Programa de compensación para las víctimas del programa de esterilización eugenésica 

El Programa de Compensación por Esterilización para Víctimas de Eugenesia de Virginia (VESC, por sus siglas en inglés) proporciona compensación para las personas esterilizadas involuntariamente de acuerdo con la Ley de Esterilización Eugenésica de Virginia de 1924 ("Ley"), si presentan un reclamo y cumplen con requisitos de elegibilidad específicos. 

Una persona o su representante legalmente autorizado (es decir, alguien que tiene la autoridad legal para actuar en su nombre) es elegible para solicitar una compensación bajo este programa si la persona: 

• A. Involuntarily sterilized pursuant to the 1924 Virginia Eugenical Sterilization Act; 
• B. Living as of February 1, 2015; and 
• C. Sterilized while a patient at Eastern State Hospital; Western State Hospital; Central State Hospital; Southwestern State Hospital; or the Central Virginia Training Center (formerly known as the State Colony for Epileptics and Feeble-Minded; now closed). 

No. You will be required to submit an application form to the department to request compensation. You can download the form or contact Mary O’Hara (via email at mary.ohara@dbhds.virginia.gov or phone 804 402 5695), if you are interested. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are determined to be complete according to date and time of receipt of all required documentation. 

Regulations were adopted in November 2015 to implement the provisions of the 2015 Appropriation Act (Virginia Acts of Assembly Chapter 665), and the regulations state the specific process for filing a claim for compensation. Since the regulations became effective, the department began accepting application forms for claims. Individuals who make a claim for compensation are required to provide proof of their identity and documentation that they meet the eligibility requirements that are listed above.

You can download the form or contact Mary O’Hara (via email at mary.ohara@dbhds.virginia.gov or phone 804 402 5695). 

The compensation application process is easy and straightforward, and you should not need an attorney to apply. 

Should you decide to hire an attorney, you will still be required to complete an application, but the application and required documents may be submitted by your attorney. A copy of documentation to prove the attorney has the lawful authority to act on your behalf should be attached to the application.

Sí, y se recomienda que lo haga porque llevará tiempo procesar la solicitud de los registros. 

If you require assistance locating your records, contact the Health Information Management (HIM) Office of the hospital or training center where you were sterilized. Below is a list of department hospitals and training centers and the HIM Office number for each. 

• Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Release of Information Officer: (804) 524-7319 
• Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, HIM Office: (757) 208-7980 
• Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Marion, Release of Information Specialist: (276) 783-1237 
• Western State Hospital in Staunton, HIM Office: (540) 332-8015 
• Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg (now closed), DBHDS Office: Kimberley King, (804) 297-1208 

If you do not know the name of the hospital or training center, you may contact Mary O’Hara (via email at mary.ohara@dbhds.virginia.gov or phone 804 402 5695), for assistance. 

• Comprobante de identidad (licencia de conducir emitida por el estado, pasaporte estadounidense o extranjero, tarjeta de identificación emitida por el estado, tarjeta militar de los Estados Unidos). 
• Prueba de que fue paciente en Eastern State Hospital, Western State Hospital, Central State Hospital, Southwestern State Hospital o el Centro de Capacitación de Central Virginia (anteriormente conocido como la Colonia Estatal para Epilépticos y Débiles Mentales). 
• Prueba de que fue esterilizado involuntariamente en una de las instalaciones anteriores. 
• Certificado de defunción, si la persona falleció después del 1de febrero de 2015. 
• Documentation of lawfully Authorized Representative status, if the applicant is making a claim on behalf of the individual. 

The department will make every effort to process all applications for compensation as quickly as possible. However, each application must undergo a series of reviews. You will be notified of the status of your application at each step of the review process. If additional documentation is needed to process your claim, you will receive a letter requesting the additional information. After you have submitted all documents and they have been reviewed, you will receive a certified letter in the mail that will tell you if your claim was approved or denied. 

Si su reclamación de indemnización es aprobada, recibirá una carta certificada que le informa de la aprobación de su reclamación. Luego, una vez que se procese la solicitud de un cheque, el cheque se enviará por correo por separado.

You will be notified if your claim was denied and why, and information about the process for asking for reconsideration of your claim. Once you receive that notification, you will have 30 days to provide additional information to the department to review. Once the reconsideration review process is complete, you will receive a letter that informs you of the final decision of your claim. 

On October 7, 2016, the Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act was signed by the President and became law as Public Law 114-241. This federal law provides that payments made under a state eugenics compensation program shall not be considered as income or resources for purposes of determining the eligibility of a recipient of such compensation for, or the amount of, any federal public benefit. The bill defines “state eugenics compensation program” as state program for compensating individuals who were sterilized under the authority of the state. Although the department does not provide legal or accounting advice, we wanted to bring this to your attention so you could seek professional guidance, as you deem appropriate. 

In regard to whether compensation to victims is taxable, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation, this depends on federal law. While the Internal Revenue Service has not yet ruled on this specific question, it is likely that such compensation would be exempt from federal income taxation. Because Virginia generally follows federal income tax law, your compensation would only be subject to state income taxes if it is subject to federal taxation. For more information, please contact the IRS or a tax professional. 

Disclaimer: 
DBHDS does not provide legal or accounting services. The information provided is to be regarded as general information and is not intended as an exhaustive list of tax professionals. An individual should seek professional guidance from a source they deem appropriate. 

• The main number for the IRS is 1-800-829-1040. A list of local offices in Virginia can be found here. 

El IRS tiene dos programas gratuitos para ciertas personas: 

• The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. 
• Además de VITA, el programa de Asesoramiento Tributario para Personas Mayores (TCE, por sus siglas en inglés) ofrece ayuda tributaria gratuita para todos los contribuyentes, particularmente aquellos que tienen 60 años de edad o más, y se especializa en preguntas sobre pensiones y asuntos relacionados con la jubilación exclusivos de las personas mayores. Los voluntarios certificados por el IRS que brindan asesoramiento tributario suelen ser personas jubiladas asociadas con organizaciones sin fines de lucro que reciben subvenciones del IRS. 

To find out more about these programs and to locate one near you, go here.