Adult survivors of childhood abuse can often still claim compensation, sometimes many years later, through a civil claim against the abuser or an organisation responsible for them, such as a council, religious body or care provider, or through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). The time limits have changed. In England and Wales, since 29 June 2026 no limitation period applies to a personal injury claim for sexual abuse suffered as a child, although the court must dismiss a claim if the defendant shows that a fair hearing is no longer possible. Scotland removed the time limit for childhood abuse, including physical and emotional abuse and neglect, in 2017. The 2026 change does not extend to Northern Ireland.
Many people abused as children do not talk about it for years, and you do not have to decide anything straight away. This guide explains who a claim can be made against, the time limits in each part of the UK, criminal injuries compensation, and where to find records and support. It is general information, not legal advice, and we are not a law firm. If a child is at risk now, call 999.
Who a claim can be made against
A civil claim can be made against the abuser. In A v Hoare (2008) the House of Lords departed from Stubbings v Webb, which had held that the personal injury time limit rules in section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980 did not apply to a deliberate assault, so those rules now apply to deliberate abuse. In England and Wales, a conviction is admissible in civil proceedings, and the person is taken to have committed the offence unless the contrary is proved (section 11 of the Civil Evidence Act 1968). If the abuser has died, the claim can be made against their estate (Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934).
Many claims are brought against an organisation legally responsible for the abuser. In BXB (2023), the UK Supreme Court restated the two stages of vicarious liability: whether the relationship between the defendant and the abuser was one of employment or akin to employment, and the link between that relationship and the wrongdoing. Both must be satisfied. The court noted that the law expanded after 2001 primarily to deal with claims for the sexual abuse of children; in the Christian Brothers case (2012), a brother's relationship with the institute was held to be akin to employment.
In Armes v Nottinghamshire County Council (2017), a child in council care was abused physically and sexually by foster parents. The council had not been negligent in choosing or supervising them, but the Supreme Court held it vicariously liable. Local authorities are also vicariously liable for abuse of children by people they employ in residential care homes.
The time limit in England and Wales
A personal injury claim in England and Wales normally has to be started within three years of the injury or a later date of knowledge (sections 11 and 14 of the Limitation Act 1980). For a child, the three years start on their 18th birthday (sections 28 and 38), and section 33 lets a court allow a late claim where it would be equitable. Those rules still apply to physical or emotional abuse and neglect.
For sexual abuse, section 96 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 added section 11ZA to the Limitation Act 1980 from 29 June 2026. None of the Act's time limits apply to a personal injury claim where the claimant was under 18 when the cause of action accrued and the act or omission that caused the injury constituted sexual abuse. In summary:
- It covers old abuse. It applies to causes of action that accrued before it came into force as well as after.
- Earlier outcomes stand. It does not apply to a claim settled by agreement or determined by a court before 29 June 2026, even if the decision is under appeal.
- A fair hearing is still needed. Where the old time limit has expired, the court must dismiss the claim if the defendant satisfies it that a fair hearing is not possible (section 11ZB).
- Exclusions. It does not cover harassment claims under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, or a claim continued for an estate unless the person brought it before they died.
- Only abuse before 18. Abuse after the 18th birthday follows the ordinary rules.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, section 17A of the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, in force since 4 October 2017, removed the three-year time limit where the injured person was under 18 when the abuse occurred or began and brings the action themselves. Abuse includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect, and the rule covers rights of action that accrued before 2017. Section 17C allows a new action where an earlier one was disposed of because of the old time limit, or settled for no more than the pursuer's expenses. Under section 17D the court may not allow the action to proceed if the defender satisfies it that a fair hearing is not possible, or shows substantial prejudice and the court, having regard to the survivor's interest, decides the action should not proceed.
Scotland also has a statutory redress scheme for people abused as children while resident in a relevant care setting in Scotland before 1 December 2004. Accepting a payment means signing a waiver of relevant civil proceedings, meaning proceedings against the Scottish Ministers or any relevant scheme contributor, so compare the two routes with a solicitor first.
In Northern Ireland, section 11ZA does not apply. Personal injury claims have three years (article 7 of the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989), running from the 18th birthday for someone injured as a child (article 48), and article 50 lets a court allow a later claim where it would be equitable. Applications to the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board closed on 2 April 2025. See our guide to making a claim in Northern Ireland.
Criminal injuries compensation
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme covers England, Wales and Scotland. GOV.UK lists sexual or physical abuse among the things it can compensate, and you may be eligible whether or not anyone has been convicted. The crime must be reported to the police, and an award is withheld unless it was reported as soon as reasonably practicable, taking account of your age and capacity at the time and whether the effect of the abuse meant you could not reasonably report it earlier.
