WebFile for Victim/Witness Advocates - Expenses and Collateral Resources

Please be sure to be as thorough as possible when adding expenses in WebFile. Select "Create" to add additional expense categories. Providing the name/address of the provider and all other relevant information expedites claims processing. Expense categories only need to be created once in a claim, with one expense submission, and then all additional expenditures can be uploaded documents in to the claim file itself following the original claim submission. Please also note:

Allowable Property (AP)

The Fund does not pay for lost or stolen property. Allowable Property (AP) items related to the crime include the provision of security, such as doors, locks, installation of the security system, windows, or clothing and bedding seized as evidence. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurances are relevant collateral resources.

Crime Scene Clean-Up

Crime Scene Clean-Up includes the cleaning of bio-hazards or items damaged by the police use of graphite dusting. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurances are relevant collateral resources.

Dental Expenses

Dental Expenses that arise out of the crime incident. Medical/dental insurances are relevant collateral resources. If the person has an oral surgery at a hospital, it may be covered by the hospital’s financial assistance program/charity care.

Domestic Loss of Support

Domestic Loss of Support provides compensation for legal dependents of homicide victims, and for the victims of domestic violence or child sexual assault when the offender is removed from the home by the criminal justice process. It is necessary to substantiate the wages of the offender or deceased victim. In cases of loss of support for the children of a homicide victim, social security death benefits are relevant collateral resources.

Funeral Expenses

Funeral Expenses, up to $10,000, include payment or reimbursement for the victim’s burial, cremation, urn, headstone, or plot. Life insurance/burial insurance are relevant collateral resources. "Go Fund Me" accounts specific to funeral expenses are also considered as collateral.

Medical/Hospital Expenses

Medical/Hospital Expenses include the payment of, or reimbursement for crime-related medical expenses. A MOA must be on file with the provider. Insurance/hospital financial assistance/charity care are relevant collateral resources. If the individual is uninsured, they MUST apply with the hospital financial assistance program, and we MUST be provided a copy of their decision before we can make payment.

Lost Wages

Lost Wages provides compensation for work time lost due to a crime incident. Paid time off is a relevant collateral resource.

• For adult victims- time off of work under a doctor’s care not covered by some kind of paid time off (Provider must be a MD, NP, or PA)
• For child victims – coverage of unpaid time to the parent/guardian who missed work taking the minor back and forth to medical appointments or court-related appointments.

Mental Health Expenses

Mental Health Expenses can mean any of the following when provided in concert with Fund Policy. Please specify which you are seeking in the expense summary.

• Mental health counseling directly related to the crime incident for the victim of the crime. (Must be a licensed counselor or therapist as per Fund Policy.) Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.
• Grief counselling for dependents and survivors of homicide victims ($2,500 claims for date of crime prior to 07/01/2014 - $3,500 claims for date of crime on or after 07/01/2014) to include parents, grandparents, siblings of the deceased, spouses, and any children (adopted, step, or natural) or grandchildren. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.
• Counseling for children who witness violence against a caregiver. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.

Moving Expenses

Moving Expenses include reimbursement for the cost of professional movers, moving equipment rental, temporary storage, first month’s rent, turning on utilities at the new residence, and/or loss of security deposit. VVF needs copies of contracts, receipts and/or cancelled checks. Capped at $2,000.

Nursing Care

Nursing Care includes home health care by a nurse or certified nursing assistant for crime-related injury. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.

Physician/Licensed Independent Practitioners

Physician/Licensed Independent Practitioners includes payments or reimbursements for crime-related expenses with a physician, occupational, or physical therapist. Most expenses fall under this type. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.

Prescription reimbursement

Prescription reimbursement provides for medication expenses that are prescribed as a direct result of the crime incident. Must include name of prescribing doctor, date filled, name of the medication, and cost. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource.

Prosthesis

Prosthesis includes glasses, dentures, hearing aids, mobility devices, or other medically necessary devices. In order to be paid, VVF must have either a police report indicating that the item was damaged in the crime incident or a medical record showing the device is now needed because of the crime. Insurance is a relevant collateral resource

Replacement Services

Replacement Services includes services a victim can no longer perform due to a crime incident that are necessary to health, livelihood, or safety. For example, paying someone to harvest the crops of an injured farmer to ensure they have income; or paying someone to provide childcare for a victim too injured to care for her children. This is usually prescribed by a doctor. Relevant collateral resources will vary on a case by case basis.

SAFE-Related expenses

SAFE-Related expenses are directly related to a sexual assault forensic exam; this is an internally used category that Advocates should ignore.

Temporary Housing

Temporary Housing may be provided for up to the 30 days in a hotel when a local shelter is full or unavailable to the victim. There must be an urgent safety concern for this expense to be paid. We cannot reimburse another agency for covering this cost for a victim.

Transportation for Medical Care

Transportation for Medical Care includes ambulance rides, helicopter transport, or mileage to and from appointments. Insurance may be a relevant collateral resource.

Other “Reasonable and Necessary” Expenses

Other “Reasonable and Necessary” Expenses must be directly related to the crime in order to be considered. These are usually verified by a physician or psychologist. Contact VVF for instructions on how to add these expenses.