NY Crime Victims Legal Help

Who is eligible for crime victim compensation

If you are an innocent victim of crime AND answer yes to one of the questions below, you may be eligible for crime victim compensation.

• □ Were you physically injured as a result of the crime?
•  
• □ Are you
  • □ under 18,
  • □ 60 or over, or
  • □ a person with a disability

       but were not physically injured as a result of the crime?

• □ Did your
  • □ family member,
  • □ spouse or domestic partner, or
  • □ the person on whom you were dependent

       die as a direct result of the crime?

• □ Are you the family member, surviving spouse or domestic partner of someone who died as a direct result of a crime that happened in the home that you were sharing?
•  
• □ Are you a vulnerable elder, incompetent, or physically disabled person who cannot care for yourself?
•  
• □ Are you a victim of labor or sex trafficking?
•  
• □ Are you a resident of New York State who was a victim of terrorist acts that happened outside the United States?
•  
• □ Are you a victim of one of the following
  • □ Aggravated harassment
  • □ Criminal contempt
  • □ Criminal mischief
  • □ Criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation
  • □ Dissemination of an unlawful surveillance image
  • □ Harassment
  • □ Hate crime
  • □ Kidnapping
  • □ Menacing
  • □ Reckless Endangerment
  • □ Robbery
  • □ Stalking 
  • □ Unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image ("revenge porn") 
  • □ Unlawful imprisonment
  • □ Unlawful surveillance

     but have not been physically injured?

• □ Are you a
  • □ child who was a victim of a crime
  • □ child who witnessed a crime, or
  • □ parent or guardian of a child victim or child witness?

You also may be eligible for compensation if you paid for the burial costs for a crime victim.

NOTE: Undocumented crime victims are also eligible for compensation.

Updated 9/24/26

Resources to help you file a claim

✓ Get help from a victim assistance program.

An advocate from a victim assistance program can help you with your compensation application. These programs also can provide direct services, such as counseling, and may be able to help you with things such as emergency shelter and transportation to court.

✓ Watch the OVS Compensation Training Series.

NOTE: These videos do not reflect the changes that went into effect 12/31/25.

These short videos outline assistance available from OVS and offer detailed instructions for filing claims. 

Introduction to Claims (4 ½ minutes)

• Who is eligible to apply for compensation
• Overview of expenses OVS can cover
• Examples of required documents
• Overview of OVS claims process

Personal Injury Claims (5 ½ minutes)

• Examples of expenses that can be reimbursed
• Exceptions to physical injury rule
  • If these charges are mentioned in a crime report, then a crime victim who was not physically injured, may be eligible for reimbursement
  • Categories of reimbursement for those in the “exception categories”
• Emergency awards

Essential Personal Property Claims (3 ½ minutes)

• Eligibility:
  • Innocent victim
  • Under 18
  • 60 or older
  • Have a disability
    • Exception (personal injury claim)
• What is considered EPP
• Maximum claim awards
• Documentation needed to prove eligibility and expense

Death Claims (4 minutes)

• Eligibility
• Expenses covered in death claim awards
• Who is eligible for loss of support claims
• Required documents
• Emergency awards

Domestic Violence Reimbursement Rules (2 minutes)

• Eligibility
• Documentation
• Reimbursable expenses

Medical Expense Reimbursement Rules (4 minutes)

• Definition
• Examples of reimbursable medical services
• Need for HIPAA form
• What documents are needed, and what information is needed within each document

Financial Loss Reimbursement Rules (6 minutes)

• Types of financial loss
  • Loss of earnings
  • Parental loss of earnings
  • Loss of support
  • Loss of savings for vulnerable person
• Eligibility, documentation, and other requirements for each type of financial loss
• Emergency awards

Child Victim Reimbursement Rules (2 ½ minutes)

• Eligibility and required documentation
• Allowable expenses when a child is a victim or witness to a personal injury crime
• Allowable expenses when a child is a victim or a witness to a non-personal injury crime

Rehabilitation Services Reimbursement Rules (3 ½ minutes)

• Services and modifications that can reimbursed
• Documentation needed
• Who must provide these services or modifications

Claim Application Review (5 ½ minutes)

• Overview of the process of filing a claim
• How to access the online portal
• How to start applying for compensation online
• Types of compensation claims
• How to complete the form, and tips

✓ Find additional resources on NY Office of Victim Servicres website

The Victim Compensation Page of OVS's website has detailed information including resource documents to help you file a claim and understand what you are eligible for.

✓ Call 1-800-247-8035 or use this form if you have problems with the online application.

Updated 9/20/26

Overview of the application process

There are three types of OVS victim compensation claims:

• Death claims
• Essential personal property claims
• Personal injury claims

It is important to know which type of claim you qualify for. The kind of reimbursement you can request depends on the claim type. Go to "What type of claim to apply for?" for more information.

