After the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, a federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund was established to compensate those who lost loved ones or suffered injuries in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Both victims of the attacks, including local residents and people visiting the area from afar, and 9/11 responders were provided compensation for their losses in exchange for agreeing not to file lawsuits against the government or the airlines.
At the time, politicians and even the chief of the EPA told New Yorkers that the danger to their health was over once the cleanup began. Residents were encouraged to move back into their homes in Lower Manhattan, and responders were allowed to work at Ground Zero and related sites without respirators. It’s only now that people are starting to notice the long-term health impacts of exposure to toxins in the air and water that they were told posed no danger to human health.
The September 11th VCF Has Reopened
Originally, the September 11th VCF was closed in 2003.The assumption was that by the time the Fund was closed, all of the victims of the attacks would have filed claims. Unfortunately, most of the illnesses suffered by 9/11 survivors did not begin to appear until much later.
Over two decades after the attacks, survivors, responders, and local residents are beginning to develop a wide range of serious diseases. Responding to this new crisis, then-President Trump signed into law the Never Forget the Heroes Act. This Act reopened the VCF and extended the filing deadline to October 2090, making it possible for those suffering from long-term illnesses to receive the help they need.
How to Get Compensated
Survivors, including 9/11 responders and people who worked, lived, or studied in the Exposure Zone, can receive compensation if they are suffering from 9/11 related illnesses. Getting compensated requires first filing a claim with the VCF. The three basic steps to register with the program and file a claim are:1. Create an account and register by the applicable registration deadline.
Seek certification through the WTC Health Program, which is separate from the 9/11 VCF.
File the claim along with all required documents, including an authorization for the release of medical records, a signature page, and proof of presence, online.
Each of these three basic steps requires completing multiple tasks, and the claims process can be a bit complicated. It requires adhering to deadlines that vary depending on the circumstances and filing the correct paperwork at the right time to two separate organizations, so it’s best to hire a lawyer to help.
Eligibility Requirements
In addition to proof of presence indicating that the claimant was present either at the WTC on 9/11 or in the Exposure Zone between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, the person must also have a qualifying medical condition. There’s no need to be certified by the WTC Health Program to register for the VCF, though, so anyone who was present at the time may want to take this step. It’s also worth noting here that the exposure zone for the VCF is different from that associated with WTC Health Program eligibility.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Anyone who is suffering an eligible illness as a result ofexposure to toxins following the 9/11 attacks might be able to receive compensation. Affected individuals can call a lawyer to schedule a consultation and find out whether they meet the program’s criteria now.
