Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance and Compensation Referrals
Ongoing victim assistance and state compensation programs supported by the federal Crime Victims Fund; OVC directs victims to local services and the compensation program in the state or territory where the crime occurred.
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance and Compensation Referrals
If you or someone close to you has been harmed by a crime, the first useful question is usually not “Which federal grant form do I file?” It is “Which local program can help me now, and where do I ask about compensation?” The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) supports a nationwide network of victim assistance and victim compensation programs. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, administers the federal Crime Victims Fund and sends formula funding through state agencies and local service providers.
That structure matters. VOCA is not one national cash benefit with one application, award size, or closing date. An individual does not normally submit a VOCA application to OVC for a personal payment. Instead, a victim contacts a victim assistance provider, a state victim compensation office, a local victim/witness program, or VictimConnect. The correct office depends largely on the place where the crime occurred and the kind of help needed.
Current status and deadline
This is an ongoing referral and service system. OVC’s current victim pages continue to direct people to state and territory programs, local victim services, and the OVC directory. There is no single nationwide deadline for requesting victim assistance. That is why the page uses ongoing rather than a date: support intake is not organized around one federal cohort or annual public application window.
The absence of a national deadline does not mean that every claim can wait indefinitely. State and territory compensation programs can impose their own filing windows, documentation rules, and exceptions. A person seeking reimbursement should contact the relevant compensation office as soon as possible and ask for the exact deadline that applies to the incident. A local provider can also explain whether an assistance service has an intake schedule or limited capacity. Do not treat the federal VOCA page as a substitute for the state program’s instructions.
If there is an immediate safety risk, OVC says to call the local emergency number. A compensation or assistance application is not an emergency response service, and submitting a form should never delay urgent medical care or safety planning.
At a glance
| Item | What the official program structure means |
|---|---|
| Program type | Federal support for state, territory, and local victim assistance and compensation systems |
| Deadline | Ongoing for the national referral system; compensation filing windows vary by state or territory |
| Amount | No uniform federal award; the relevant state or territory sets compensation limits and covered costs |
| Where to apply | The OVC state page, the state or territory compensation program, or a local victim assistance provider |
| National referral | VictimConnect by phone or text at 855-484-2846, or through online chat |
| Possible compensation | Reimbursement for crime-related costs such as medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, and funeral or burial expenses, subject to local rules |
| Service location | Local programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories supported through the VOCA network |
| Best first question | “Which victim assistance and compensation office serves the place where the crime occurred?” |
| Direct OVC payment | Not the normal route for a state VOCA assistance or compensation claim |
What VOCA support can provide
OVC describes two related but different parts of the system. Victim assistance funding supports direct services delivered by state agencies and local providers. Victim compensation funding supports state programs that reimburse victims for eligible out-of-pocket costs. The names are similar, but the way a person receives help is different.
A local victim assistance program may offer crisis support, safety planning, emotional support, counseling referrals, advocacy, accompaniment, case navigation, help understanding the criminal justice process, and referrals to other community services. The exact service list is local. A VOCA-supported provider may specialize in a particular kind of victimization, serve a particular county or population, or have rules about appointments and intake. The OVC Directory of Crime Victim Services can help locate programs beyond the state contact page.
Compensation is financial reimbursement rather than a general payment for being a victim. OVC identifies examples of potentially covered costs such as medical expenses, mental health counseling, lost wages, and funeral and burial costs. The state or territory program decides whether a cost qualifies, what records are needed, whether another source of payment must be used first, and how much the program can pay. Some claims may be denied even when a person is eligible for assistance services, because the two tracks use different rules.
There is no reliable nationwide amount to enter in a personal budget. The federal source does not publish one benefit cap for every victim. Do not assume that a state program will reimburse every bill, pay a flat amount, cover property loss, or replace income. Ask the compensation office for its current covered-expense list and maximums before relying on reimbursement.
Who should use this referral
This page is relevant to a person who is a victim of crime, a loved one looking for help, or a person trying to find a local victim-service provider. It can be a starting point after a violent crime, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, trafficking, fraud, or another crime when the person needs support, navigation, or information about compensation. The official OVC pages intentionally send people to local programs because service eligibility and availability are not identical everywhere.
For compensation, begin with the state or territory where the crime occurred, not necessarily the place where you currently live. OVC’s compensation page tells victims to contact that jurisdiction’s victim compensation program about services and eligibility. If the incident crosses jurisdictions or the correct office is unclear, ask VictimConnect or a local victim/witness program to help identify the right contact.
Family members and loved ones should still ask for a referral. OVC’s victim-help page is written for victims and their loved ones, and local programs decide which family, survivor, or household members can receive a service. Do not infer eligibility from another state’s rules or from a friend’s claim. The relevant office should explain the rule that applies to the incident and the person requesting help.
There is no single federal income test listed for the entire VOCA system. A local provider may have its own program scope, while compensation eligibility is determined by the state or territory program. Ask whether a service is available regardless of income, whether a referral is required, and whether the program serves people who have not yet completed a police report. Those answers are local facts, not assumptions to make from the VOCA name alone.
How to start the process
1. Handle urgent safety needs first
If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services. If you need medical care, crisis support, an interpreter, shelter referral, or help making a safety plan, say that plainly when you call. A victim service provider can help with referrals, but it does not replace emergency responders or medical professionals.
