NY Crime Victims Legal Help

Using OVS Compass

You can apply for Victim Compensation through OVS Compass.

You can sign-in as a Guest or with a NY.GOV ID. Please read the information on the welcome screen to see which sign-in option is right for you. 

Using the NY.GOV ID Sign In option lets you:

• Save progress on the claim. This means, you do not have to complete the application process in one sitting.
• View your information after you submit the claim. 

You can click here to create a Personal NY.gov ID account.

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Important to know

• The "Quick Exit" Button on OVS Compass will take you to the Google search page, but a back arrow will take you back to OVS Compass. If you are worried about someone tracking your online activitiy, clear your brower's history.
• The first screen after the "welcome" screen asks if you want to file a new claim or if you want to upload documents. You can upload documents after you submit a claim. To upoad documents, you will need a claim number.
• There are 10 steps in the application process. At the start of each step, OVS lets you know the information that you will need to complete the step. Things that are marked with a red asterisk (*) are required. You cannot move on to the next screen without answering those questions.
• When you start your application, you will see a Reference Number at the top of the page. Although this is a temporary number, save it just in case.
• If you need help, use the "OVS Resource Connect" link at the bottom of each screen.

Updated 9/24/26

Step One: Getting Started

New Claim or Upload Documents

The first screen after the "welcome" screen asks if you want to file a new claim or if you want to upload documents. You can upload documents after you submit a claim. To upoad documents, you will need a claim number.

Claim Type

The second screen asks you to choose the claim type you are applying for. This is extremely important. If you don’t select the correct claim type, your application may be denied. Also, the expenses you can get reimbursed for depend on the type of claim you make. For help answering this question, you can use the NY Crime Victims Legal Help's Victim Compensation Claim Navigator.

Required information includes:

• Your legal first and last names
• Your date of birth 
• If you are filing for somone else: Their legal name and date of birth
• For death claims: Legal name and date of birth of person who died
• Name, address, email and phone number of the Private Attorney if you are represented by one
• Name of the organization (Victim Assistance Program or VAP) of the victim advocate if you are working with one

Important to know

• Selecting the language you prefer to communiate in does not change the language in this online application.
• OVS asks if you would like to give them permission to speak with someone else (a family member, friend, advocate, etc.) about your claim. That person is called an Authorized Representative, If you select "Yes", then you must have that person's name, address, phone number, and email to move on to the next screen. If you don't have all that information, you can select "No" and contact OVS later with all the information and let them know you changed your mind.
• If you originally filed a claim with the help of a crime victim advocate in one program but later begin working with an advocate from a different program, you can use this VAP Authorization Form to give the new advocate permission to speak with OVS and help you with the claim.
• Only list the name of a private attorney if they are helping you file this claim or are representing you in a civil suit related to the crime. Do not include the names of the District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the criminal case.

Updated 9/24/26

Step Two: Contact Information

To reach you, OVS needs your mailing address, and at least one other safe way to contact you -- phone or email.

Make sure you inform OVS of a change of address, phone number, or email.

• Submit a signed change of address with your claim number to OVS.
• You can either use this Change of Address 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.

Updated 9/20/26

Step Three: Personal Information

In this section, OVS requires the following information:

• Race
• Gender 
• Sexual Orientation
• Disability Status

NOTE: You can select the "Prefer not to say" option. 

Updated 9/24/26

Step Four: Crime Information

Required information includes:

- Where the crime happened

• NOTE: You are eligible for compensation if the crime happened in New York State or if you are a New York State resident and were injured because of terrorism.

- Description of what happened to you and any injuries you received

• Try to be as specific as possible. This will help OVS determine if you are eligible for compensation.

- Type of crime

• The options refer to the NYS criminal law. Make your best guess.

