If you or a loved one suffered an injury or have been diagnosed with an illness because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, you may be entitled to compensation through the September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund (VCF) Claim System. The September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund is a monetary fund created after the terrorist attacks in New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The fund’s purpose is to compensate those individuals who were injured or sickened as a result of the attacks and/or the aftermath. Personal representatives of individuals who died as a result of the attacks may also be eligible for compensation.
Who is eligible for compensation through the 9/11 VCF?
According to the September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund, parties eligible for compensation include:
…individuals (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who were “present at the World Trade Center or the surrounding New York City Exposure Zone; the Pentagon crash site; and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site, at some point between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002, and who have since been diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness.
Is the September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund only for first responders?
No. The September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund provides compensation to first responders as well as anyone who “worked or volunteered in construction, clean-up, and debris removal;” and people who lived, worked, or attended school in the exposure zone.
What is the New York City 9/11 Exposure Zone?
The New York City Exposure Zone encompasses the specific parts of lower Manhattan and other areas of New York City in which people may have been exposed to toxins following the September 11 terrorist attack. Per the September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund, the area is defined as: