Any successful stories with CICA

[Lonelymother]

Hi. I am looking for any successful stories with the criminal injuries compensation authority with perpetrators convicted with domestic abuse.

I left my ex (Detail removed by moderator) and am now living in a refuge. I left my home, belongings, job and friends when I decided enough was enough and fled to the other side of the country – (Detail removed by moderator) miles away.

(Detail removed by moderator) – but I had received (Detail removed by moderator) years of constant abuse (emotional, physical, control & sexual) but the only thing I ever reported was the last incident whilst my children were present!

I have put in a claim for CICA around (Detail removed by moderator) months ago for the mental damage I have received (diagnosed with PTSA and agoraphobia) and I received a letter asking for medical proof – my gp wrote to them and last week I received another letter asking if there are plans for my GP to refer me to a specialist or a psychiatrist. My GP has further wrote another letter explaining that the services are very limited and unfortunately even severe mental issues have to be resolved through a GP and now I’m worried that my claim isn’t going to be accepted.

This money would be extremely helpful in helping me move on from refuge and help me secure permanent accommodation, as well as fund the furniture and belongings that I left behind (Detail removed by moderator). At the moment I feel like I am stuck in this refuge, unable to move on, with (Detail removed by moderator) left on my tenancy here and no luck finding a council property and unable to afford private renting. I am struggling to cope at the moment and would like to hear some success stories similar to mine to give me the feeling that there is actually ‘light at the end of the tunnel’

[Lisa]

Hello Lonelymother,

I just wanted to show you some support. I am afraid that I have limited knowledge of dealing with the CICA for domestic abuse so I am unable to comment on that but I did want to say that how you are feeling at the moment is very normal. You have been incredibly brave and I know that despite being away from the abuse it must be a very challenging and upsetting time for you. Please reach out to the refuge workers and let them know how you are feeling. They may be able to offer you some emotional support and perhaps some practical help with your finances and thinking about the future. You have done so well so please keep your head high and be proud of yourself for leaving. I will be really interested to hear how you get on with the CICA. It would be wonderful if you could receive some financial compensation, I can see from their website that they have a contact number so perhaps you could give them a ring?

Kind regards,

Lisa
Forum Moderator

[Lonelymother]

Thank you Lisa, I know how far I have come / but I feel so depressed right now (even more so than when I was in the abusive relationship).

Unfortunately, my support worker isn’t great and I feel that I can’t really open up to her. I feel that she doesn’t really understand what I’ve been through and she never really has advise for me. I was seeing a counsellor for several months but I stopped this last week as I feel I am unable to move on. I see her once a week, we talk really deep, and the. I cry for the next few days… it was a vicious cycle. I know my problem is where I’m living, and I know that when I eventually move on things will start to work out for us. It’s the little things that bother me. Not being able to decorate. Sleeping in beds that aren’t our own. Having to share laundry rooms with other residents. Unable to buy our own furnishings as there is no place to store them. Living off benefits that barely cover the bills. Not able to get a job because my mental health means I’m unreliable. I could go on… I just want things back to normal! Sometimes I wish I never even left!! (If it wasn’t for my children, I probably would of gone back by now).

In regards to contacting CICA, I have done this and been told my application is in the assessment stage – and that’s all the information they can give me. The website state that it can take up to 12 months for an application to be processed and google states that some take up to 2 years. Sigh.

[Author]

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