Your Guide to Criminal Compensation

If you’re a victim of a crime who has out-of-pocket medical expenses, you might be eligible to receive compensation through the Virginia Victims Fund. This fund, which operates solely on forfeiture funds and fines/fees collected from offenders - which means no tax dollars are used to fund VVF.

Additionally, if you have a VVF claim, hospitals and medical providers cannot put your bills in collections. If the VVF determines you are ineligible for a claim, then your bills will be due.

How VVF Works

The VVF has a variety of eligibility requirements to meet before individuals can even think about filling out applications to receive funds.

• Type of Crime: The crimes that are eligible for VVF include felony crimes such as Malicious Wounding, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse. The only traffic offenses that are eligible for VVF are Hit & Runs, DUIs and other intentional motor vehicle crimes. Some domestic violence misdemeanors, such as Assault & Battery on a Family Member, are eligible. Robberies might be eligible, especially if there was an injury component to the robbery. Breaking & Entering(s), however, are not.

• Participation in Crime: Eligible victims should have ZERO culpability in their case. For example, if you are the parent of a child who was shot while participating in a drug deal, you are not eligible to receive reimbursement for any expenses because your child was participating in criminal activity during the time of the offense. However, if your child was shot while a drug deal was going on and they walked in on it, that changes the eligibility status.

• Time of Report: If you want your case to be eligible for a VVF claim, you must report the crime to law enforcement within FIVE days of the incident.

• Expenses: Not only should your expenses be greater than $100, but you should also have at least one of the following expenses: Ambulance bill, hospital stay, medical/dental surgery. In certain cases, bedding/household items can be eligible for reimbursement, but only if they were taken for evidence. Installation of security systems for DV & Robbery victims can be considered as well. DV victims who relocate as a result of the crime can also submit their relocation expenses for reimbursement.

It’s important to note that any direct bills from medical providers (bills for hospital stays, surgeries, etc) will be paid directly by VVF - you will not receive the check to pay your bills from VVF. This is to simplify the process for you (and to eliminate the hospitals from contacting you about paying your bills).

The Application

It’s best to complete the VVF application with a Victim Advocate, as they have been trained in completing the application and know what the VVF will typically ask for. Here are some things to keep in mind for the application:

• Bring Identifying Documents: Yes, you will need to give your SSN, phone number, address and a plethora of other personal information in order for the VVF to consider your application. No one will share your information publicly; it remains confidential with the advocate and the VVF.

• Bring ALL Medical Documents: We’re not kidding. All medical documents, including EOBs/bills, addresses/phone numbers of all doctors, medical insurance info, prescription receipts, and employer addresses/information to fill out the application. VVF has to request medical records from each medical provider you have in order to consider paying for expenses from them. They also need this information to negotiate bills with hospitals and medical providers so if anything does need to be paid the amount goes down astronomically.

• Bring ALL Civil Case Information: If you have filed a civil claim against your offender, you will need to bring that information to fill out the application. Since the VVF is payer of last resort, they will typically delay any award until after your civil case has concluded because your settlement might exceed your hospital bill total.

As part of the application, the VW office might ask you to sign a medical release form so they can contact providers on your behalf along with the medical release form from VVF for them to do the same. This helps advocates work on the back end to find out delays and hold ups without delaying the process further by contacting you every time they need to obtain medical information.

After Submission

Once your application is submitted, the VVF will send a letter to the address you provided on your application informing you that a claim has been opened. They will request that you provide more information, such as additional receipts for prescriptions. Additionally - and this is most important - if you do NOT have health insurance, you MUST apply for charity care and provide the results of that application to the VVF. If you are requesting lost wages, you must ensure your doctor(s) and your employer(s) provide those documents back to VVF after completing them.

If you do not provide the requested information to them by the end of the date given, then they will not award you anything, taking your bills off hold and requiring you pay them.

If you’re granted a claim, then they will either send you reimbursement for what you requested or pay your hospital bills directly. Each time you obtain a prescription, you should submit the receipt to the VVF with your claim number given to you by your advocate.

Criminal Compensation Should Help, Not Hinder

Criminal Compensation serves to help you after your traumatic experience. While no one is ever made truly whole after they’ve experienced victimization, the VVF is there to try and fill the holes made financially.

In some instances, coverage can be denied or delayed. It’s important to remain in constant contact with your advocate and keep them updated on your addresses, phone numbers and additional medical expenses that are a result of the crime.

Have more questions about VVF? Visit their FAQ page on their website!