Victim Compensation
Program
If you or someone you know is the victim of a violent crime, the Victim Compensation
Program may be able to help pay for certain crime expenses that are not covered by insurance or another financial resource.
This video explains who may be eligible for victim compensation, the benefits available,
how to file an application, and the claim process. You may watch the entire video or choose a video below.
- Who may be eligible for victim compensation (6:00)
- Benefits available (4:48)
- How to file an application (3:05)
- The claim process (7:05)
The Victim Compensation Program has compassionate and caring staff that will help you with the application and claim process.
If you would like to speak with a staff member, please call 1-888-286-7347 or email
OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov.
Preguntas frecuentes acerca de la atención a las víctimas - PDF
1. Who can receive victim compensation?[+]
You may be eligible to receive victim compensation, if you are a:
- Victim who suffered a physical injury;
- Victim who suffered emotional injury from a threat of either physical injury or death and received treatment. Crimes include, for example, robbery, kidnapping, child pornography, unlawful sharing of an intimate image, voyeurism (being watched, photographed, or recorded without your knowledge and permission), stalking, sexual assault, and human trafficking;
- Dependent or the legal designated decision maker of a homicide victim;
- Relative of a sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, or homicide victim;
- Child who witnesses domestic violence (parent or legal guardian must file an application for a minor child (under the age of 18));
- Person who paid some or all of the funeral expenses;
- Person who paid some or all of the crime scene clean-up expenses;
- Person who missed time from work to provide care to a personal injury victim; and
- Person who has a disability and owns or keeps a service animal that was injured or killed during a crime.
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2. What are the eligibility requirements?[+]
Eligibility requirements to receive victim compensation:
- You were injured during a crime or injured while helping police during a crime
- The crime happened in Connecticut; or
- you live in Connecticut and the crime happened in a country that does not have a victim compensation program that you are eligible for and you were a victim of international terrorism or a victim of a crime that would be eligible for victim compensation in Connecticut.
- You did not cause the crime or do anything illegal;
- The crime was reported to the police within 5 days or within 5 days of when a report could reasonably be made; or
- you are a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, or sexual assault and told a certified domestic violence counselor, a certified sexual assault counselor, an employee from a child advocacy center, an employee of the Department of Children and Families, certain medical providers, mental health providers, or certain school personnel about the crime; you went to a health care facility to have a sexual assault exam and evidence collection done; or a judge gave you a restraining order or a civil protection order; or
- You are filing the application within 2 years of the date of the personal or emotional injury or death
(a waiver form is available under How Do I Apply?);
- You are cooperating with the police investigation; and
- You are cooperating with the Victim Compensation Program.
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3. What expenses are covered?[+]
The Victim Compensation Program does not cover:
- Property loss or damage;
- Pain and suffering
- Household living expenses;
- Mileage to doctor appointments; and
- Attorneys fees. (If an attorney files a victim compensation application for you, the Program allows attorney fees up to 15% of the compensation ordered.)
The Victim Compensation Program may help pay for certain crime expenses and losses that are not covered by medical insurance,
auto insurance, disability insurance, workers' compensation, or other types of financial resources.
The Compensation Benefits chart
has more information
about these expenses, including the information the Program needs to process
applications and who is eligible to have their expenses paid.
Expenses Covered:
Physical Injury (up to $15,000)
- Medical, dental, counseling, and prescription expenses;
- Counseling for relatives of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse victims;
- Cosmetic and plastic surgery;
- Medical-related special needs, such as medical equipment (wheelchair) and changes to a home (ramp) or vehicle;
- Lost wages because of crime-related injuries or care to a victim;
- Lost wages and travel expenses for you and your relatives to attend adult court proceedings; and
- Crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000) to any person who paid some or all of the expenses.
Emotional Injury (up to $5,000)
- Medical, dental, counseling, and prescription expenses.
Survivor Benefits (up to $25,000)
- Funeral (up to $6,000) to any person who paid some or all of the expenses;
- Loss of support for dependents and legal designated decision makers;
- Lost wages and travel expenses for
relatives and dependents to attend adult court proceedings;
- Counseling for
relatives and legal designated decision makers;
and
- Crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000) to any person who paid some or all of the expenses.
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4. Do I have to pay the
Victim Compensation Program back?[+]
If you receive money from any other financial resources because of the crime, OVS is entitled to 2/3 of the
amount the Victim Compensation Program paid. (Section 54-212 of the Connecticut
General Statutes).
For example, if the Victim Compensation Program compensated you $15,000 and you receive a $40,000 insurance settlement for the same expenses paid by the
Program, the Program is entitled to receive $10,000 from your settlement.
Examples of other financial resources include:
- private or public health insurance;
- auto and homeowners insurance;
- insurance or civil lawsuit settlements; and
- workers' compensation.
If the court orders the defendant to pay your financial losses (known as
restitution) and the order includes the expenses that were already paid by
the Victim Compensation Program, the Program is entitled by state law to receive
back all of the victim compensation paid for those expenses, unless the court
orders differently. (Section 54-215 of the Connecticut General Statutes)
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5. How do I Apply?[+]
To apply for victim compensation, please click on one of the following applications and follow the
instructions. You may type your information directly in the
application, but you must print out the application and sign and date it.
The completed, signed application(s) may be
mailed, faxed, or emailed to:
Office of Victim Services
Victim Compensation Unit
225 Spring Street,
4th Floor
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Fax: 860-263-2780
Email:
OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov
If the crime happened more
than 2 years from the date you are filling the application, you must also
fill out the Application for Waiver of Two Year Filing Requirement and send it with
your application.
If you have questions about the application
process or need help filling out the application, please call the
Victim Compensation Program at 1-888-286-7347.
If the crime did not happen in Connecticut, please visit the
National Association of Crime Victim
Compensation Boards' Website
for contact information to the victim
compensation program of the state where the crime happened.
Physical Injury (up to $15,000)
- Download application
Up to $15,000 for crime-related expenses
not covered by insurance or other financial resources
Emotional Injury (up to $5,000) - Download application
Up to $5,000 for crime-related expenses not covered by insurance or other financial resources
Survivor Benefits (up to $25,000) -
Download application
Up to $25,000 for expenses not covered by insurance or other financial resources.
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6. How long will It take? - PDF
7. Compensation Benefits - PDF
8. Compensation Program brochure - PDF
| Español - PDF