You must meet these requirements to be eligible for benefits:

• Sustain bodily injury or severe emotional stress resulting from a crime.
• Crime must be classified as a gross misdemeanor or felony.
• File a report with law enforcement within 1 year of the date the crime occurred.
• Provide reasonable cooperation with law enforcement. This includes giving information to help in the investigation and prosecution of the alleged offender.
• File a timely application (within 2 years of the crime being reported to law enforcement or, for good cause, within 5 years).
• Your claim for benefits may be denied if you participated or provoked the event that caused your injury.
• An individual is not eligible for benefits if they've been convicted of a felony within 5 years preceding the criminal act for which they are applying where the felony is a violent offense under RCW 9.94A.030 (www.leg.wa.gov) or a crime against persons under RCW 9.94A.411 (www.leg.wa.gov), or is convicted of a felony after applying and has not completely satisfied all legal financial obligations owed prior to applying for benefits.