The length of time it takes to process a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) claim for sexual abuse can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the complexity of the case and the amount of evidence required to support the claim.
In general, CICA claims can take several months to process, with some cases taking longer than a year to reach a decision. However, sexual abuse cases can be particularly complex and may require additional time to investigate and assess the evidence. This is because sexual abuse cases often involve sensitive and traumatic issues, and may require input from a range of experts, such as medical professionals and psychologists.
Most sexual abuse claims settle within 6-12 months. However, when you submit an sexual abuse case to the CICA you will be given two options regarding the method of how the claim is assessed. This directly affects how long a claim can take to reach a settlement. The CICA ask you to choose whether you wish to settle any eligible case using the police evidence only or the police evidence along with medical evidence. If you have no severe mental health complications then a “police evidence only” option might suit you. This might lead to a settlement within 3 months after receiving police report.
It is strongly recommended you only choose the quicker route if you do not wish to claim for a medical related problem and have no loss of earnings to consider. If you settle the claim without exploring medical evidence you may receive a much lower award than you are entitled to.
