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CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION
Crime Victims Compensation provides
financial, medical and mental health benefits to victims of crimes.
This program is administered by the Department of Labor and Industries
and is a payer of last resort. This means that benefits provided
by other insurance held by the victim must be used before the
Department of Labor and Industries can pay benefits. A Crime Victim/Witness
Coordinator is available in the Island County Prosecutor’s
Office to assist victims in filing their initial application and
answering questions.
Eligibility
To be eligible for crime victim compensation
benefits, a victim must require medical or mental health treatment
because of the injuries suffered as a result of a crime. A surviving
spouse or beneficiary of the victim may be able to file a claim.
The program does not pay for property losses.
If the victim was injured in another
state and was a Washington resident at the time of the crime,
he/she must apply for benefits from the state where the crime
occurred. If the state where the crime occurred rejects the claim,
then a claim may be submitted to the Washington State Crime Victims
Compensation Program.
Benefits Available
1. There is a $150,000 maximum on
most medical/mental health benefits.
2. Counseling benefits are available
to victims of crime. Limited counseling may be available to family
members of sexual assault and homicide victims. Victims and family
members must use the mental health providers or benefits covered
by other insurance first.
3. When injured and unable to work,
the crime victims compensation program may be able to provide
the victim with payments to replace a portion of the victim’s
normal income.
4. Total and permanent disability
may result in eligibility for a pension.
5. Survivor’s benefits are available
if the person is a surviving spouse or child of a crime victim
(beneficiary). This is either a pension or a lump sum benefit.
The program may also pay a portion of the burial expenses incurred
through the crime.
Application
for Benefits
Applications for Crime Victims Compensation
can be obtained from the Island County Prosecutor’s Office
or directly from the Crime Victims Compensation program:
Crime Victims Compensation
P.O. Box 44520
Olympia, WA 98504-4520
800-762-3716
Completed applications can be returned
to the Prosecutor’s Office for processing or may be mailed
directly to the Crime Victims Compensation program.
After review of the application and
information submitted by the victim, a determination will be made
to approve or deny the claim for eligibility. A letter will be
sent by the Department of Labor & Industries to the victim
approving or denying the claim.
Frequently Asked
Questions
1. Will I get benefits even after
a person is convicted?
Yes.
2. How long does it take to process
the application?
If processed through our office, about a week.
3. Can I obtain benefits even if no
formal criminal charges are filed?
If a law enforcement agency investigates and prepares a report,
the Department of Labor & Industries will then determine if
a “criminal act” has been committed. If so, you may
be eligible for benefits, even if the police or prosecutor does
not file charges in court.
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