Financial assistance for economic loss 

Financial assistance for economic loss is intended to help cover expenses resulting from a violent crime or modern slavery.

This can include financial assistance for:

• actual loss of earnings due to time off work, up to $20,000
  
• out-of-pocket expenses if you did not incur actual loss of earnings, up to $5,000  
  
• doctor, dentist or other medical bills, up to $30,000 
  
• loss or damage to the clothes you wore or items you were carrying when the act of violence happened, up to $1,500 
  
• costs of attending court or coronial proceedings, or other justice-related expenses, up to $5,000 
  

The amount of financial assistance for economic loss an applicant will be approved is dependent on an individual’s circumstances. 

Who can apply?

Eligibility up to $30,000

You can apply to get financial assistance for economic loss up to $30,000 if you are a:

• primary victim
• parent, step-parent or guardian of a primary victim who was under 18 when the incident happened.

Eligibility up to $5,000

Family victims can apply to get up to $5,000 to help pay for the costs of attending court or coronial proceedings, and other justice-related expenses. 

For more information about primary and family victims, see Eligibility criteria.

How long do I have to apply?

The time frame for applying will vary depending on your individual circumstances:

• If you were an adult when the incident happened, you need to apply within 2 years of the incident.
  
• If you were a child when the incident happened, you need to apply within 2 years of turning 18 years old. 
  
• If you were a victim of a sexual assault as a child, there is no time limit to claim out-of-pocket and justice-related expenses. You can claim actual loss of earnings, medical and dental bills, and loss or damage to personal items within 2 years of turning 18 years old.
  
• If you are a family victim, you need to apply within 2 years from the date the death was established as a homicide, or within 2 years of turning 18 if the family victim was a child at the time. 
  

How do I apply?

To apply, please select the relevant online application form and follow the instructions to complete your application: 

• If you are a primary victim, use the Application for Support. If you are claiming loss of earnings, you will also need to complete the Claim for Loss of Earnings.
• If you are a family member of a homicide victim, use the Application for Support for a Family Member of a Homicide Victim.

If you're unable to apply online, you can download a PDF application form and send your completed form and supporting documents to us by email or post.

What do I need to apply?

If you are a primary victim, you will need to provide additional information and supporting documents with your completed application form. These include:

• a clear copy or image of your current government-issued identification, as well as a copy of your parent or guardian’s identification if you’re under 18. Visit Supporting documents to see a list of identification documents we accept.
• your bank account details or your parent, step-parent or guardian’s bank account details if you are under 18 years old. If you would like victims support payments to be made to an account in another name, please contact us to discuss your options before submitting your application.
• a report that explains what happened. This can be either:
  • a police report (You do not need to send us the police report if you reported the incident to NSW police. You can provide information about your report to NSW police in the application form.)
  • a report from a government or government-funded organisation.
• medical, dental or counselling report(s) that shows how the incident has affected you
• copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or treatment plans for the costs you are claiming and a description of how the costs are related to the crime.
• documentary evidence of any rebates, workers compensation, insurance, or court claims which relate to the incident.

To claim loss of earnings, you need to provide a completed Application for Support and Claim for Loss of Earnings (PDF, 448.4 KB), along with a Certificate of Earnings (PDF, 319.6 KB) or a letter from your employer or accountant (if self-employed). You will also need to provide relevant supporting documentation. Visit Supporting documents to learn about the required documents for your situation.

Family victims seeking financial assistance to cover some of the costs of attending court or coronial proceedings, or other justice-related expenses, need to provide a different set of supporting documents with their completed form. Please see Family Victims – A Factsheet About Supporting Documents (PDF, 71.2 KB) to learn more.

Collecting information to support your application

You can use the following resources and optional forms to help you collect the required information for your application for financial assistance for economic loss:

• Information about government and government-funded organisation reports. A government or government-funded organisation can write a report to provide information about what happened to you.
  
• Certificate of Earnings (PDF, 319.6 KB). Your employer or accountant (if you’re self-employed) can use this form to support your claim for loss of earnings  due to the violent crime or modern slavery.
• Expenses form (PDF, 120.2 KB). You can use this form to claim new costs incurred after submitting your application.
  
• Certificate of Injury (PDF, 649.5 KB). A counsellor, dental or medical practitioner can use this form to provide information about how the incident affected you. 

For more information on how to collect the information required, visit Supporting documents.

Can I make additional claims for financial assistance after my application is approved?

If your application for financial assistance is accepted, you can submit claims for further costs you incur because of the violent crime for a period of 5 years, or until the available funds are used.    

These expenses need to directly relate to the act of violence or act of modern slavery described in your initial application form.

To submit additional claims for financial assistance, you do not need to submit a new Application for Support. Please use the Expenses form (PDF, 120.2 KB), or send us an email or letter with the following information and documents:

• your name
  
• Victims Services application reference number
  
• a list of the new expenses
  
• a description of how the costs are related to the incident
  
• copies of itemised tax invoices, receipts or any other proof of expenditure. 
  

If you want to make a claim for costs related to a new act of violence or act of modern slavery, you will need to complete a new Application for Support.