I am a victim of childhood sexual abuse and was awarded compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The money I received was not income. It was recognition of the trauma and harm I experienced. Through my work and experiences it has come to light that when awarded over a certain amount, survivors are treated as if they have extra income and must justify what they have spent the money on in order to remain in receipt of any benefits. Now people dont want to be on benefits for life its not a choice, i for example work hard, I want to provide for myself and my family but for people who may have debt, difficulties working, health barriers, disabiltiies, a family to provide for and a host of all other reasons benefits may be a crucial support for some people. Let's remove the stigma around this. 

This situation is unjust and perpetuates the harm suffered by victims who have already endured so much. Criminal Injuries Compensation is intended as a form of acknowledgment and reparation for victims, not as an income that should be counted against them when calculating state benefits.

The UK Government states that the purpose of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is to compensate victims of violent crimes for their physical and emotional injuries. This compensation is not an income supplement and should not affect one's eligibility for government benefits, which are designed to support people in need, including those who cannot work due to the impact of their trauma.

However, under current regulations, any compensation amount over £16,000 is considered as part of the means-testing process for benefits. This policy disregards the intention behind the compensation and forces victims like myself to navigate a bureaucratic system that treats recompense as income. This not only adds unnecessary stress but also erodes the financial independence and dignity that victims deserve.

The time has come for change. We are calling on the UK Parliament to exempt all criminal injuries compensation from means-tested benefits calculations. This would ensure that victims can receive the support they need from both their awarded compensation and the benefits system, without penalty or prejudice.

These adjustments would provide a fair and just system ensuring victims are not further penalized by losing crucial financial support when they are already at their most vulnerable. Let's stand together to urge the government to rectify this policy. Please sign this petition and spare victims the additional burden of financial uncertainty. Your support can make a difference.