Information needed for the application

Whether you apply online using OVS Compass or complete a paper application, you will be asked for the following information: 

• Name and contact information
• Demographics of person applying for claim, victim of the crime (if different) and secondary victims, such as surviving family members 
• Information about the crime and related documentation
• The expenses you are seeking compensation for
• Suspect or Perpetrator information if known
• Your financial information and insurance

_{Image from NYS Office of Victim Services}

Important to know

• Not everyone who applies for victim compensation receives it. There are rules that determine who can get compensation and what expenses can be reimbursed. 
• OVS is a “payor of last resort.” This means that you may apply for victim compensation to help you with out of pocket costs related to a crime, but you may not be awarded these costs by OVS until other resources, such as insurance, have been exhausted. If you are later paid by the defendant in restitution or in a civil judgement, you will have to pay back OVS.
• If you don’t want anyone to see what you are doing and need to quickly exit the site, click on the EXIT SITE button on the top right-hand side of the screen at any time. This will bring you to a google search screen. NOTE: By simply hitting the back arrow on the navigation bar, it will return you to your application. Please clear browser history if you are concerned about someone finding your search history.
• Crime victims applying for compensation must report the crime to either a criminal justice agency OR a victim assistance program, or medical or mental health provider. Please go to our Criminal Justice Reports & Crime Verification Form page to learn more.
• Only people considered to be “innocent victims of crime” are eligible. After investigation, if OVS finds that you contributed to the crime happening, you may not be eligible for compensation or may only be eligible for a reduced amount.
• If you are eligible, it usually takes about 90 days to receive compensation, but it can take as much as 9 months. Don’t get discouraged. And remember, there are people who can help you.
• OVS may contact you for additional information, such as birth certificates and expense documentation. If you are working with a crime victim advocate at a victim assistance program, they will be able to upload these documents to the OVS online portal, OVS Compass. 
• Once a case is open, the claim number is open for life. This means that if you have future expenses related to the crime, you can request compensation.
• If you move or change your phone number or email while waiting for a claim decision, please make sure you tell OVS so they know how to contact you.
  • You can use this form or write a note that says what your old address was and what the new one will be.
  • Make sure you sign the form or note and include your OVS claim number.
  • You can fax, email, or upload it to the claim.

Updated 9/21/26

Reporting the Crime

Crime victims applying for compensation must report the crime to either:

• a Criminal Justice Agency, OR
• a Victim Services Provider or Medical or Mental Health Provider.

Criminal Justice Agency Report

The following reports from a Criminal Justice Agency can be used to verify the crime:  

• Local, state, or federal law enforcement
• Forensic Rape Examination Report
• Temporary or Permanent Order of Protection with Family Offense Petition
• Domestic Incident Report
• Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services Report
• Neglect Petition
• Post-Sentencing Report
• Criminal Complaint
• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Human Trafficking Certification

Crime Verification Form from a Victim Services Provider or Medical or Mental Health Provider

Starting 12/31/25, crime victims applying for compensation can use the OVS Crime Verification Form to show that they are victims of a crime. This makes it easier for victims who are afraid to report to a Criminal Justice Agency to apply for compensation.

The Crime Verification Form can be completed by:

• Victim Services Providers who are city or state contracted and are providing services to the victim related to the crime, or
• Medical or Mental Health Providers who are providing services to the victim related to the crime.

The Victim Services Provider that signs the Crime Verification Form cannot have a financial interest in the outcome of the claim.

Specifically: A provider has a financial interest in a claim and cannot sign the Crime Verification Form, if an expense paid on the claim will directly reimburse the provider for their services, OR the provider's spouse or family member. This does not apply to Medical of Mental Health Providers.

NOTE: The Crime Verification Form cannot be used by a crime victim who is seeking reimbursement for loss of savings and cash losses over $100. In those cases, the victim would still need a Criminal Justice Report. 

You can find the complete training about using the Crime Verification Form on OVS's YouTube channel: HERE

7/28/26

Emergency Awards

If you are experiencing financial difficulties because of the crime, you can request an Emergency Award from OVS. These awards are given before services have been received and/or paid for.

You can request Emergency Awards for the following:

• Prescription drugs including HIV medications
• Eyeglasses/contacts
• Emergency medical equipment
• Loss of earnings (after 2 weeks of lost income)
• Loss of support (which results in hardship)
• Moving/storage
• Security device installation or repair
• Lock replacement or repair
• Crime scene clean-up
• Funeral (up to $6000)

The maximum amount for an emergency award is $6000 for funeral expenses and $2500 for other types of expenses.

To apply for an Emergency Award:

1. You must complete the victim compensation application AND
2. Contact the OVS Claims Intake Unit at ea@ovs.ny.gov or by fax 518-402-0921 and ask for an expedited decision

Please see these Emergency Award Guidelines for detailed information.

Important to know:

• Your application must be complete to get an Emergency Award.
• There are limits to what OVS will pay.  
• OVS will try to make decisions within 24-hrs.
• If OVS grants you an Emergency Award and later finds out you are ineligible, you will be asked to return the payment.
• For help applying for an Emergency Award, contact a Crime Victim Advocate near you.

Updated 9/24/26

Timeline

• Report the crime to police, another qualified criminal justice agency, victim service provider, mental health or medical provider
• File a claim with OVS within three years of the crime.
  • If you file the claim after this 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 decision on your claim, please make sure you notify OVS so they know how to contact you. You can use this form.
• After you submit your claim, you may be asked to submit additional information as part of the investigation process.

Updated 9/24/26