What are the maximum levels of criminal injury compensation that you can receive?
Depending on the type of personal injury you have suffered - there are 25 maximum levels ranging from £1,000 to £250,000.
In addition if you have suffered financial losses such as lost income - you can claim a further sum up to £250,000.
The maximum claim overall cannot exceed £500,000.
Who is eligible to make a criminal injury claim for the death of a loved one?
To be eligible to make a criminal compensation claim for the death of a loved one you must be either:
1. The wife, hu*****and or partner (same sex partners who have registered under the Civil Partnership Act 2004) of the deceased.
2. The former wife, hu*****and or partner of the deceased.
3. The unmarried partner of the deceased (if living together as hu*****and and wife) or a partner of the same sex as the deceased (living together as partners) - in both cases you must have been living together for over two years prior to and immediately before the incident.
4. One of the natural parents of the deceased.
5. One of the children of the deceased.
How much criminal injury compensation can you claim for a person killed as a result of a crime of violence?
The amount of UK criminal injury compensation you can claim includes:
1. A sum for the loss of a loved one
This sum depends upon how many individuals are eligible to make a claim for criminal injury compensation.
If you are the only individual who is eligible to make a claim - in 2007 you would receive a fixed sum of £11,000.
If two or more individuals are eligible to make a claim - in 2007 you would each receive £5,500 each.
2. Funeral expenses of the deceased
If your paid for the funeral expenses of the deceased you are entitled to claim this expense, so long as reasonable, whoever you are - even if you are not eligible for an award for the loss of a loved one.
3. Dependency expenses
If you relied on the deceased for income or for care you are said to have been "dependent" on the deceased and so long as you are eligible for criminal injury compensation you will be entitled to a sum to compensate you for this loss.
4. Loss of parental services
If you are a child of the deceased under the age of 18 years you are entitled to claim an additional sum to compensate you for the loss of the tasks that a parent would normally carry out on your behalf. In 2007 this rate would be £2000 for each year until you reach the age of 18 years.
Even if the deceased made a criminal injury compensation claim for his injuries before he died - you are still able to claim compensation if his injuries later led to his death.
