Vermont § 5353 - Application for compensation

§ 5353. Application for compensation

• (a) A victim or a dependent of a victim shall, upon application, be eligible for compensation
  if: (1) a law enforcement official has filed a report concluding that a crime was committed
  which resulted in the injury or death of the victim; and (2) the crime was committed in this State; or (3) the victim is a Vermont resident, the state in which the crime occurred does not have
  an eligible crime Victims Compensation Program and the applicant would have been eligible
  for compensation under this chapter if the crime had been committed in this State;
  or (4) the victim is a Vermont resident who is injured or killed by an act of terrorism outside
  the United States, to the extent that compensation is not otherwise available under
  federal law. (b) Victims of crimes subject to federal jurisdiction, and their dependents, shall be
  eligible for compensation on the same basis as victims of State crimes. (c) The application for compensation shall be signed by the applicant and shall contain
  at least the following information which shall be provided subject to the penalties
  of perjury: (1) A description of the date, nature, and circumstances of the crime. (2) A complete financial statement, including pecuniary losses and the extent to which
  the applicant has been or may be indemnified for these expenses from any source. (3) When appropriate, a statement indicating the extent of any disability resulting from
  the injury. (4) When reasonably available, copies of all law enforcement reports and reports from
  all health care providers who treated or examined the victim at the time of or after
  the crime or who treated or examined the dependent. (5) The applicant’s Social Security number for the purpose of making cash payment to the
  applicant in accordance with section 5356 of this title. (d) In any case in which the person entitled to compensation under this chapter is a minor
  or is mentally incompetent or unable to apply because of his or her physical condition,
  the application may be made on the person’s behalf by a parent, spouse, guardian,
  or other person authorized to administer the estate. (e) In any case in which a victim otherwise eligible for compensation under this chapter
  dies without making an application, the Board may, upon application, award medical
  or medically related expenses to the victim’s estate. (f) The Board may award funeral expenses to the next of kin of a deceased victim who is
  not survived by a dependent. (g) A victim or a dependent of a victim shall be eligible for compensation for pecuniary
  losses sustained as a result of a crime that occurred after July 1, 1987 if the losses
  occurred on or after July 1, 1990. (h) A victim who is under the age of 18 at the time the application for compensation is
  filed shall be eligible for compensation for pecuniary losses sustained as a result
  of a crime, no matter when the crime occurred, if the losses occurred on or after
  July 1, 1990. (i) A victim shall be eligible for compensation for pecuniary losses sustained as a result
  of a crime which occurred before July 1, 1987 if at the time of application the case
  is being investigated or is being prosecuted. (Added 1989, No. 214 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1991, No. 107, §§ 1, 3, 5; 1997, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 53; 2005, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; 2007, No. 173 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.)