Who is eligible?
Preconditions for Eligibility
Your claim must be filed within three (3) years from the date of the personal injury or death, or after three (3) years if the VCCO determines that good cause existed for the delayed filing.
The crime must be reported to the police within nine (9) months after it occurs, or within nine (9) months from the time it was known, or from the time there was reason to believe, that a crime occurred.
For incidents prior to June 26, 1995, you must have suffered at least $100 in out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or two weeks continuous loss of earnings or support.
There are no minimum loss requirements for incidents occurring on or after June 26, 1995.
You must cooperate fully with the police and prosecutor's office; however, eligibility is not dependent upon conviction or prosecution of the offender.
Failure to cooperate with the VCCO investigator or failure to inform the VCCO of a change of address will result in a denial of compensation.
If you have any VCCO assessments imposed on you by the courts for prior convictions, you must pay them in full before you can receive any compensation.
The crime must occur in New Jersey, although you need not be a New Jersey resident; or you must be a New Jersey resident who became a victim in another state or jurisdiction that does not have a crime victim compensation program or has a program which has not provided full compensation for your crime-related losses.
Who is Not Eligible?
Crimes for which Compensation is Available The Board may order the payment of compensation for personal injury or death which resulted from the commission or attempt to commit any of the following offenses:
For an explanation of or further information on the listed crimes, please contact the VCCO at 973-648-2107.
The Board will pay legal fees only if it awards compensation. Attorneys are limited to receiving fees that are set by statute and by the Board.
Restitution from the offender which is payment made by assailants to their victims, as ordered by the court in a criminal proceeding. It may include compensation for property loss or damage, or for medical expenses. Restitution is now mandatory where the offender has the ability to pay. Please consult your County Victim-Witness Coordinator, in your County Prosecutor's Office.
The government or any agency of the United States, the State of New New Jersey or its political subdivisions, or of any two or more states
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
State disability insurance
Workers Compensation
Employer or Union Local disability programs
Insurance payable to the victim for a loss sustained because of the crime
A contract providing prepaid hospital and other health care services or benefits for disability
Moneys received from any civil or related third party actions. However, the first $1000 recovered is not to be included as money received from another source. This applies even though a settlement or any other resolution of the action is worded to recover any economic loss, such as pain and suffering and property loss, which the Board does not compensate.
You can also get an application from the VCCO. Please call 973-648-2107 or 877-658-2221 for assistance.
To obtain benefits, you must file a completed claim form and comply with Board regulations which are explained in the instructions. You will be asked to submit information to support your application. Where possible and to speed up processing, it would be helpful to submit a copy of a police report and related bills, receipts and insurance statements together with the application. Please send copies only and keep the originals for your own records.
*The VCCO Application form is downloadable as a Portable Document Format file (PDF). PDF documents appear the same as the original printed forms. To view and print these forms, you must have a PDF viewer which is available free here.
Intake Phase: The claim will be processed in the chronological order in which it is received by the Board. Upon receipt of the application, the claim is opened, given a claim number, an acknowledgment of receipt is sent to the applicant, and if needed, additional information is requested. All requests for emergency assistance and counseling are reviewed immediately.
Eligibility Phase: After a police report is received, the Board's eligibility investigators will review all the circumstances surrounding the incident, including, but not limited to, direct discussion with police and prosecutorial personnel, securing trial related information from the courts, and speaking with witnesses. The investigator will provide the Board's commissioners with a recommendation either that the claim is eligible for compensation or to deny compensation because there has been a failure to comply with one of the statute's provisions.
Compensation Phase: Once determined eligible for compensation, your claim enters the compensation phase. The Board's investigator will verify losses by communicating directly with providers of medical services, securing insurance benefit statements, and gathering loss of earnings and disability payment information.
You are required to show a minimum loss of at least $100 unreimbursed medical expenses or two continuous weeks loss of earnings or support. For incidents occurring on or after June 26, 1995, the minimum loss requirement no longer applies. Accordingly, please respond to the Board's requests as quickly as possible.
If additional information comes to the Board's attention which requires the Board to change its determination of eligibility, you will be notified and you will be given an opportunity to respond to the Board's new decision.
Hearing Phase: The investigator may send you a recommendation denying eligibility or may recommend an amount of compensation with which you disagree. You will have twenty (20) days to advise the Board in writing whether you accept the recommendation. You are entitled to a hearing before the Board. At the hearing you will be given an opportunity to submit proofs in support of your position.
The Board does not require that you appear at formal hearings with an attorney. You have the right, however, to be represented before the Board at all stages of proceedings by a New Jersey licensed attorney.
At the hearing you will be called upon to respond to questions from the Board's legal counsel and the Board's commissioners. You will have the opportunity to make a statement and question witnesses. There may be issues and questions for which legal advice would be beneficial.
If you decide to obtain an attorney, you must notify the Board within twenty (20) days of your hearing date. Your attorney must also send a letter to our Legal Department confirming that the attorney is representing you.
The Board does not assign or provide attorneys for you, but will be able to refer you for assistance. For further information, please contact the Board's Victim Counseling Service at 201-648-2535.
For frequently asked questions about hearings, see Hearing Guidelines.
For further information regarding the procedure for filing an appeal, you may contact the Appellate Division at 609-292-4822.
The psychological needs of immediate family members of crime victims may also be met.
The VCCO can arrange for translation services to assist you in processing your claim. Please call ahead for an appointment to ensure the services of a translator.
