The system
How the system worksThe DirectoryDispatchThe LedgerAI modelsAI agentsYour installationThe appThe research libraryWhat changes for your businessUse it from your softwareEverything it can do
Messaging
iMessageWhatsApp
Ads and leads
AdsCreativeLeads
Devices
Devices
Industries
RealtorsRestaurantsHome services
Explore
How it worksPermissions and limitsCompareSet upQuestionsText me

CalVCB victim compensation (California repayment of crime-related costs for victims of violent crime): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

The California Victim Compensation Board repays victims of violent crime, and their families, for crime-related costs no other source covers, such as medical and counseling bills, funeral costs, lost income and relocation, up to $70,000 per approved application. Apply online at CalVCB Online, through a county victim advocate, or by mail.

What CalVCB victim compensation is, in one paragraph

The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) is a state agency that repays victims of violent crime, and their family members, for costs caused by the crime that no other source pays: medical, dental and mental health treatment, funeral and burial, lost income or support, relocation, home security, disability modifications and crime scene cleanup. It is the payor of last resort, so insurance, Medi-Cal, workers' compensation and restitution pay first. It does not pay for stolen or damaged property. A county Victim Witness Assistance Center advocate can file the application at no cost.

$70,000
the most CalVCB may pay per approved application (CalVCB, rule:max_70000)

Who may qualify

A California resident at the time of the crime, or anyone victimized in California, where the crime involved physical injury, a threat of it, death, or in some cases emotional injury (rule:who). Family members and Good Samaritans may also apply. The victim must cooperate with police and prosecutors, with exceptions possible for domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault, and must not have been involved in the crime or committing a felony (rule:cooperation).

LimitValueRule
Most paid per approved application$70,000rule:max_70000
Time to apply7 years from the crime (or from age 21, or discovery)rule:filing_7_years
Victims 21 or youngeruntil their 28th birthdayrule:minors_28
Income loss for a disabled victimup to 5 years after the crimerule:income_loss_5_years
Income loss for a parent of a hospitalized or deceased minorup to 30 daysrule:parent_income_30_days
Income loss for human traffickingup to 2 yearsrule:trafficking_income_2_years
Time to submit a bill3 years from the service daterule:bills_3_years

How to apply, and what happens after

Apply online at CalVCB Online, with an advocate at your county Victim Witness Assistance Center, or on the paper Application for Crime Victim Compensation mailed to CalVCB, P.O. Box 3036, Sacramento, CA 95812-3036 (rule:apply_where). Include the crime report, bills and receipts, and send bills to insurance, Medi-Cal or workers' compensation first. Tell CalVCB on the application if you have an urgent need; an emergency award is an advance that must be repaid if the claim is later denied (rule:emergency_award).

Staff verify the crime, injuries and expenses and recommend a decision to the Board, usually within 90 days (rule:processing_90_days). Once approved, submit proof of each cost to be reimbursed, within three years of the service date (rule:bills_3_years). Tell CalVCB about any other payment you receive (rule:repay_other_source).

A denial can be appealed in writing within 45 days of the notice to CalVCB, Attn: Appeals, P.O. Box 350, Sacramento, CA 95812-0350 (rule:appeal_45_days). After the Board's final decision, a Petition for a Writ of Mandate can be filed in Superior Court (rule:writ).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
12 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""A victim of a violent crime, or a family member, learns CalVCB reimburses crime-related costs that no other source pays"
"who_acts""Victim / family / advocate"
"timeline""Within 7 years of the crime (rule:filing_7_years)"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Thinking a crime must be prosecuted first, or that property loss is covered (it is not, rule:not_covered)"
"model_role""State the eligibility rules and time limits"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Check residency or crime location, injury or threat, cooperation with police (with DV, trafficking and sexual assault exceptions), and no felony at the time"
"who_acts""Model + victim"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Crime report facts"
"failure_mode""Not mentioning the cooperation exceptions"
"model_role""Screen per rule; never decide"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Crime report, bills, receipts, and insurance, Medi-Cal or workers' compensation statements"
"who_acts""Victim / advocate"
"timeline""With the application"
"evidence""Police report, bills"
"failure_mode""Bills not sent first to insurance or Medi-Cal"
"model_role""Produce the document list"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"4
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""Application for Crime Victim Compensation, online, with an advocate, or on paper (18 languages)"
"who_acts""Victim or advocate"
"timeline""One session"
"evidence""Gathered facts"
"failure_mode""Incomplete sections slow the claim"
"model_role""Pre-fill a worksheet"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"5
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""CalVCB Online, a county Victim Witness Assistance Center, or mail to P.O. Box 3036, Sacramento"
"who_acts""Victim / advocate"
"timeline""Note any urgent need for an emergency award (rule:emergency_award)"
"evidence""Confirmation"
"failure_mode""None"
"model_role""Tell which channel; never submits"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"6
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""Staff review the crime report and verify injuries, losses and expenses with police, doctors, counselors, hospitals, employers and witnesses"
"who_acts""CalVCB staff"
"timeline""Up to 90 days (rule:processing_90_days)"
"evidence""Crime report, records"
"failure_mode""Checking status too early"
"model_role""Explain who CalVCB contacts"
"automation_class""C - verification is human"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"7
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""Staff recommend approval or denial to the Board; the applicant gets a decision by mail"
"who_acts""CalVCB Board"
"timeline""Recommendation usually within 90 days"
"evidence""Decision letter"
"failure_mode""None"
"model_role""Read the letter"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"8
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""After approval, the applicant submits bills (upload, fax 866-902-8669, email or mail); CalVCB pays within program limits, up to $70,000 per application"
"who_acts""Applicant + CalVCB"
"timeline""Bills within three years of the service date (rule:bills_3_years)"
"evidence""Bills, receipts"
"failure_mode""Bills submitted late"
"model_role""Track each bill's service date"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"9
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Report every other reimbursement source; repay CalVCB if one pays later"
"who_acts""Applicant"
"timeline""When known (rule:repay_other_source)"
"evidence""Insurance or settlement records"
"failure_mode""Unreported settlements"
"model_role""Remind of the duty"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"10
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""Read the denial letter; new information can lead CalVCB to reconsider"
"who_acts""Applicant"
"timeline""45 days from the notice (rule:appeal_45_days)"
"evidence""Denial letter"
"failure_mode""Letting 45 days pass"
"model_role""Match the reason to new information"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"11
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""Written appeal; CalVCB reviews, then a Hearing Officer hearing (Zoom, phone or in person in Sacramento) or a written review; the Board decides; then a Writ of Mandate in Superior Court"
"who_acts""Applicant + CalVCB Board"
"timeline""45 days to appeal"
"evidence""Appeal form, documents, witnesses"
"failure_mode""Not appearing at the hearing"
"model_role""Explain the steps; never files"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"12
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""An emergency award is repaid if the application is denied; payments are repaid if another source pays"
"who_acts""CalVCB"
"timeline""As decided"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Repayment surprises"
"model_role""Explain"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

