Financial assistance

The following people are eligible for this financial assistance:

• a person who is injured as a result of a criminal offence committed against them
• a parent of a minor child or a person who has parental authority over a minor child who dies or is injured as a result of a criminal offence committed against them
• a witness to a criminal offence or to the intact scene of the offence
• a rescuer who is injured as a result of providing voluntary assistance

To learn more about this financial assistance, you can watch the video clip produced by the Ministère de la Justice "Financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income or to compensate for certain disabilities" (French only) .

Assessment criteria

The health assessment in support of an application must be completed by a physician, dentist, optometrist or pharmacist. The health professional must make a determination as to the person's inability to work.

At the time of the health assessment, the person must be in one of the following situations:

• Be unable to do their job, engage in work or an occupation
• Have an employment relationship and a specific or foreseeable start date or return-to-work date
• Have stopped doing a job or engaging in work or an occupation in the 12 months preceding the health assessment as a result of the criminal offence or the voluntary assistance.

The application for financial assistance must be submitted within 12 months following the health assessment.

Calculation of financial assistance

The gross annual base used to calculate the financial assistance may not exceed the maximum insurable earnings of $94,000 for 2024 (this amount is adjusted on January 1 of each year) or be below the minimum wage threshold in effect at the time of the health assessment prescribing the disability. The minimum wage in effect on January 1, 2024 is $31,805.40.

The financial assistance paid is equivalent to 90% of the victim's or rescuer's net income. Net income is equal to gross income less the following five deductions: federal tax, provincial tax, Régie des rentes du Québec (RRQ), employment insurance, parental insurance. The calculation must also take the family situation into account.

Terms of payment

Financial assistance is paid every two weeks.

Indexation

The gross base salary is reviewed on the anniversary date of the disability.

End of financial assistance

Financial assistance ends:

• when a health assessment attests that the victim or rescuer is capable of doing a job, engaging in work or an occupation. In addition, the job, work or occupation must provide them with at least the same income as was provided by their job, work or occupation before the health assessment
• when the victim or rescuer refuses or neglects to participate in obtaining the care required for their recovery or to follow the medical prescriptions
• upon the victim’s or rescuer’s death
• when the maximum period for the payment of financial assistance of two or three years is reached

Additional financial assistance may be paid to people who are eligible for financial assistance for vocational reintegration.

Assessment criteria

The victim or rescuer must have received financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income (FALI) or a temporary total disability (TTD) indemnity granted under the Crime Victims Compensation Act (CVCA).

They must have one or more functional limitations, established by a health assessment, that prevent them from doing their job. They must also participate in a vocational reintegration activity.

Calculation of financial assistance

The base salary used corresponds to the base salary determined for the payment of financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income (FALI) or temporary total disability (TTD).

Indexation

The gross base salary is reviewed on the anniversary date of the disability.

Terms of payment

Financial assistance is paid every two weeks.

The maximum duration of financial assistance is two years.

The following people are eligible for this financial assistance:

• a person who is injured as a result of a criminal offence committed against them
• a parent of a minor child or a person who has parental authority over a minor child who dies or is injured as a result of a criminal offence committed against them
• a witness to a criminal offence or to the intact scene of the offence
• a rescuer who is injured as a result of providing voluntary assistance

Financial assistance to compensate for certain disabilities (FACD) is intended for unemployed people. This indemnity may be paid when the unemployed person becomes unable to carry out most of their usual activities.

To learn more about this financial assistance, you can watch the video clip produced by the Ministère de la Justice "Financial assistance to compensate for a loss of income or to compensate for certain disabilities" (French only) .

Assessment criteria

The health assessment in support of an application must be completed by a physician, dentist, optometrist or pharmacist. The health professional must make a determination as to the person’s inability to carry out most of their usual activities.

Calculation of financial assistance

The financial assistance is equivalent to 90% of the minimum base salary in effect on the date of the health assessment of a victim or rescuer who was unemployed at the time of the criminal offence or voluntary assistance.

The person may demonstrate that the gross income they earned was higher than the minimum wage in the 12 months preceding the health assessment.

The application for financial assistance must be submitted within 12 months following the health assessment.

Terms of payment

Financial assistance is paid every two weeks.

Indexation

The gross base salary is reviewed on the anniversary date of the disability.

End of financial assistance

Financial assistance ends:

• when a health assessment attests that the victim or rescuer is able to carry out most of their usual activities
• when the maximum period for the payment of financial assistance of two or three years is reached

The purpose of financial assistance for rehabilitation or social and vocational reintegration is to promote the recovery of the victim or rescuer and to facilitate their return to work or the resumption of their usual activities.

A victim or rescuer could be entitled to several types of financial assistance to obtain various rehabilitation or reintegration services, in particular to:

• eliminate and alleviate a mental or physical disability
• develop their residual capacity in order to compensate for functional limitations related to a criminal offence or voluntary assistance

Examples of types of financial assistance and services

• Psychotherapy session
• Psychosocial consultation and follow-up
• Moving and protective measure
• Home and vehicle adaptation
• Vocational assessment services for a person who is unable to return to the same type of job because of the injury caused by the criminal offence
• Adaptation of a workstation to facilitate a return to the job held at the time of the disability

This financial assistance is paid to anyone who supports a child who was born as a result of sexual assault.

Assessment criteria

A person who supports a child or children who were born as a result of sexual assault must complete the Application for financial assistance to contribute to the needs of a child who was born as a result of sexual assault (French only) form and submit it to IVAC to be eligible for this financial assistance.

Amount

The amount of financial assistance is determined based on the number of children born as a result of sexual assault:

• 1 child: $818
• 2 children: $1,173
• 3 children: $1,502
• 4 or more children: $1,832

Indexation

The amounts are indexed on January 1 of each year.

Terms of payment

Financial assistance is paid monthly on the first day of the month.

Financial assistance begins as soon as the application is accepted. It is retroactive to the child's date of birth or to the time it was demonstrated that the person was supporting the child.

End of financial assistance

Financial assistance ends when:

• the child reaches the age of 18 and they are not in full-time education
• the person ceases to support the child
• upon the child’s death
• on the 25th birthday of a child who is a full-time student
• when a child who is over 18 years of age ceases to be a full-time student