Who can apply?
Three broad groups may apply: victims, immediate family members and certain witnesses.
- A victim who was physically or psychologically injured as a direct result of a prescribed offence committed in British Columbia.
- An immediate family member who experienced economic loss or psychological harm because of a victim's death or injury, or a minor child of a deceased victim.
- A person who witnessed, in close proximity, a prescribed offence or its immediate aftermath when it caused life-threatening injury or death and would alarm, shock and frighten a reasonable person.
Benefits for immediate family members
- Counselling and related transportation
- Prescription drugs
- Crime-scene cleaning in specified circumstances
- For fatal cases, possible funeral expenses, bereavement leave and travel to justice-related proceedings
- In specified fatal cases, possible income support, vocational services, loss of parental guidance, childcare or homemaker support
How long do I have to apply?
For most applications, the deadline depends on when the crime occurred.
- Before January 1, 2024: the Government of BC says the application usually must be received within one year of the crime.
- On or after January 1, 2024: the usual deadline is two years from the crime.
- For a person under 19, the time-limit rules are extended. The government explains that the time limit does not begin until age 19.
- There is no time limit for a victim's application involving specified childhood sexual misconduct or an offence that is or includes sexual assault. Family-member applications remain subject to a time limit.
- CVAP may extend a deadline when satisfied the application could not reasonably have been made in time.
What if insurance or another program may pay?
CVAP is generally a payer of last resort.
The official program says claims should first be made to other sources that can cover the same or similar service or expense, such as extended health insurance. CVAP may consider eligible costs that remain. Other payments can be deducted from a CVAP benefit.