- F.A.Q: Benefits
- Types of expenses that are covered by crime victim compensation programs.
- 1. Are there limits on the assistance available?
- 2. What costs are not covered?
- 3. What are collateral sources?
- 4. What costs may be paid?
- 1. Are there limits on the assistance available? - Top
- Costs related directly to the crime can be
reimbursed up to the maximum level in each state. The average
maximum is $25,000, but a number of states have higher or
lower maximums. In addition, there may be sub-limits on some
types of benefits, such as mental health counseling or funeral
costs.
- 2. What costs are not covered? - Top
- The following are some of the expenses that will not be reimbursed by crime victim compensation programs:
1) Property loss, theft and damage are usually not covered
(unless damage is to eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other medically
necessary devices.) A few states may pay limited amounts for
the loss of essential personal property during a violent crime.
Many states can pay for cleaning up a crime scene.
2) Expenses paid for by other sources, such as any type of public or private health insurance, automobile insurance, disability insurance, or workers' compensation.
3) Except in Hawaii, Tennessee, and the Virgin Islands, awards
for pain and suffering. (Such awards are in very limited amounts
in those jurisdictions.)
- 3. What are collateral sources? - Top
- Collateral sources are other private or public
programs, agencies, companies or other sources that will cover
the same costs. This may include private insurance, workers'
compensation, welfare, veteran's benefits, etc. Crime victim
compensation programs are "payors of last resort" which means
that the crime victim compensaiton program will not pay for
expenses covered by those other sources.
- 4. What costs may be paid? - Top
- The following expenses may be covered if they are not paid for a collateral source and if they resulted directly from the crime:
1) Medical and hospital care, and dental work to repair injury to teeth.
2) Mental health counseling.
3) Lost earnings due to crime-related injuries.
4) Loss of support for dependents of a deceased victim.
5) Funeral and burial expenses.
Check with the specific state where the crime occurred to
determine exactly what costs are covered by the program. Many
can pay other types of expenses, though these vary from state
to state.
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