COMPENSATION BENEFITS
WHO CAN APPLY?
* Victim or intervenor as defined in Chapter 960 of the Florida Statutes.
* A surviving spouse or parent of a deceased victim.
* A surviving adult child or sibling of a deceased victim.
* A guardian applying for a minor child victim, incompetent person, surviving minor child of a deceased victim, surviving minor sibling of a deceased victim; a minor that was present at the scene of a crime, who saw or heard the crime, and suffered psychological or psychiatric injury as a result of the crime; a minor victim of child abuse who suffered a mental injury. A relative applying on behalf of a deceased victim when there is no other source for payment of funeral expenses.
* Any other person who was dependent for his or her principal support upon a deceased victim or intervenor.
WHAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO APPLY?
* A completed and signed victim compensation claim application.
* A law enforcement offense report documenting proof of a compensable crime.
* Proof of crime-related expenses (for example, itemized bills).
* Proof of third-party payments such as insurance, restitution, judgments or settlements.
* For relocation benefits, certification by a certified domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Additional qualification criteria and deadlines apply.)
* Victims who suffered personal physical, psychiatric or psychological injury or death, as the result of a crime. Some exceptions and limited benefits may apply for victims who did not sustain a personal physical injury or death.
* Crime must be reported to law enforcement within 72 hours. Exceptions for good cause are not available for property loss claims.
* Application must be filed within one year after the crime date or within two years if good cause is shown for the filing delay.
* Victim must fully cooperate with law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s office.
* Victim must not have been engaged in an unlawful activity.
* Victim's conduct must not have contributed to the situation that brought about his or her own injuries.
* Victim or claimant must not have been confined or in custody in a county or municipal facility; a state or federal correctional facility; or a juvenile detention, commitment, or assessment facility; adjudicated as a habitual felony offender, habitual violent offender, violent career criminal; or adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony offense.
* Relocation claims for victims of domestic violence or sexual battery must be filed through and certified by the applicable domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center. Domestic violence claims must be reported to the proper authorities and submitted to the department within 30 days from the date of crime.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CLAIM IS SUBMITTED?
* When your claim is received, you may be asked to provide specific medical and financial information. You should gather materials related to the crime and have
them available if requested. You are not required to have an attorney in order to file a claim, and there is no application fee.
WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE?
* Wage loss for an employed victim who missed work as the result of the crime related injury or a parent/guardian who had to care for a minor child recovering from a crime
related injury.
* Loss of support for persons who were principally dependent on a deceased victim who was employed and earned income, or who was eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, at the time of the crime.
* Disability allowance when the victim becomes permanently disabled as a result of the crime.
* Funeral/burial expenses.
* Treatment expenses for medical, non-medical remedial care, or other medically necessary services. Includes prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures, or prosthetic devices needed as a result of the crime.
* Mental health and grief counseling.
* Property loss reimbursement for elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled adults only. Crime must be reported to the proper authorities within 72 hours and only certain types of tangible property are compensable.
* Domestic violence relocation assistance for victims who have an immediate need to escape a domestic violence environment. The need must be certified by a certified domestic violence center in the State of Florida.
* Sexual battery relocation assistance for victims who need to relocate due to a reasonable fear for their continued safety. The need must be certified by a certified rape crisis center in the State of Florida.
Note: Only those expenses directly related to the crime will be considered for payment. All benefits have dollar limitations, subject to change without prior notice, and require certain types of documentation. Some benefits are not available for certain types of claims.
Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-226-6667
Internet Web Site: http://myfloridalegal.com
TDD users can call through Florida Relay 1-800-955-8771
Call the Information and Referral Line at the Bureau of Victim Compensation if you would like information about:
* Applying for Victim Compensation or checking on the status of your victim compensation claim.
* The appellate court process or the status of an appellate case.
* Victim service programs in your area and referral to local resources.
* The Sexual Battery Examination Program.
* The Address Confidentiality Program for domestic violence victims.
* Victim or intervenor as defined in Chapter 960 of the Florida Statutes.
* A surviving spouse or parent of a deceased victim.
* A surviving adult child or sibling of a deceased victim.