2. Open OVC’s state and territory page
Use the official Victim Compensation and Assistance in Your State page. Select the state or territory where the crime occurred. OVC’s map provides contact information for both the victim compensation program and the victim assistance program. This is the most direct way to identify the office that can answer local eligibility and filing questions.
The page is a directory and referral tool, not a universal federal application. Follow the phone, email, web, or mailing instructions shown for the selected jurisdiction. If a listed number is unavailable, use the OVC directory or VictimConnect to ask for a current referral.
3. Use VictimConnect if you need help finding the right office
OVC lists VictimConnect as a national referral option. Call or text 855-484-2846, or use its online chat. Tell the specialist the state or territory where the crime occurred, the kind of help you need, and whether the need is urgent. Ask for both a victim assistance referral and the contact information for the compensation program if you may have eligible expenses.
Do not send a Social Security number, bank information, medical records, or other sensitive documents to an unverified person who contacts you claiming to represent VOCA. Use the official OVC page or a number supplied by a verified state program before sharing personal information.
4. Ask for the correct intake path
When you reach a local office, explain whether you want services, reimbursement, or both. Useful questions include:
- Do you provide direct assistance, or are you referring me to another provider?
- Is an appointment or intake form required before services begin?
- Which person or office handles victim compensation for this incident?
- What is the filing deadline for my state or territory claim?
- Is a law-enforcement report required, and are there exceptions?
- Which expenses and family members can the program consider?
- What documents should I send now, and what can wait until after intake?
Write down the name of the person who answers, the office, the date of the conversation, and the next action they give you. If the program tells you that the claim is late or incomplete, ask for the rule and the appeal or reconsideration process in writing.
5. Follow the state compensation instructions
If you are seeking reimbursement, use the application supplied by the relevant state or territory program. OVC does not replace that application. Complete every incident, contact, insurance, and expense section that the local form requests. Keep a copy of what you submit and record how you delivered it. If the program asks for additional material, send it through the contact method it identifies rather than uploading it to an unrelated federal page.
Documents that may help
Do not delay first contact because you do not yet have a complete file. Ask the local office which documents it needs. Depending on the program and the expense, useful information may include the victim’s contact details, the location and date of the incident, a case or incident number, law-enforcement contact information, medical or counseling bills, receipts, wage-loss records, funeral or burial invoices, insurance information, and records of payments already made.
These are examples of information to discuss, not a universal checklist. A victim assistance provider may begin with a conversation and a referral. A compensation office may later request proof of the expense, proof of the incident, or information about other available payment sources. Keep original documents, send copies when allowed, and protect files that contain medical or financial information.
Timing and follow-up
The national VOCA referral system is ongoing, so a person can use the OVC state page or VictimConnect when seeking help. Contacting an assistance provider quickly can matter even when the provider does not have a formal public deadline. Early contact can identify counseling, safety, transportation, court-navigation, or other services before the need becomes harder to manage.
Compensation timing is different. Each state or territory determines the filing window and may have special rules for children, delayed reporting, discovery of the crime, cooperation, or circumstances outside the victim’s control. The official OVC pages do not convert those local rules into one national date. Ask the state program for the deadline that applies to your case and submit the claim as soon as you can.
If you move, change phone numbers, or receive a new case contact, update the assistance and compensation offices. Keep a simple log of calls, emails, applications, requests for documents, and decisions. If a provider cannot help, ask for another local referral or contact VictimConnect again with the details of the missing service.
What this page does not promise
VOCA does not guarantee a cash payment to every victim. It does not create one national application, one national deadline, or one national compensation limit. It also does not mean that every provider offers every service. A state compensation program may cover some crime-related expenses while excluding others, and a victim assistance provider may focus on referrals or advocacy rather than direct financial help.
The safest way to use this opportunity is to treat OVC as the authoritative starting point for the network and the state or territory office as the authority for your claim. A provider should be able to tell you what it offers, who it serves, which documents it needs, and what happens next. If those answers are unclear, ask for the instructions in writing or seek a second referral.
Frequently asked questions
Is VOCA a grant I can apply for directly?
Not in the usual individual-benefit sense. OVC awards or channels funding to state agencies and local providers. Individuals generally access services through those programs and apply for compensation through the state or territory office connected to the crime.
Is there a deadline?
There is no single national deadline for the referral system, so this page lists ongoing. A compensation claim can have a state or territory filing window. Ask the relevant program for the exact rule rather than relying on this page for a claim deadline.
How much money can I receive?
There is no single federal amount. Compensation is direct reimbursement for eligible crime-related costs, and the state or territory sets covered expenses, limits, proof requirements, and payment decisions.
Do I need a police report before asking for help?
Ask the local provider. Assistance intake and compensation eligibility can follow different rules, and OVC’s national pages do not give one rule for every jurisdiction. You can still contact a provider or VictimConnect to ask what applies.
Can a family member get help?
A loved one can ask OVC, VictimConnect, or a local provider for a referral. Whether a particular family or survivor service is available is decided by the local program and the relevant state or territory rules.
Where should I start if I do not know my state program?
Start with OVC’s state and territory contact page. If you need help interpreting the directory or finding a local provider, call or text VictimConnect at 855-484-2846 or use its online chat.