A Complete Guide to Filing a Claim With the California Victim Compensation Board

Victims of violent crimes suffer physical and psychological damage long after the assault happens. What makes the situation even worse is the financial hardship that can often result from the crime-related costs.

States have funds for victims of violent crimes that help eligible individuals deal with the financial portion of the problem by offering financial assistance known as crime victim compensation.

This article will explain everything you need to know about the California Victim Compensation Board and guide you through the application process.

Everything You Need To Know About the California Victim Compensation Program

In 1965, the State of California created the first victim compensation program in the U.S. The program ran under several different names, including the Board of Control and the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). In 2016, the program became known as the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB).

Here’s what the Board administers:

• Victim Compensation Program
• Revenue Recovery Program
• Good Samaritan Act
• Claims of Erroneously Convicted Felons
• Missing Children Reward Program

The CalVCB is a state program that provides reimbursement to eligible surviving victims or dependents, family members, and legal representatives of the deceased victims. The program compensates victims who experience physical or emotional trauma as a direct outcome of the violent crime.

Funding of the Board comes from federal sources, like the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund, and from the restitution that the offenders pay through:

• Fines
• Orders
• Penalty assessments

Who Is Eligible for California Crime Victim Compensation?

The Victim Compensation Program provides reimbursement for eligible victims and other claimants if they meet certain requirements. The following table shows a brief eligibility overview:

The California Victim Compensation Board covers the costs that resulted from the following crimes:

• Assault
• Stalking
• Robbery 
• Homicide
• Hate crimes
• Drunk driving
• Molestation
• Elder abuse
• Child abuse
• Sexual assault
• Domestic violence
• Human trafficking
• Online harassment
• Vehicle manslaughter

If you meet eligibility criteria and all the requirements, sign up for DoNotPay and file a claim with the CalVCB in no time!

Get Victim Compensation in California in a Flash With DoNotPay

If you are a victim of a violent crime or lost a loved one to it, paperwork is the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, when it comes to filing claims with victim compensation programs, there are loads of it.

We believe victims should not go through any additional trouble. That is why DoNotPay created the Compensation for Crime Victims product—a nifty service that helps violent crime victims manage crime-related expenses.

To apply for victims compensation in California, you should do the following:

1. Log in to your DoNotPay account
2. Locate our Compensation for Crime Victims service
3. Specify if you are applying as the victim or another claimant
4. Answer several questions from our chatbot
5. Confirm your signature

We will immediately fill out the application form and submit it to the CalVCB.

Besides applying for victims compensation in California, our AI bots can help you get reimbursement from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund if you suffered or still suffer from 9/11-related injuries.

What Expenses Does the Cal Victim Compensation Program Cover?

The California Victim Compensation Program does not cover the costs of identity theft, pain and suffering, or personal property theft and damage. For the covered expenses, the CalVCB has a compensation amount limit—as of 2017, the maximum compensation per case is $70,000. In the following table, you can find a brief overview of the costs that the program covers and related amounts:

What Happens if the CA Victim Compensation Board Rejects Your Claim?

The California Victim Compensation Program reviews all applications and makes decisions based on eligibility, requirements, and other factors.

If the Board denies your claim, you have the right to file an appeal. To get the Board to reconsider their decision, you have to:

• File an appeal within 45 days from the date of the staff recommendation’s notice
• Consult the form that came with the decision letter
• Use the written form

After you sign and date, send the appeal letter to the following address:

Legal and Appeals Office

PO Box 350

Sacramento, CA 95812

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