The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF) deadline is now October 1, 2090.
Prior to the passage of the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Act (Never Forget the Heroes Act), the 9/11 VCF deadline had been December 18, 2020.
Prior to the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act, the 9/11 VCF deadline had been October 3, 2016. This original 9/11 VCF deadline was included in the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
What started as a five-year plan to compensate victims of 9/11 toxins exposure by reopening the 9/11 VCF, and to provide healthcare by introducing the WTC Health Program, has now been made a permanent program with a deadline of 2090 thanks to the Never Forget the Heroes Act.
Who is eligible for the 9/11 VCF?
The new 9/11 VCF deadline does not impact eligibility criteria.
Anyone who was present at the following locations between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, maybe eligible for 9/11 VCF compensation:
- Anywhere in Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street, including
- Responders
- Clean-up workers
- Residents
- Students
- Area workers
- At Ground Zero (before May 30, 2002)
- At the Fresh Kills Landfill (before May 30, 2002)
- Debris removal routes (piers, barges, etc.)
- Garages where WTC-contaminated vehicles or equipment were cleaned or rehabilitated
- At the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City or in temporary morgues
Individuals who were present at the above locations between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, should find out more information now that the 9/11 VCF deadline is extended to 2090.
Families of victims present at the above locations who have since passed may be eligible for 9/11 VCF compensation as well.
Is the 9/11 VCF limited to responders?
No. Many victims of 9/11 toxins exposure eligible for the 9/11 VCF believe that it is only available to responders. This is not true. It was not true before the 9/11 VCF deadline was extended, and it is not true now.
As stated above, the 9/11 VCF is available to anyone who was present in Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street. This includes downtown residents, workers, and students who were present in the contaminated air in Lower Manhattan between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002.
Some examples of non-responder victims of 9/11 toxins exposure represented by Pitta & Baione LLP – a business executive who we obtained nearly $3 million in 9/11 VCF compensation for, a hotel waiter who we obtained nearly $500,000 in 9/11 VCF compensation for, and hundreds of downtown residents who we collectively recovered tens of millions of dollars in 9/11 VCF compensation for.
For those who previously thought they were ineligible because they were not responders- now that the 9/11 VCF deadline is extended, you may have another chance to file a claim for compensation.
Do I have time to apply?
Although the 9/11 VCF deadline is now 2090, there are other critical deadlines that may apply. Failure to meet these deadlines could result in a claim denial. We encourage all potential claimants to determine eligibility as soon as possible.
For more information contact Pitta & Baione LLP at 844-982-2667 or info@pittabaione.com.
