brain injury claims often take longer because the medical evidence has to wait for the clinical picture to stabilise. Rushing the medical evidence can cap the tariff band at a lower level than the eventual long-term picture would have supported.

Straightforward cases settle within 18 to 24 months. Brain injury claims often take longer because the medical picture has to stabilise before the tariff band can be set accurately. Rushing the medical evidence usually costs more than waiting.

Most claims take 6 to 18 months to complete, depending on how serious your injuries are and whether CICA needs more evidence. We’ll keep your case moving and update you at every stage.

Most straightforward claims take around 12–18 months, but complex cases or those involving medical reports can take longer. Working with a solicitor often helps reduce delays and ensures your claim is fully prepared from the start.

Most straightforward claims take around 12 to 18 months, though some are resolved faster.

If extra evidence is needed, the process can take longer. We’ll keep you updated at every stage and push for a prompt decision.