Taking the Next Step after Filing Your VCF Registration

*** UPDATE: Since the date of this blog post, the deadline for filing a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund has been extended until December 18, 2020. ***

As of March 31, 2014, the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) received 53,804 claimant registrations and 6,649 interim registrations. Yet only 13,863 eligibility packets have been submitted. This means that more than three out of every four registrants has not yet completed the necessary steps to have his or her eligibility evaluated by the VCF.

With the passage of the much-publicized October 3, 2013 filing deadline, you may believe that you missed the opportunity to submit your eligibility paperwork. However, if you have filed your initial registration but have not completed the next steps, you still have time to act.

With the exception of people with more recent diagnoses or those suffering from medical conditions recently included in the guidelines, the October 3, 2013 deadline limits the ability for most individuals to register for participation in the VCF program. However, those who filed their initial registration by that deadline have until October 3, 2016 to provide the following paperwork:

• Completed eligibility forms with all required attachments and evidence
• Completed compensation forms with all required attachments and evidence
• All attestations, releases, signature pages and other exhibits
• All other required supporting documentation and evidence

This important deadline applies to those who registered to participate in the VCF but have not filed their eligibility and compensation forms, as well as to those who have been informed that their previous submissions were incomplete and cannot be processed. If you fall into either category, you still have time to act to claim your share of the Fund.

If you are confused or unsure about what steps you must take to move forward, Barasch & McGarry’s  VCF attorneys can help guide you through the process and gather the documentation you need to complete your application before the deadline.