If you were under 18 at the time, CICA must receive the application by your 20th birthday if the abuse was reported to the police before your 18th birthday, or within two years of the first report if it was reported later, and in either case the evidence must allow a decision without further extensive enquiries. A claims officer can extend these periods in exceptional circumstances. The "same roof" rule, which barred awards for incidents between August 1964 and 30 September 1979 where the applicant lived with the assailant as a family member, was removed in 2019; the deadline for those applications was 13 June 2021, although CICA can consider later ones in exceptional circumstances.
Applying is free and you should not wait for other claims to finish, but an award is withheld or reduced if you receive damages or a settlement for the same injury: see our criminal injury compensation guide. Northern Ireland's own scheme asks for applications within two years of the incident, may accept later ones, and lists victims of historical sexual abuse among those who may be eligible.
Records and evidence
- Your records. You have a right to ask organisations such as councils, schools, care providers and health bodies for access to, and a copy of, the personal data they hold about you: a subject access request under Article 15 of the UK GDPR. The Information Commissioner's Office says you do not need a solicitor or a lawyer, and organisations usually have one month to respond.
- Police details. A CICA application asks for the police force you reported the crime to and your crime reference number.
- Health records. GP, counselling and hospital records can show the effect of the abuse: see our guide to psychological injury claims.
See also our guide to evidence for a claim.
Paying for advice
In England and Wales, legal aid can still cover civil legal services about abuse that took place when the person was a child or vulnerable adult, and about sexual offences (paragraphs 3 and 39 of Schedule 1 to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012). GOV.UK says you will usually also need to show that your income and your savings are below certain amounts. Otherwise, ask solicitors how they would fund the claim: see our no win, no fee guide and our guide to choosing a solicitor.
Check the time limits
The checker applies these rules to the dates you enter. It is a guide only.
Historical abuse time limit checker
Indicative only. It applies the Limitation Act 1980 (including section 11ZA), the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, and cannot allow for every exception. It is not legal advice. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit for historical abuse claims?
In England and Wales there has been no time limit since 29 June 2026 for injury claims for sexual abuse suffered under 18, unless the claim was settled or decided before then; other abuse claims usually have three years from the 18th birthday or a later date of knowledge. Scotland removed the limit for childhood abuse in 2017. Northern Ireland keeps its usual three-year rules.
Can I claim if my abuser has died?
Usually yes. Causes of action against a person survive against their estate under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934. You may also be able to claim against an organisation that was vicariously liable for the abuser.
Can I claim against a council, church or school instead of the abuser?
Yes, if it is vicariously liable for the abuser or was itself negligent. The courts ask whether the relationship was one of employment or akin to employment, and about the link between that relationship and the abuse. A council has been held vicariously liable for abuse by foster parents with whom it placed a child.
Does the new law reopen a claim I settled years ago?
Not in England and Wales: section 11ZA does not apply to a claim settled by agreement or decided by a court before 29 June 2026. In Scotland, section 17C allows a new action where an earlier one was disposed of because of the old time limit, or settled for no more than your expenses of that action.
Can I apply to CICA and bring a civil claim?
Yes, and GOV.UK says not to wait for the outcome of other claims before applying to CICA. But the Scheme withholds or reduces a CICA award if you receive damages, a settlement or a compensation order for the same injury.
Where can I get support?
NAPAC runs a free, confidential support line for adult survivors of childhood abuse on 0808 801 0331, and you can call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999; if you are worried about a child, call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
Support and official sources
- NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): free, confidential support line for adult survivors of childhood abuse on 0808 801 0331
- Rape Crisis England and Wales: 24-hour rape and sexual abuse support line on 0808 500 2222
- Rape Crisis Scotland: helpline on 08088 01 03 02
- Samaritans: call free on 116 123 at any time
- NSPCC and Childline: if you are worried about a child, call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000; children and young people can call Childline on 0800 1111; call 999 if a child is in immediate danger
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority: apply online through GOV.UK; applying is free
Related guides: criminal injury compensation, psychological injury claims, PTSD and trauma claims, claiming for a child, making a claim in Scotland and time limits.
Official sources used for this guide: Crime and Policing Act 2026, s.96; Limitation Act 1980, s.11ZA; Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, s.17A; BXB [2023] UKSC 15; Armes v Nottinghamshire CC [2017] UKSC 60; Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012; CICA: a guide. This guide is general information about the law in the UK, not legal advice; the law can change, so check your own position with a regulated solicitor.