Program Directory

Pennsylvania

Victims Compensation Assistance Program
Office of Victims' Services
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

P.O. Box 1167
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1167
(717) 783-5153
FAX: (717) 787-4306
1-800-233-2339

Office of Victims' Services Director: Beverly Horn
Victims Compensation Assistance Program Manager: Lynn Shiner

Victim compensation in Pennsylvania originated in 1976. The Office of Victims' Services also handles VOCA assistance grants for the state, and the program serves as the designated payment source for sexual-assault forensic examinations.

FUNDING
The program receives $35 for each felony and misdemeanor conviction, and $25 from juvenile offenders. The program receives an annual VOCA grant.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Law enforcement reporting period: 72 hours
Filing period: 2 years
Exceptions: For child victims only.
Minimum loss: A combined minimum out-of-pocket loss, loss of earnings, or loss of support of $100; no minimum out-of-pocket loss for applicants aged 60 or older

PROCEDURES
Claims specialists determine eligibility, verify applications, make decisions for payments, and forward claims to another claims specialist or a claims review officer for approval depending on the complexity of the claim. All program denials and contribution assessments are reviewed and approved by legal counsel.

Appeals: The applicant has 30 days to request reconsideration in writing. The applicant also may request a hearing to present new information after an unfavorable reconsideration decision.

BENEFITS
Maximum award: $46,500 ($35,000 plus $10,000 counseling, $1,000 relocation, and $500 crime-scene cleanup)

Compensable costs (with limits)

Medical expenses: $35,000; 70% of usual and customary charges
Mental health counseling: $5,000 for adult direct victims; $10,000 for minor direct victims; $5,000 for homicides and $2,500 for non-homicides for relatives of the direct victim and anyone in common-law relationship or engaged to the direct victim, or who shared household, or was responsible for the direct victim's welfare; $1,500 for witnesses, and in homicide cases, the person who discovers the body
Lost wages/support: maximum of $15,000 in lost wages and $20,000 in lost support; cannot exceed average wage as determined by state Dept. of Labor & Industry; up to one week bereavement loss of earnings for the surviving spouse, child or parent
Funerals: $5,000, with individual caps per expense type, plus transportation expenses
Relocation expenses: maximum of $1,000 per household per crime incident
Replacement services and home health care: for emloyed family members providing services, lost earnings not to exceed average weekly wage set by Labor & Industry; someone other than a family member may receive $8 per hour for these services
Crime-scene cleanup: $500
Travel: to obtain medical and counseling treatment
Rehabilitation
Replacement of stolen cash, if primary source of income is Social Security, pension, retirement, disability, or court-ordered child/spousal support; up to one month's entitlement
Attorney fees: 15% of award, hourly maximum

of $75 per hour

Emergency: $1,500




	Program Directory Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Assistance Program Office of Victims' Services Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency P.O. Box 1167 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1167 (717) 783-5153 FAX: (717) 787-4306 1-800-233-2339 Web site: www.pccd.state.pa.us Office of Victims' Services Director: Beverly Horn Victims Compensation Assistance Program Manager: Lynn Shiner Victim compensation in Pennsylvania originated in 1976. The Office of Victims' Services also handles VOCA assistance grants for the state, and the program serves as the designated payment source for sexual-assault forensic examinations. FUNDING The program receives $35 for each felony and misdemeanor conviction, and $25 from juvenile offenders. The program receives an annual VOCA grant. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Law enforcement reporting period: 72 hours Filing period: 2 years Exceptions: For child victims only. Minimum loss: A combined minimum out-of-pocket loss, loss of earnings, or loss of support of $100; no minimum out-of-pocket loss for applicants aged 60 or older PROCEDURES Claims specialists determine eligibility, verify applications, make decisions for payments, and forward claims to another claims specialist or a claims review officer for approval depending on the complexity of the claim. All program denials and contribution assessments are reviewed and approved by legal counsel. Appeals: The applicant has 30 days to request reconsideration in writing. The applicant also may request a hearing to present new information after an unfavorable reconsideration decision. BENEFITS Maximum award: $46,500 ($35,000 plus $10,000 counseling, $1,000 relocation, and $500 crime-scene cleanup) Compensable costs (with limits) Medical expenses: $35,000; 70% of usual and customary charges Mental health counseling: $5,000 for adult direct victims; $10,000 for minor direct victims; $5,000 for homicides and $2,500 for non-homicides for relatives of the direct victim and anyone in common-law relationship or engaged to the direct victim, or who shared household, or was responsible for the direct victim's welfare; $1,500 for witnesses, and in homicide cases, the person who discovers the body Lost wages/support: maximum of $15,000 in lost wages and $20,000 in lost support; cannot exceed average wage as determined by state Dept. of Labor & Industry; up to one week bereavement loss of earnings for the surviving spouse, child or parent Funerals: $5,000, with individual caps per expense type, plus transportation expenses Relocation expenses: maximum of $1,000 per household per crime incident Replacement services and home health care: for emloyed family members providing services, lost earnings not to exceed average weekly wage set by Labor & Industry; someone other than a family member may receive $8 per hour for these services Crime-scene cleanup: $500 Travel: to obtain medical and counseling treatment Rehabilitation Replacement of stolen cash, if primary source of income is Social Security, pension, retirement, disability, or court-ordered child/spousal support; up to one month's entitlement Attorney fees: 15% of award, hourly maximum of $75 per hour Emergency: $1,500

Pennsylvania

Victims Compensation Assistance Program Office of Victims' Services Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

Victims Compensation Assistance Program
Office of Victims' Services
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency