[JURIST] Britain's Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) [official website] made the first compensation payments to victims of July 7 London bombings [JURIST news archive] Tuesday. CICA has so far sent out two checks and offered interim payments totaling £400,000 ($700,000 US) to bereaved relatives and to injured survivors. According to the CICA compensation scheme [PDF text; BBC backgrounder], families of those killed will be granted £11,000 ($19,000 US) compensation and are also eligible to apply for extra money for funeral costs. Seriously injured survivors can claim costs for loss of earnings and care as well as compensation not to exceed £500,000 ($880,000 US). Payments can be made for those who suffered mentally as well. CICA estimates it will pay out between £10 million to £15 million. Following the US September 11 attacks [JURIST news archive], the US Justice Department established a Victim Compensation Fund [archived website], which made over 5,000 payments to survivors [JURIST report] and families of victims ranging from $250,000 to over $8 million. BBC News has more.