ByA Detailed Guide to Applying for Victim Compensation in MA
Physical and emotional injuries aren’t the only challenges that crime victims and their loved ones face. Unexpected medical or funeral costs can pose an enormous financial burden and make the already difficult situation much worse. If you are a victim of a violent crime, you should know how to request victim compensation in MA, Illinois, Ohio, or any other state.
DoNotPay’s guide will teach you all about victim funds for violent crimes. We will help you apply for crime victim compensation in Massachusetts in a matter of minutes!
Massachusetts Victim Compensation Program From A to Z
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office helps crime victims deal with trauma by providing valuable resources and financial assistance—such as the Victims of Violent Crime Assistance Program. The program uses the perpetrators’ court fees and a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant to cover the expenses of the crime victims or their loved ones.
The maximum compensation amount that a victim can receive is $25,000. If the victim suffered catastrophic injuries—severe injuries to the brain, spine, or spinal cord—he or she may receive compensation of up to $50,000.
Some organizations—such as the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or local domestic violence funds—allocate their resources to programs dedicated to victims of specific crimes, including terrorist attacks, domestic violence, and similar.
Bear in mind that the compensation program should be your last resort. You will get crime victim compensation only if your other reimbursement options—such as restitution and insurance—have been exhausted.
Apply for Victim Compensation in MA in Less Than Five Minutes With DoNotPay
Being involved in a violent crime is difficult enough—adding the crime-related expenses makes the traumatizing situation worse. These unexpected costs can add up quickly, which is why it’s important to do everything in your power to reduce them as much as possible. One of the options you have is to apply for your state’s Crime Victim Compensation Program.
has created a user-friendly product that will help you apply for victim compensation in Massachusetts, Oregon, Arizona, or any other state in a few clicks.
To use our app to your advantage and file a compensation application effortlessly, follow these steps:
- Select the Compensation for Crime Victims product
- Indicate whether you’re the victim or your loved one was hurt or murdered in a violent crime
- Answer our questions regarding the crime and the expenses
- Verify your signature
Once you hit the Submit button, DoNotPay will file an application for you.
These are some of the states we can help you in:
Who’s Eligible for Victim Compensation in Massachusetts?
The Crime Victims Compensation Board in MA grants compensation to:
- Victims of violent crimes that took place in Massachusetts
- Dependents of the deceased victim
- Friends or family members responsible for funeral costs of the deceased victim
To be qualified to get victim compensation in MA, you should fulfill certain requirements. You have to:
- File a police report within five days of the crime
- Cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation and prosecution of the crime
- Apply for crime victim compensation within three years of the crime
- Apply for compensation until the age of 21 if you were a minor at the time of the crime
What Costs Does the MA Victim Compensation Program Cover?
The Massachusetts Crime Victim Compensation Program covers the following expenses:
| Compensable Costs | Cost Limit |
| Medical and dental expenses—supplies, medications, and equipment | The compensable cost limit for these individual expenses isn’t specified. Keep in mind that the total compensation amount can’t exceed $25,000 or $50,000 for victims who suffered catastrophic injuries |
| Lost wages for victims and support for dependents of deceased victims | |
| Replacement services—homemaker services and child care | |
| Mental health counseling—for victims, surviving family members, and children who witnessed violence | |
| Travel to obtain treatment | |
| Funerals | $8,000
$800 for ancillary burial costs, including:
|
| Crime scene cleanup | $1,500
$250 for bedding or clothing kept as evidence $500 for locks |
The compensation program doesn’t cover:
- Property losses
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Other losses
What Happens When You Apply for Victim Compensation in MA?
When you file a crime victim compensation claim with the Attorney General's Office, the program staff will confirm that they’ve gotten your application. Once they process your request, the staff will inform you about their decision. You will have to wait around four to six months to find out the outcome of your application.
If the staff rejects your application, you can request administrative reconsideration within 20 days of receiving the answer. The program director will review the request and inform you about his or her decision within 30 days of receiving your reconsideration request. The notice will contain information about your right to file an appeal—also known as judicial review—in district court.
Should you choose to file an appeal, you must do it no later than thirty days from receiving the program director’s decision. The district court will schedule the hearing to investigate the issue.
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