Pa. sexual abuse victims can get thousands of dollars to pay for counseling. Here’s how to apply.

Adults who have experienced sexual abuse or assault in Pennsylvania can receive up to $5,000 from the state to cover the cost of counseling. If the crime occurred before the person turned 18, the person can get up to $10,000.

The fund is part of the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), does not require claimants to have reported the crime to police, and is confidential. The sexual assault counseling fund is not a new program — it launched in 2020, with $5 million — but money is still available.

Here’s who’s eligible and how to apply for the funds, according to Kathy Buckley, director of the state’s Office of Victims’ Services.

Anyone who experienced sexual abuse in Pennsylvania. That can include rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure, trafficking, sexual servitude, and incest, and also includes attempts to commit these crimes.

Nearly half of all female rape survivors do not acknowledge that they have been raped, according to findings from a 2015 study by two University of Mary Washington psychology professors, instead defining the experience as “bad sex” or “miscommunication.”

People may not realize they were a victim of sexual abuse or not think what happened to them was sexual abuse, Buckley said. In that case, Buckley said, “We encourage them to contact their local victim-service program and talk with a victim advocate. They will provide services, support and guidance as well as assist them in applying for VCAP, if they are eligible.”

No, but the fund will only cover counseling that occurred on or after Nov. 26, 2019, the date the law that created the fund took effect.

Fill out this form online or by hard copy. Explain to your counseling provider that you’d like to access these funds to pay for their services, as the money will go directly to them.

» READ MORE: Where to find sexual assault support and counseling resources in the Philadelphia region

No, the state takes the word of the victim and health provider. Applying for VCAP is confidential.

The state will communicate with you and your health provider to get itemized receipts and pay the provider directly after the counseling is finished. It takes on average seven weeks for the payment to be sent.

Any kind of mental health therapy performed by or under the supervision of a psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or licensed social worker.

You can file only one claim per crime.

The state’s standard VCAP fund has different eligibility requirements, including that victims must have reported the crime to the police. Its maximum compensation is $35,000.