The facts a crime raises, injury, lost income, a death or the need to move, are first facts of the programs below:

References (7)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B034"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 7 items
"B033"
"B011"
"B026"
"B035"
"B042"
"B001"
"B072"
"related_programs" 7 keys
"B033""TCVAP (Trafficking & Crime Victims Assistance Program)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B026""Social Security survivors benefits"
"B035""Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)"
"B042""Legal aid: eviction defense & benefits advocacy"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B072""Workers' compensation (temporary disability)"
"triggered_by_events" 3 items
"event:death_of_a_spouse_parent"
"event:natural_disaster_fire_flood_earthquake"
"event:fleeing_domestic_violence"
"shares_facts_with"

Official addresses

  • Apply: CalVCB Online
  • The program: For Victims, How To Get Compensated, FAQs
  • Phone: CalVCB 800-777-9229; Appeals Unit 888-883-3593; email info@victims.ca.gov
  • Mail: CalVCB, P.O. Box 3036, Sacramento, CA 95812-3036
  • Appeals: CalVCB, Attn: Appeals, P.O. Box 350, Sacramento, CA 95812-0350 (Appeals)
Related pages
Beside
TCVAP (state-funded refugee-level benefits for non-citizen victims of trafficking and serious crimes in California): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSocial Security survivor benefits (monthly payments to the family of a worker who died): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8) (rent help paid to a private landlord): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextLegal aid: eviction defense and benefits advocacy (free lawyers for tenants and people denied benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWorkers’ compensation temporary disability (California pay while recovering from a job injury): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (20)
  1. For Victims — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“CalVCB is the payor of last resort.”
  2. For Victims: expenses not paid — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“CalVCB cannot pay for any expense not related to the crime, including expenses for lost, stolen or damaged property.”
  3. How To Get Compensated: filing limits — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Within 7 years of the crime, or”
  4. How To Get Compensated: processing time — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Applications can take 90 days to process.”
  5. How To Get Compensated: emergency award — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“CalVCB issues emergency award in some cases.”
  6. How To Get Compensated: submit bills — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“If your application is approved, you must send CalVCB proof of the costs of recovery so you can be reimbursed.”
  7. How To Get Compensated: review — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Recommendations are usually made within 90 days of getting the application.”
  8. Frequently Asked Questions: who is eligible — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“A non-resident victimized in California.”
  9. Frequently Asked Questions: cooperation — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Exceptions may apply for crimes involving domestic violence, human trafficking, or sexual assault.”
  10. Frequently Asked Questions: time limit for minors — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Victims who are 21 years old or younger have until their 28th birthday to apply.”
  11. Frequently Asked Questions: limit per application — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“The most CalVCB may pay per approved application is $70,000.”
  12. Frequently Asked Questions: income loss — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Victims can receive this benefit for up to five years following the date the crime occurred.”
  13. Frequently Asked Questions: parent income loss — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Income loss up to 30 days for the parent or legal guardian of a minor victim who is hospitalized or dies”
  14. Frequently Asked Questions: trafficking income loss — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Loss of income for up to two years, if the crime is human trafficking”
  15. Frequently Asked Questions: bill deadline — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Applicants must request reimbursement within three years of the service date.”
  16. Frequently Asked Questions: no payment while incarcerated — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“CalVCB cannot issue payment while a victim is:”
  17. Frequently Asked Questions: repayment — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“CalVCB has the right to be paid back if another source becomes available after payments are made.”
  18. Frequently Asked Questions: crowdfunding — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“Crowdfunding money (for example, GoFundMe) is not considered a reimbursement source”
  19. Frequently Asked Questions: court review — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“you may file a Petition for a Writ of Mandate in California Superior Court.”
  20. Appeals — California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)“you must file an appeal in writing within 45 days of this notice.”