Victim's pension after violent crime for 465 victims
465 victims of violence have received financial compensation in Thuringia this year for the suffering they have endured and for medical treatment. They receive a basic monthly pension of between 164 and 854 euros, as announced by the state administration office on Tuesday. 41 new applications for victim compensation have been approved this year. The basis for the benefit is the Victim Compensation Act, which obliges the federal and state governments to support victims of crime. The state bears 60 percent of the costs of compensation payments, the federal government 40 percent.
According to the authority, 237 new applications for compensation have been submitted so far this year - mainly by people who were victims of deliberate bodily harm and sexual abuse. In 42 cases, the application procedures were discontinued because, for example, the victims withdrew their applications or did not cooperate in the processing. 71 applications were rejected. The average processing time per application was 16.5 months.
In order for an application for compensation to be approved, the damage to health must have lasted for at least six months. Those affected must provide proof that it is directly attributable to an assault. According to the State Administration Office, the most common reason for applications being rejected is that the causal link between the act of violence and the damage to health cannot be proven.
The Victim Compensation Act, which aids victims of crime, also covers social affairs related to crime, such as providing financial support for those affected by deliberate bodily harm and sexual abuse. The high rate of crime in Thuringia has led to an increase in reported incidents, with many victims needing assistance in dealing with the aftermath of their trauma, including addressing associated criminal issues.
Source: www.dpa.com
