Supports for Family Members
The Compensation for Victims of Crime Program gives compensation (money, services, support) to victims or witnesses who have been injured (physically or emotionally) because of certain crimes that occurred in Manitoba. It also gives compensation to the families and dependants of victims who died in a crime.
You can apply for compensation as an immediate family member if you are the spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or sibling of the deceased victim.
Benefits available to eligible family members
| Benefits : | For: | Examples/Amounts: |
| Counselling services | Immediate family members of a deceased victim who need help dealing emotionally with the loss of the victim | Expenses for counselling with a counsellor approved by the program (including culturally sensitive alternative therapy) Maximum compensation available: $4,000 per family member |
| Travel and accommodation | Immediate family members who need to leave their community to get counselling or to attend the victim’s funeral | Expenses for cab, bus, plane, vehicle mileage, meals, hotel/motel |
| Bereavement leave | Immediate family members who are employed or self-employed and lose income because they have to take time off work as a result of the victim’s death (this also includes time to go to the victim’s funeral) | Money to cover the loss of income Maximum compensation available: 55 per cent of the gross income lost over a maximum of five days (up to $128 per day) |
| Funeral coverage | Immediate family members who have to pay the victim’s funeral costs | Expenses for funeral, burial, cremation, or similar kinds of services Maximum compensation available: $9,293 |
| Crime scene cleaning | Immediate family members who need special cleaning services for their home or vehicle because of the crime | Cost for professional cleaning and disinfecting of contaminated areas |
Additional benefits available to eligible dependant spouses or common-law partners of victims who were employed at the time of death
| Benefits : | For: | Examples/Amounts: |
| Loss of wages or income | Financially dependent spouses or common-law partners of deceased victims who were employed or self-employed at the time of death | Payment every two weeks to help support the spouse or common-law partner Maximum compensation available: 55 per cent of the victim’s gross income (up to $638 per week) |
Additional benefits available to children of a victim who was employed at the time of death
| Benefits : | For: | Examples/Amounts: |
| Loss of wages or income | Children of a victim who was employed or self-employed at the time of death (if the victim had no spouse at the time of death or if the victim had a spouse who was not the biological parent or legal guardian of the child or children) | Monthly payments to help support the children Maximum compensation available: $270 per child per month (up to $1,080 per family unit per month) |
Additional benefits available to eligible family who were financially dependent on the victim’s income at the time of death
| Benefits : | For: | Examples/Amounts: |
| Loss of wages or income | Relatives who were financially dependent on the victim at the time of death – under 18 or disabled – and the victim was employed or self-employed at the time of death (if the victim had no spouse or common-law partner at the time of death) | Monthly payments to help support the relatives Maximum compensation available: $270 per dependant per month (up to $1,080 per family unit per month) |
