Timeline
- Report the crime to police, another qualified criminal justice agency, victim services provider, mental health or medical provider.
- File a claim with OVS within three years of the crime.
- If you file the claim after that period, you will need to explain the delay in your application.
- OVS has up to 3 months to assign your claim to a staff investigator. Generally, this happens within weeks of receiving your claim application.
- Claims are usually investigated within 3 months, but the staff person has up to 6 months to investigate the claim. You will receive a written decision at the end of the investigation.
- If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have up to 30 days to request an appeal with OVS asking them to look at your claim again.
- After OVS sends their final decision, you have less than 4 months to request a Civil Practice Law and Rules Article 78 appeal.
Note:
- If you move or change your phone number or email while waiting for a claim decision, please make sure you notify OVS so they know how to contact you.
- Submit a signed change of address with your claim number to OVS. You can either use this form or write a note that says what your old address was and what the new one will be.
- You can fax, email, or upload it to the claim.
- After you submit your claim, you may be asked to submit additional information as part of the investigation process.
Updated 9/24/26