Applying For Crime Victim Compensation in New York

Applying For Crime Victim Compensation

Being victimized by a crime puts an emotional strain on victims and their families. The financial impact can add another layer of stress. Fortunately, many states have crime victim compensation programs that reimburse victims for expenses such as counseling services, lost wages, medical bills and funeral costs. Victims may also be compensated for stolen cash, property damage and crime scene cleanup. Each state receives funds through the federal Victim of Crime Act to assist crime victims.

In New York, the Office of Victim Services (OVS) awards crime victim compensation fund application grants to help offset a wide range of losses and expenses related to a crime. However, OVS only pays for a crime-related expense once other sources of compensation like private insurance, workers’ comp and Medicaid/Medicare have been exhausted.

Those restrictions, combined with a bureaucracy that can make it hard to get the information victims need to apply for compensation, can make it difficult for many people to access crime victim assistance and financial support. According to Common Justice, a New York City-based nonprofit that works on issues like domestic violence and sexual assault, in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, OVS only awarded 6,140 compensation claims, covering just a small fraction of the 70,000 violent crimes reported.

Applying For Crime Victim Compensation in New York

In order to qualify for crime victim compensation, the victim must be a legal resident of the state in which the crime occurred. In addition, the victim must have been harmed by a qualifying crime, including physical injury, threat of physical injury or death and certain crimes that cause emotional trauma. Victims must also report the crime to police and cooperate reasonably with law enforcement officials in their investigation of the crime. If the victim is deceased, a family member or designated representative may apply for compensation.

OVS will evaluate each application and may ask the victim or other individuals to verify the information provided. In some cases, OVS will ask for additional documentation such as employment and medical records. If an application is denied, the victim may file an appeal.

The process for applying for compensation can be lengthy, and the victim must keep track of all expenses related to the crime. To avoid missing a deadline, it is important to keep receipts for all expenses and complete the application as soon as possible after the crime. In most cases, the victim will receive a decision within 4 to 6 months.

Each year, Congress determines how much money will be made available to support state crime victim compensation programs. RAINN tracks these budgeting activities closely and advocates for funding to ensure that victims have the resources they need to recover. To learn more, visit RAINN’s action center.