- If the crime was related to domestic violence, alcohol consumption, illegal drug use, bullying, elder abuse, gun violence

• It is a “domestic violence crime” if the victim and the suspect:
  - Are related
  - Are married or dating
  - Were married or dating
  - Have a child in common
• You have the option to answer "I don't know" or "I prefer not to answer"

- If the crime involved driving a livery cab, is a hate crime, a federal crime, a mass violence incident, or if the victim was helping someone who was experiencing a crime

• You have the option to answer "I don't know" or "I prefer not to answer"

- Documentation on how the crime was reported

• Police or Criminal Justice report
• Crime Verification Form signed by medical or mental health professional
• Crime Verification Form from Victim Advocate

What you can receive in compensation depends on the type of claim, the type of crime, and other factors.

For Essential Personal Property and Personal Injury claims, you will also be asked if you experienced loss or damage to your personal property because of the crime.

For Personal Injury claims, you can request the following health-related expenses:

• Medical/Dental
• Ambulance 
• Counseling
• Transportation to medical appointments
• Physical rehabilitation services
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Home modifications
• Vehicle modifications

You can also request the following non-medical expenses:

1. Essential personal property
2. Relocation 
3. Home security devices and installation
4. Restoring property or spaces where a crime happened
5. Transportation to court appearances related to this crime
6. Domestic violence shelter costs
7. Other expenses

Important to know:

• If using a police report as part of this application, must have name of the criminal justice agency, date of crime, and date crime reported.
• If using a crime verification form from a medical professional, you must sign a HIPAA release so OVS can talk to them, and you must have the date of crime and date of the medical exam.
• If using the victim advocate report, you must have date of the crime and approximate date reported to victim advocate.
• If using a mental health attestation, you must have date of crime and approximate date of consult.

Updated 9/24/26

Step Five: Compensation Expenses

In this section, OVS asks about the types of expenses you are seeking compensation for.

For Death Claims, you will be asked if your expenses are related to :

• Counseling for yourself or other victims
• Funeral/Burial 
• Loss of Support
• Or other

For Essential Personal Property, you will also be asked for:

• Items that were lost or damaged and how much each item costs
• If you lost cash, or had money taken from a credit card, gift card, or benefit card

You will also be required to answer the following questions:

• Number of dependents
• Annual income from all sources
• How much you have in savings, stocks and bonds
• If you own property, how much that property is worth
• Your mortgage or rent payment amount
• Total loans

Important to know:

• There may be a maximum amount that OVS can give you for compensation. 
• The maximum award for a cash loss is $2,500 unless the loss is due to larceny.
• The total maximum award for loss of essential personal property is $2,500.

Update 9/24/26

Step Six: Suspect/Perpetrator Information

This section asks for information related to the suspect. This includes:

• Suspect's name
• If they have been arrested for this crime
• If they have been prosecuted for this crime
• If the court has issued an order of protectioin against the suspect

If you don't have all the information or do not want to share the information, you can skip this step and go on to the next.

Update 9/20/26

Step Seven: Insurance

• Because OVS is the payor of last resort, they will require you to go through your insurance first. After that, OVS will decide if they can help you with any uninsured expenses.
• Insurance information includes state and federal beneifts, such as workers compensation, SSDI, and Veteran's benefits.
• For death claims, if you are seeking counseling expenses, they will ask for health insurance information for you and secondary survivors.
• If you have private health insurance, you will need to provide the insurance carrier's name. Other fields, such as Insurance ID and group ID can be left blank when you submit the application, but you will likely need to provide this information to OVS at a later date. 
• For Essential Personal Property (EPP) Claims, you will be asked if you have automobile insurance even if the crime doesn't involve a vehicle.

Update 9/20/26

Step Eight: Upload Documents

This is where you can upload documents to support your claim, such as

• Crime Victim Verification Form
• Financial information
• Identification 
• Insurance
• Legal 
• Medical/Dental
• Other Expenses

If you don't have everything now, OVS will contact you for them. 

To make the application process go faster, submit the requested documentation you currently have. You can upload additional information when you have them.

Step Nine: Review and Edit

You can edit or correct your responses in this step. Please review what you wrote. Do not skip this step.

Step Ten: Authorization

You must sign this form. OVS will not accept your application without this form.

This form gives OVS permission to speak to law enforcement, lawyers, insurance company, etc. so that they can work on your compensation claim. 

Updated 9/21/26