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. To learn if you may be eligible for victim compensation (money to pay for your crime expenses and losses), the benefits available, and to file an application, please
see the questions below.
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 (toll-free, nationwide) 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 (money to pay for your crime expenses and losses), if you are a:
- Victim of a personal injury crime, including a victim of a person driving drunk, under the influence, leaving
the scene (hit and run), or purposely using a vehicle to hurt the victim;
- Dependent or the legal designated decision maker of a homicide victim;
- A Relative of a sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, or homicide victim;
- Child who witnesses domestic violence and is not related to the victim
(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 for a homicide victim;
- Person who paid some or all of the crime scene clean-up;
- Person who missed time from work to provide care to a personal injury victim; and
- Person who is blind or has a disability and owns or keeps a guide or assistance dog that was injured 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 and the crime happened in
- Connecticut;
- a United States territory that does not have a victim compensation program and you were a resident of Connecticut at the time of the crime; or
- Outside the United States, and you were a victim of international terrorism and a resident of Connecticut at the time of the crime; or
- 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;
- You are a sexual assault victim and told a medical or mental health provider or an advocate about the sexual assault or you went to a health care facility to have a sexual assault forensic exam done;
- You are filing the application within 2 years of the date of the personal injury or death
(a waiver form is available under How Do I Apply?);
- You must cooperate with the police in their investigation; and
- You must cooperate with the Victim Compensation Program by providing the information requested.
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3. What expenses are covered?[+]
The Victim Compensation Program does not cover:
- Property loss or damage;
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional stress);
- 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 of no more than 15% of the compensation awarded.)
The Victim Compensation Program may help pay for certain crime expenses and
losses that are not covered by medical and auto insurance, disability
insurance, workers’ compensation, sick time, 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:
Personal 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; modification to a home or vehicle (ramp);
- Lost wages (does not include going to court); and
- Crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000).
Survivor Benefits (up to $25,000)
- Funeral (up to $5,000) to any person who paid some or all of the expenses;
- Loss of support for dependents and legal designated decision makers;
- Lost wages and mileage for
relatives and legal designated decision makers to attend criminal court proceedings;
- Counseling for
relatives and legal designated decision makers;
and
- Crime scene clean-up (up to $1,000).
Non-relative Child Witness of Domestic Violence (up to $2,000)
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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, the
Victim Compensation Program by state law is entitled to receive back 2/3 of the
amount of victim compensation 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: 860-263-2778
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 (toll-free, nationwide).
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.
Personal Injury (up to $15,000)
- Download application
Up to $15,000 for personal injury crime-related expenses
not covered by insurance or other financial resources
Survivor Benefits (up to $25,000) -
Download application
Up to $25,000 in survivor benefits for expenses not
covered by insurance or other financial resources.
Non-relative Child Witness of Domestic Violence (up to $2,000)
- Download application
Up to $2,000 for children who witness domestic violence
and are not related to the victim and the counseling expenses are 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