If you are a peace officer who has become permanently disabled due to a crime-related injury sustained while performing your duties, the Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program may be able to provide financial assistance. Here’s what you need to know:
Were you injured while on duty serving our community as a Peace Officer? If your injury has permanently prevented you from performing your peace officer duties, you might be faced with an added financial burden. The CVC Program might be able to help pay for your lost wages.
Who Can Get Help?
You may receive assistance if you qualify for the CVC Program and:
- Are a peace officer or former peace officer employed by the state or a local governmental entity
- Sustained a crime-related injury while performing your peace officer duties
- With a total disability that has persisted for more than 12 months and prevents you from returning to work as a peace officer.
How Much Can the CVC Program Cover?
The regular CVC assistance is limited to $50,000, disabled peace officers can receive $200,000 for additional lost wages.
Disabled peace officer payments are based on the average of your annual salary during your final three years as a peace officer, minus any other income sources.
How Do I Receive Disabled Peace Officer Payments?
- Apply for the CVC Program: Apply online or by mail. We'll guide you through each step.
- Get Notified of Eligibility: If your application is approved, you'll receive paperwork confirming your claim and explaining the next steps.
- Verify Your Salary Information: Provide documentation verifying your annual salary for your final three years as a peace officer or any income or benefits received from other sources. This information will be used to calculate your payment amount.
- Verify Your Disability Information: Gather documentation that verifies your condition is a total and permanent disability that has persisted for more than 12 months. This can include information such as:
- Verification from the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
- Documentation from a governmental agency responsible for determining total and permanent disability
- Information from an Independent Medical Examination
- Verification from an eligible pension board of medical retirement
- Use Other Resources First: By law, the CVC Program is the last option for payment. You must report any income from other sources, such as a new job, settlement, insurance benefits, federal disability benefits, workers' compensation, or other government programs. These sources must be exhausted before CVC payments are made.
Submit Your Paperwork: Once you have submitted a CVC application, you can either use the provided form link to upload your documents or mail them directly to us.
Submit Documents Online
or
Mailing Address:
Crime Victim Services
P.O. Box 12198
Austin, Texas 78711-2198- Receive Payment: After your documents are reviewed and approved, you will begin receiving payments. Payments may be made monthly, quarterly, or annually based on your needs.
- Provide Ongoing Updates: If there are changes to your income or disability status, you may need to provide updated information to ensure continued eligibility.
What Happens After I Apply?
Each claim is different, but here's what affects the timeline:
- The police verify the details of the crime
- All required documents must be submitted
- Bills and expenses need to be verified
We process claims as quickly as possible and will keep you updated on your status.
Ready to Apply?
Questions?
We understand that dealing with expenses after a crime can be overwhelming. If you have any questions or need help, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to support you during this challenging time.
You can contact us online
or
You can reach us by phone:
Mon. – Fri., 8:00am - 5:00pm CT
Toll Free: (800) 983-9933
In Austin: (512) 936-1200