Fewer than 5% of victims of violent crime are applying for government compensation, MPs suggest. They blame the low take-up on bureaucracy and complex forms.
Here, two BBC News website readers share their different experiences of the system.
Katalina, London
Katalina's family has been left frustrated after spending three years trying to claim from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Katalina said: "My husband was stabbed in the back on 21 April during an unprovoked attack.
"He was walking home when he brushed past someone by accident. A few minutes later, he was being pursued by a number of people looking for revenge.
"They broke his vertebra in half and he finds it hard to walk now. He even spent a year off work because of this.
"We expected it to take a while but not this long but there's no humanity on the other end of the phone whenever we call"
"The police told us about the scheme but one officer warned us that the process takes so long we should consider getting a solicitor. We can't afford one though and why should we need one when the system is meant to be free?
"I had to help my husband fill out the form - how can someone in that state be expected to do it alone? But there are certain things you can't express in just 20 words - they don't seem to realise that.
"We expected it to take a while but not this long but there's no humanity on the other end of the phone whenever we call.
"We're just statistics to them. I just feel they think they can fob us off but we need the financial help.
"They keep telling us our case is under review but can't give us a date. It's an absolute joke.
"It's not as if they're going to come back to us and say we're sorry - we know your credit is shot to pieces but don't worry, we'll facilitate you. It's all a box-ticking exercise to them
"We're not money-grabbing. We're not scallywags whose teeth have been knocked out in a bar fight seeing how far we can go with our claim.
"Our lives have changed completely since the attack - it's all because of somebody else's stupidity and violence but we're paying for it."
Unnamed woman from Worcestershire
This claimant was raped during a night out in early summer. Her claim was processed quickly and efficiently and is now already in her bank.
She said: "I didn't know anything about the CICA until the police told me I might be eligible.
"I looked up their website on the internet and decided to apply.
I knew I probably wouldn't hear anything for a while but I found the process therapeutic - although it was difficult writing such personal things down.
"I thought the form was self-explanatory and informative. I had no problems with it""It was a huge form though - actually it was more like a small booklet.
"I had to know exactly who was dealing with my case and get all the nitty gritty information down.
"But the only deadline imposed was ensuring the claim was made within two years of the incident happening.
"I heard back within a few weeks and found out that following the CICA's own investigations, I was going to get a cheque for £11,000.
"There hadn't even been a trial yet so I was a bit shocked to receive that.
"However, I understand why there's normally such a delay - they have to investigate every case thoroughly and check they are genuine.
"I preferred doing it all in one go. I think it would have upset me if they kept calling to clarify every point.
"I thought the form was self-explanatory and informative. I had no problems with it."
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