Guide
Crime Victim Compensation Can Pay for a Funeral: How to Apply
If a death was caused by homicide, DUI, or another violent crime, every state has a victim compensation fund that can help pay funeral and burial costs. Few families know to ask.
- 1Confirm the death was reported to police. Nearly every state fund requires a police report.
- 2Ask the police department or prosecutor's office for a victim advocate. Advocates file these applications every week and their help is free.
- 3Find your state's victim compensation program through the national directory (linked in sources below).
- 4Gather the police report number, death certificate, funeral bills or contract, and receipts.
- 5File the application as soon as you can. States have filing deadlines, often between one and three years.
- 6Keep paying attention to county burial assistance and other benefits in the meantime. You can usually pursue both.
Every state has this fund. Most families never hear about it.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories run crime victim compensation programs. They reimburse victims and their families for costs that insurance and other sources do not cover, and funeral and burial expenses are a core covered category in nearly every program. Exact rules, covered expenses, and caps are set by each state, so always check your state program's own page.
These funds are generally payers of last resort, which means most programs pay after life insurance and other benefits are counted. But when a family has no insurance and no savings, the fund can cover most or all of a simple funeral. Typical funeral benefit caps fall in the low thousands of dollars and vary by state.
Who qualifies
Generally, the death must have resulted from a violent crime, which includes homicide, and in most states also covers deaths caused by drunk drivers and hit-and-run crashes. Family members who paid or owe the funeral costs can usually apply, even if they were not present at the crime.
The crime must have been reported to police, usually within a few days, and the family must cooperate with the investigation. A conviction is not required, and in most states an arrest is not required either. Programs can deny or reduce awards if the victim's own conduct contributed to the death, which is a common reason for reductions, so answer application questions carefully and honestly.
What it can pay besides the funeral
Depending on the state, victim compensation can also cover crime scene cleanup, grief counseling for family members, lost support for dependents of the person who died, and travel for the funeral. Each category has its own cap.
How to apply without a lawyer
You do not need a lawyer, and the application is free. The fastest route is a victim advocate: most prosecutor's offices and many police departments have one, and hospitals with trauma centers often do too. Say: the death is part of a criminal case and I want to apply for victim compensation for the funeral costs. The advocate will know the state's forms and deadlines.
If the funeral bill is unpaid, tell the funeral home you have applied. Some funeral homes are willing to wait on a pending compensation claim, but this is their choice, not a rule. Ask directly, and get any agreement to wait in writing. Filing an application does not by itself pause the bill.
Questions families ask
Straight answers
Does someone have to be arrested or convicted first?
No. Compensation does not depend on catching or convicting the offender. The crime must be reported to police and the family must cooperate with the investigation.
Do DUI and hit-and-run deaths count?
In most states, yes. Deaths caused by impaired or hit-and-run drivers are treated as violent crimes for compensation purposes in the majority of programs. Check your state's rules.
Can we get victim compensation and county burial assistance?
Often, but not for the same dollars twice. Victim compensation is a payer of last resort and will subtract what other programs paid. Apply for both and let each program coordinate.
How long does payment take?
It varies widely, from a few weeks to several months. Filing quickly, including the police report number, and attaching itemized funeral bills speeds it up. A victim advocate can often check status for you.
Sources
Verified against official sources
Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
Last verified via cited sources below.
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