Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
Last updated on September 19, 2024
There are many ways a crime can affect your life. If you have been physically or psychologically hurt as a result of a violent crime that occurred in British Columbia, you may be eligible for benefits to support your recovery.
The Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) provides a range of benefits to assist victims, immediate family members of victims and certain witnesses in coping with the effects of violent crime, where same or similar benefits are not available from another source.
Benefits for victims
A victim may be eligible for one or more of the following benefits, if the need for the benefit is directly related to injury from a crime:
- Medical and dental services
- Prescription drug expenses
- Counselling
- Protective measures
- Replacement of damaged or destroyed eyeglasses, clothing and disability aids
- Childcare and homemaker services
- Disability aids and related disability expenses or services
- Support for a child born because of a crime
- Vocational services
- Income support or lost earning capacity
- Transportation and related expenses
- Crime scene cleaning
Benefits for immediate family members
An immediate family member may be eligible for one or more of the following benefits, if the need for the benefit is directly related to injury from a crime:
- Counselling
- Prescription drug expenses
- Transportation to attend counselling
- Crime scene cleaning
In cases involving fatalities, benefits may also include:
- Funeral expenses
- Bereavement leave
- Travel to justice-related proceedings
- Other benefits to support spouses, children and financially dependent family members
Benefits for witnesses
A witness may be eligible for one or more of the following benefits, if the need for the benefit is directly related to injury from a crime:
- Counselling
- Prescription drug expenses
- Transportation to attend counselling
- Crime scene cleaning
Applying for Benefits
On January 1, 2024, amendments to the legislation and regulation that guide CVAP came into force and expanded the support available through the program, including:
- an increase in the rates CVAP is able to pay for counselling services that are provided on or after January 1, 2024, and
- changes to eligibility criteria and access to benefits if the crime occurred on or after January 1, 2024.
To reflect the changes, application forms have been updated and are specific to whether the crime occurred before January 1, 2024, or on or after January 1, 2024. Physical copies of application forms are available from CVAP or a local victim service program. To locate a victim service program near you, call VictimLink BC toll-free at 1-800-563-0808.
You do not have to wait for charges to be laid or for the offender to be convicted before applying for benefits.
In most cases, there is a time limit for making an application to CVAP:
- If the crime occurred before January 1, 2024: the application must be received within one year from the date of the crime
- If the crime occurred on or after January 1, 2024: the application must be received within two years from the date of the crime
In certain cases, an extension to the time limit may be considered.
- If the applicant is a minor, the time limit does not begin until the applicant turns 19 years old. Minors can apply on their own or a parent or guardian can apply on their behalf.
- If the crime occurred after July 1, 1972, and is based on sexual misconduct that occurred while the victim was under 19 years of age, or the crime is or includes a sexual assault, there is no time limit for the victim’s application. Applications by the victim’s immediate family members are still subject to the time limit.
- CVAP may provide an extension to the time limit if the applicant could not reasonably have been expected to complete an application within the time limit. To consider an exception, the applicant should provide information to CVAP regarding why they were unable to complete their application within the time limit.
Services the Program is Unable to Cover
Where services or expenses can be covered by some other source, such as a health insurance plan, claims must be against other sources first. If there are additional, eligible costs not covered by other sources, CVAP may provide reimbursement.
Funding provided by other sources, such as Employment Insurance, is deducted from benefits provided under the Crime Victim Assistance Act.
The program cannot cover the following types of losses:
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Property-related offences, including stolen or lost items or money
- Injury or loss from motor vehicle accidents
- Injury or loss from work-related incidents covered by workers’ compensation
Related Links
Check our alphabetical list of criminal justice terms along with their definitions.
Contact information
The Crime Victim Assistance Program assists victims, immediate family members and some witnesses in coping with the effects of violent crime.
cvap@gov.bc.ca