OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - BUREAU OF VICTIM COMPENSATION

Description:

The role of the Bureau of Victim Compensation is to administer financial assistance to or on behalf of crime victims who suffered injury or death as the result of a crime. Compensation is offered for economic damages incurred such as wage loss (for victims who missed work as a result of physical crime injuries, and parents who missed work to bring their minor child to medical treatment for physical injuries), disability (if a permanent impairment was suffered), or loss of support (for applicants of victims who were gainfully employed at the time of death); treatment costs such as medical, mental health or grief counseling (not covered by any other collateral source); and/or funeral/burial costs.

The department also administers the domestic violence, sexual battery, and human trafficking relocation programs to compensate victims who have been certified by their local domestic violence or rape crisis center and who need relocation as a result of those crimes; property loss for tangible losses impacting victims age 60 or over, or who had a permanent disability at the time of crime; and pays for sexual battery forensic examinations.



Note: Only those expenses directly related to the crime will be considered for payment.

General Information

Hours:

7:30am-6:00pm, Mon-Fri

Intake Process:

The process is initiated when a Victim Compensation Claim Form, completed by a victim or applicant, and a law enforcement report from the proper authorities, is submitted to the department within the statutory timeframe.

The form is assigned a claim number and reviewed to determine if the eligibility criterion pursuant to law is met. If the claim is determined eligible, the victim/applicant is notified to submit compensable expenses for payment consideration. If the claim is denied, the victim/applicant is notified of their appeal rights.

If you require an application, you may download the claim form at https://VANext.MyFloridaLegal.com, select Publications from the menu options, and select Claim Form. For additional information about how to complete the application, please feel free to contact (800) 226-6667. Your local victim advocate at the State Attorneys Office or law enforcement agency may also be able to assist you.

Program Fees:

Free

Languages:

English, Spanish, Creole

Eligibility:

Crime victims

Handicap Accessible?

Yes

Is Shelter?

No

Miscellaneous

Related Resource

Date of Official Change:

May 8, 2025

Legal Status:

Public Service

Year Incorporated:

1999

Address Listings

Contacts

Phone Numbers

• Send to Email »

  Send profile information to an email address.

• Send to my Phone »

  Send a limited resource profile to your phone via text message (SMS).

• Print »

  Print this resource profile.