PTSD Compensation Calculator

How much compensation for PTSD in the UK?

Guideline awards for post-traumatic stress disorder in England and Wales currently run from about £5,220 for less severe cases where you largely recover within one to two years, up to £133,000 for severe, permanent PTSD that stops you working or functioning at anything like your pre-trauma level. Those figures come from the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, published April 2026) – the reference book judges, insurers and solicitors use to value pain and suffering. They cover general damages only: your lost earnings, therapy bills, travel to appointments and care from family are special damages and are added on top, which is why two people with the same diagnosis can receive very different totals. Everything on this page is an estimate to help you sanity-check what you are told – every case differs, and only a regulated solicitor who has seen your medical evidence can value your claim properly.

The four PTSD severity bands

The Guidelines split PTSD into four bands. Which band you fall into is driven almost entirely by prognosis – what the psychiatric expert says about your future – and by how far the condition affects work, relationships and everyday life:

• Less severe (£5,220 – £10,810): a virtually full recovery within one to two years, with only minor symptoms continuing beyond that.
• Moderate (£10,810 – £30,580): you have largely recovered, and any continuing effects are not grossly disabling.
• Moderately severe (£30,580 – £79,080): significant disability is likely for the foreseeable future, but there is a real prospect of some recovery with professional help.
• Severe (£79,080 – £133,000): permanent effects preventing you from working at all, or at anything approaching your pre-trauma level, with all aspects of life badly affected.

If your diagnosis is a different psychiatric injury – depression, an anxiety disorder or an adjustment disorder rather than PTSD itself – the Guidelines use a parallel “psychiatric damage” chapter running from £2,040 to £152,900, which weighs your ability to cope with life and work, the effect on relationships, the extent of treatment and future vulnerability. The calculator above covers both routes.

Worked example

Daniel, a delivery driver, develops PTSD after a serious collision caused by another motorist. Eighteen months on he still has nightmares, avoids motorways and has moved to part-time depot work. His psychiatrist reports a good long-term prognosis with a course of trauma-focused CBT, placing him in the moderate band (£10,810 – £30,580). With a clear, well-evidenced impact on his sleep, work and family life, his solicitor values general damages around the middle of the band at roughly £20,000. He adds £7,800 of part-time earnings shortfall and £1,650 of private therapy as special damages, so the claim is presented at about £29,500 – an estimate, refined as medical evidence firms up before settlement.

Who can claim PTSD compensation

You can claim if someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing caused a traumatic event and you developed a diagnosable psychiatric condition as a result. Common routes include road collisions, serious accidents at work, medical emergencies caused by negligent care, and violent crime – assault victims can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which pays according to its own tariff rather than the Judicial College bands. Witnesses claim as secondary victims and must satisfy strict tests (a close tie of love and affection to the person endangered, plus closeness in time and space to the shocking event), and recent Supreme Court case law has narrowed those claims significantly, particularly in medical settings. The usual deadline is three years from the event, or from when you first connected your symptoms to it; CICA applications normally allow only two years. Children have until their 21st birthday, and time does not run against anyone who lacks mental capacity.

Mistakes that shrink PTSD claims

• No formal diagnosis. Distress and fear alone are not compensable – you need a recognised condition diagnosed against ICD or DSM criteria by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
• Not seeing your GP early. A gap between the trauma and your first medical record gives insurers room to argue your symptoms came from something else.
• Declining recommended treatment. Courts expect you to mitigate your loss; refusing therapy without good reason can cut the award.
• Underclaiming the financial side. Missed overtime, a lost promotion, family care time and travel to appointments all count – keep receipts and a simple diary.
• Accepting the first offer. Early offers usually arrive before your prognosis is clear, which is exactly when psychiatric claims are cheapest to settle.

Frequently asked questions

How much compensation will I get for PTSD in the UK?

Guideline general damages for PTSD in the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026) run from around £5,220 for less severe cases with a largely full recovery to £133,000 for severe, permanent cases. Lost earnings and treatment costs are added on top. These are estimates only – every case differs, so speak to a regulated solicitor.

Do I need a formal PTSD diagnosis to claim?

Yes. Courts and insurers expect a recognised psychiatric condition diagnosed by a consultant psychiatrist or clinical psychologist against ICD or DSM criteria. Ordinary distress, upset or fear without a diagnosable condition does not attract compensation on its own.

What is the time limit for a PTSD compensation claim?

Usually three years from the traumatic event or from the date you knew your condition was linked to it, under the Limitation Act 1980. Criminal injuries claims through CICA must normally be made within two years. Children have until their 21st birthday, and the clock does not run while someone lacks mental capacity.

Can I claim PTSD compensation after witnessing an accident?

Sometimes. Witnesses claim as secondary victims and must meet strict legal tests: a close tie of love and affection with the person harmed, closeness to the incident in time and space, and shock from directly witnessing it. Recent case law has narrowed these claims, so specialist advice is essential.

Can I claim for PTSD caused by my job?

Yes, where your employer negligently exposed you to trauma or failed to protect you – for example after serious workplace accidents or violent incidents. If you were assaulted at work you may also claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Gradual workplace stress claims are possible but face a higher legal bar on foreseeability.

Will PTSD compensation affect my benefits?

A lump sum can push your savings over means-tested benefit thresholds. Placing the award in a personal injury trust normally allows it to be disregarded for means-testing. Ask your solicitor about this before settlement is paid.

Sources: severity bands from the Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases (18th edition, April 2026); condition and treatment information from the NHS – Post-traumatic stress disorder; criminal injuries route via GOV.UK – Claim criminal injuries compensation. Figures are guideline ranges for England and Wales, not promises of any award.