Basic Requirements for Claims:
Claims vary significantly, yet each claim has some basic components. These components are the documents necessary to make a claim payable.
- A signed and notarized authorization (page 9 of the Claim Form)
- A police report, including any supplemental reports
- Documentation that proves financial loss (bills, invoices, receipts, etc.)
- Necessary documentation to support that care and losses are related to the crime
- Relevant collateral resource documentation (insurance explanations of benefits, hospital financial assistance determination letters, disability statements, etc.)
Completing a Claim Form:
- Claimants: If a victim is a minor or an incapacitated adult, a guardian must serve as the claimant. If this is not the parent, paperwork proving the guardianship is required. If a victim is 18 years or older, and they are not incapacitated, they must sign their own Claim Form, even if they were a minor at the time of the crime.
- Anyone who was a victim of a crime that occurred in Virginia has a right to file with VVF. A person’s immigration status or residency in another state is not relevant to the VVF claims process.
- A claimant should file with VVF within 1 year of the incident, unless reasonable cause for the delay can be demonstrated.
- The notarized agreement on the Claim Form must be filled out correctly, or the claim cannot move forward in processing. Claim forms with incomplete notarization agreements will be returned.
