Years after the abuse, people who survived Jeffrey Epstein continue to face severe economic, physical and psychological consequences.
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To address these difficulties, a group of Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives has proposed establishing a compensation fund that would provide financial support to survivors.
The bill was introduced by Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Teresa Leger Fernández and Deborah Ross. It calls for the creation, within the judicial branch, of a compensation fund for survivors of sexual violence, including those who say they were abused by Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The proposal seeks to address an issue that survivors say is often overlooked: the long-term costs of medical care and therapy, lost income, and expenses related to efforts to obtain justice and accountability.
The initiative is called the Survivors’ Rights Recovery Act and aims to establish a compensation mechanism for people who claim that the federal government has violated their rights.
However, the bill faces a long legislative path. It remains unclear whether it will secure the necessary support in Congress and whether it will ultimately be signed into law.
Pressley said that the economic burden of sexual violence can be just as severe as the physical and psychological harm.
According to her, survivors may be forced to stop working temporarily or permanently while continuing to pay rent, daily expenses and treatment costs.
Bensky, one of the survivors who continues to be involved in efforts to secure accountability, said she currently has no health insurance and pays for all her treatment herself.
She explained that one physical therapy session for a post-traumatic injury costs about $200, although she would need to undergo treatment more frequently. In addition, she spends approximately $250 a month on yoga, which she has incorporated into her way of coping with the effects of trauma.
“I’m paying for everything out of my own pocket,” Bensky said, referring to the costs of health care.
She added that her advocacy work has forced her to miss work and that she has also faced obstacles in her efforts to find employment.
Jess Michaels, another Epstein survivor, also said that the trauma had a direct impact on her career as a professional dancer.
Michaels recalled that during her 20s, the psychological effects of the abuse often prevented her from attending auditions or completing the selection process.
“The career I had worked for collapsed,” she said, emphasizing that the situation was made worse by lost income and a lack of health insurance.
According to Michaels, prolonged trauma has been accompanied by various health problems. She stressed that the effects of PTSD do not disappear on their own simply because time passes.
Although she now has health insurance, Michaels said it does not cover some of the specialists she believes she needs, while their services are very expensive.
Survivors say that efforts to secure justice and influence changes in public policy also bring additional expenses.
Bensky said she has covered the costs of travel and participation in public events herself, where she has spoken about survivors’ issues.
Annie Farmer, who testified against Ghislaine Maxwell at the 2021 trial, said she did not work during that year because her advocacy had taken up a significant amount of her time.
Farmer explained that the funds she received helped her manage financially during that period. However, she stressed that survivors who have not received the same level of support are under much greater pressure.
According to survivors and their lawyers, the harm caused by abuse does not end when a legal case concludes or compensation is awarded.
