Victims Information

Financial assistance for victims of serious crimes

Victims of serious crime – such as homicide, sexual violence or violent assault – may be eligible for financial grants to help cover some of the costs of the crime.

Victim Support administers payments of assistance on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. You do not need to be a client of Victim Support to be eligible for financial assistance.

There are eligibility criteria for each grant and maximum limits apply.

Contact Victim Support on 0800 842 846 for further information and to find out how to apply.

For families of homicide victims

Funeral grant	ACC can help towards the cost of burial, cremation and related cermonies
Discretionary grant	A grant of up to $5,000 is available to assist families who have lost a loved one through homicide
Counselling	Up to 30 counselling sessions per person are available for families, friends, witnesses and people first on the scene after a homicide
High Court attendance	Up to 5 family members can be paid a daily allowance when they attend a High Court hearing
Expenses for attending court and other hearings	Up to 6 people can get help with the costs of travel and accommodation to attend court hearings, Parole Board hearings, restorative justice meetings and coronial hearings
Crime Scene Grant	Up to $2,000 is available for families whose home or car is unavailable due to it being a crime scene, needing professional cleaning and/or being cordoned off by Police

*If someone in your families dies because of a criminal act that is not homicide (for example, in a workplace accident or in a car accident) you may also be entitled to a financial grant. Talk to Victim Support about what you can get.

Victims of sexual violence

Immediate costs following report of crime	Up to $500 is available to help with some of the costs immediately after the crime, such as repairs to locks, replacing clothing or temporary accommodation
Court attendance	The victim and one support person can be paid a daily allowance when they attend a court hearing
Expenses for attending court and other hearings	The victim and a support person can get help with the costs of travel and accommodation to attend court hearings, Parole Board hearings, restorative justice meetings and coronial hearings
Means tested assistance	Means tested last resort assistance of up to $2,000 is available to assist with counselling, relocation and other costs to assist healing and safety
Crime Scene Grant	Up to $2,000 is available for victims whose home or car is unavailable due to it being a crime scene, needing professional cleaning and/or being cordoned off by Police

Victims of other serious crime

For the purpose of these grants, serious crime includes offences that resulted in serious injury or caused the victim to fear for their safety or the safety of their family.

Expenses for attending court and other hearings	The victim and a support person can get help with the costs of travel and accommodation to attend court hearings, Parole Board hearings, restorative justice meetings, coronial hearings and meetings with Court Victim Advisors
Means tested assistance	Means tested last resort assistance of up to $2,000 is available to assist with counselling, relocation and other costs to assist healing and safety
Crime Scene Grant	Up to $2,000 is available for victims whose home or car is unavailable due to it being a crime scene, needing professional cleaning and/or being cordoned off by Police

Last modified: 19th February 2016 Print