* A guardian applying for a minor child victim, incompetent person, surviving minor child of a deceased victim, surviving minor sibling of a deceased victim; a minor that was present at the scene of a crime, who saw or heard the crime, and suffered psychological or psychiatric injury as a result of the crime; a minor victim of child abuse who suffered a mental injury. A relative applying on behalf of a deceased victim when there is no other source for payment of funeral expenses.
* Any other person who was dependent for his or her principal support upon a deceased victim or intervenor.
WHAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO APPLY?
* A completed and signed victim compensation claim application.
* A law enforcement offense report documenting proof of a compensable crime.
* Proof of crime-related expenses (for example, itemized bills).
* Proof of third-party payments such as insurance, restitution, judgments or settlements.
* For relocation benefits, certification by a certified domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (Additional qualification criteria and deadlines apply.)
* Victims who suffered personal physical, psychiatric or psychological injury or death, as the result of a crime. Some exceptions and limited benefits may apply for victims who did not sustain a personal physical injury or death.
* Crime must be reported to law enforcement within 72 hours. Exceptions for good cause are not available for property loss claims.
* Application must be filed within one year after the crime date or within two years if good cause is shown for the filing delay.
* Victim must fully cooperate with law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s office.
* Victim must not have been engaged in an unlawful activity.
* Victim's conduct must not have contributed to the situation that brought about his or her own injuries.
* Victim or claimant must not have been confined or in custody in a county or municipal facility; a state or federal correctional facility; or a juvenile detention, commitment, or assessment facility; adjudicated as a habitual felony offender, habitual violent offender, violent career criminal; or adjudicated guilty of a forcible felony offense.
* Relocation claims for victims of domestic violence or sexual battery must be filed through and certified by the applicable domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center. Domestic violence claims must be reported to the proper authorities and submitted to the department within 30 days from the date of crime.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CLAIM IS SUBMITTED?
* When your claim is received, you may be asked to provide specific medical and financial information. You should gather materials related to the crime and have
them available if requested. You are not required to have an attorney in order to file a claim, and there is no application fee.
WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE?
* Wage loss for an employed victim who missed work as the result of the crime related injury or a parent/guardian who had to care for a minor child recovering from a crime
related injury.
* Loss of support for persons who were principally dependent on a deceased victim who was employed and earned income, or who was eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, at the time of the crime.
* Disability allowance when the victim becomes permanently disabled as a result of the crime.
* Funeral/burial expenses.
* Treatment expenses for medical, non-medical remedial care, or other medically necessary services. Includes prescriptions, eyeglasses, dentures, or prosthetic devices needed as a result of the crime.
* Mental health and grief counseling.
* Property loss reimbursement for elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled adults only. Crime must be reported to the proper authorities within 72 hours and only certain types of tangible property are compensable.
* Domestic violence relocation assistance for victims who have an immediate need to escape a domestic violence environment. The need must be certified by a certified domestic violence center in the State of Florida.
* Sexual battery relocation assistance for victims who need to relocate due to a reasonable fear for their continued safety. The need must be certified by a certified rape crisis center in the State of Florida.
Note: Only those expenses directly related to the crime will be considered for payment. All benefits have dollar limitations, subject to change without prior notice, and require certain types of documentation. Some benefits are not available for certain types of claims.
Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-226-6667
Internet Web Site: http://myfloridalegal.com
TDD users can call through Florida Relay 1-800-955-8771
Call the Information and Referral Line at the Bureau of Victim Compensation if you would like information about:
* Applying for Victim Compensation or checking on the status of your victim compensation claim.
* The appellate court process or the status of an appellate case.
* Victim service programs in your area and referral to local resources.
* The Sexual Battery Examination Program.
* The Address Confidentiality Program for domestic violence victims.
The Florida Office of the Attorney General, Division of Victim Services Application for Victim Compensation Claim Form available for download in Adobe Acrobat format.
Submit a completed and signed claim application to:
Bureau of Victim Compensation
The Capitol, PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Or
by email: VCINTAKE@myfloridalegal.com
Web-Site: http://myfloridalegal.com/victims
Bureau of Victim Compensation
The Capitol, PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Or
by email: VCINTAKE@myfloridalegal.com
Web-Site: http://myfloridalegal.com/victims
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