Victim Compensation
Program
The Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services (JB-OVS) Victim Compensation
Program may be able to help pay for certain crime-related expenses not covered by insurance or another financial resource.
Victim Compensation Program staff are here to help with the application and claim process. To speak with someone, please call 1-888-286-7347 or email OVSCompensation@jud.ct.gov.
Victim Compensation Program Application
To apply for victim compensation, please click on one of the following applications and follow the instructions. Information may be typed directly in the application, but it must be printed, signed, and dated before submission.
Physical Injury
- English - PDF | Español - PDF | Polski - PDF | Português - PDF
Up to $15,000 for crime-related expenses
not covered by insurance or other financial resources
Emotional Injury - English - PDF | Español - PDF | Polski - PDF | Português - PDF
Up to $5,000 for crime-related expenses not covered by insurance or other financial resources
Survivor Benefits -
English - PDF | Español - PDF | Polski - PDF | Português - PDF
Up to $25,000 for expenses not covered by insurance or other financial resources.
Please mail, fax, or email completed, signed applications to:
Judicial Branch Office of Victim Services
Victim Compensation Unit
225 Spring Street,
4th Floor
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Fax: 860-263-2780
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;
- 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 witnessed 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; 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 3 years of the date of the personal or emotional injury or death
(Application for Waiver of Three Year Filing Requirement);
- 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 may help pay for certain crime-related expenses and losses that are not covered by medical insurance,
auto insurance, disability insurance, workers' compensation, or other types of financial resources.
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 court or board 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 court or board 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.
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.)
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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, JB-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.
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)