How long after settlement will you receive compensation?

Updated: September 27, 2025
By Chris Salmon

One of the most common questions after a successful work injury claim is how long it will take to actually receive the money. While every case is different, most claimants receive their compensation within a set period after settlement has been agreed.

At a glance

The median time to settle a personal injury claim in the UK is around 12 to 18 months, according to Ministry of Justice civil justice statistics (Source: MOJ statistics published 2024)
Most compensation payments are made within 2 to 4 weeks of settlement.
Delays can occur if liability was disputed or if interim payments were made.
Compensation is usually paid into your solicitor’s client account first, then transferred to you.
Payment timescales are governed by Civil Procedure Rules in England and Wales.

Standard payment timescales

Under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), once a settlement has been agreed, the defendant (usually the employer’s insurer) has 14 to 28 days to make payment. In practice, many insurers make payment sooner, but the rules ensure that you should not face an unreasonable wait.

How compensation is paid

Compensation is normally paid to your solicitor, who holds the funds in a secure client account. Your solicitor will then:

Deduct their success fee and any other agreed costs.
Pay any outstanding costs such as medical report fees or After the Event (ATE) insurance premiums.
Transfer the balance to your bank account.

Real-world example

A warehouse worker settled her claim for £22,000 after a manual handling accident. The insurer paid the agreed sum into her solicitor’s account 18 days after settlement. After deducting the agreed 25% success fee and ATE insurance, her solicitor transferred £16,500 directly to her bank account the next day.

Factors that may delay payment

Although most claims are paid within 4 weeks, some factors can slow things down:

Disputed liability: If the case involved a last-minute agreement, the defendant may take the maximum time allowed to process payment.
Interim payments: If you have already received interim payments, the final award may need to be adjusted before funds are released.
Administrative delays: Errors with bank details or delays in transferring funds between solicitors can add time.

Lump sum or structured payments

Most workplace injury claims are paid as a single lump sum. In some cases, especially involving serious or long-term injuries, payments can be structured to provide regular instalments. These arrangements may take longer to set up.

What to do if payment is late

If the defendant fails to pay within the time limit set by the Civil Procedure Rules, your solicitor can apply to the court for enforcement. In most cases, the threat of enforcement is enough to prompt payment.

Next steps

If you have agreed a settlement, your solicitor will monitor the payment deadline closely. You can help by making sure your bank details are correct and up to date so your solicitor can transfer the funds to you without delay.

About the author

Chris Salmon is a legal commentator and co-founder of Quittance Legal Services. He has written extensively about workplace accidents, employment rights and the claims process. Chris's work has been cited in national media and he regularly contributes practical guidance to help injured workers understand their options.

More about Chris and WAAC

Last reviewed September 2025 by Chris Salmon

Have you been injured at work?

If you have been injured at work in the last 3 years, you may be able to claim financial compensation.

Find out more about making a work accident claim:

Do you qualify?
How much compensation could you get?
How does No Win, No Fee work?

External references

HSE: RIDDOR - employer duties to record and report workplace accidents, creating independent evidence.
HSE: Health and safety statistics overview - context on workplace injury trends and risks.
HSE: Kinds of accident (PDF) - data on the most common accident types and causes.
NHS: How to get your medical records - obtain medical evidence to support your claim.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - core employer duties relevant to proving liability.