World Trade Center Health Program

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, along with the plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, took nearly 3,000 American lives within moments on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Sadly, thousands more have died or developed serious WTC-related health conditions in the nearly 20 years that have passed since that time. 

First responders who aided in rescue and recovery efforts and debris removal have been some of the hardest hit, according to a September 2019 article published by Forbes. As of the date of the article, the New York City Police (NYPD) Department had lost 241 police officers to WTC-related health conditions such as cancer and respiratory illnesses. By contrast, 23 members of the NYPD died on September 11th.

The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) lost 204 firefighters to WTC-related health conditions in addition to the 343 firefighters who perished on September 11th. 

Cleanup workers, volunteers, and people who lived, worked, attended school, or attended child or adult daycare in the New York City Disaster Area have also struggled with serious WTC-related illnesses over the years.

If you have an illness caused by exposure to toxic dust and fumes from time spent in the New York City Disaster Area, you may be entitled to free healthcare and medical monitoring through the World Trade Center Health Program. 

The attorneys at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata, who have successfully assisted thousands of people with WTC-related health conditions receive the healthcare services they need, are available to help you as well.

We invite you to contact us today at 1-888-982-8428 to request a free consultation. 

What is the WTC Health Program and how does it work?

The WTC Health Program offers both medical services and mental health services along with medical monitoring for participants with an eligible WTC-related health condition.

If you were a WTC responder in the role of debris removal, rescue, or recovery, you can receive social service assistance as well. This applies whether you worked in an official capacity for the NYPD, FDNY, or other organization or spent time in the New York City Disaster Area as a volunteer.

The WTC Health Program operates several Clinical Centers of Excellence (CCE) in the New York City metropolitan area.

The program also operates several CCEs at different locations across the United States for people with eligible WTC-related health conditions who no longer live in the NYC metro area. You receive an initial exam, yearly monitoring, and medical care for your eligible health condition as needed.

The World Trade Center Health Program also covers prescriptions related to your eligible health condition.

How does the World Trade Center Health Program help me?

The most significant benefit of enrolling in the WTC Health Program is that under certain circumstances you may receive free services for your WTC-related health condition.

If you have other health problems or mental health conditions not caused by spending time in the New York City Disaster Area, a WTC Health Program administrator may be able to refer you to additional resources for financial assistance or treatment services from other healthcare providers.

Who is eligible for World Trade Center Health Program?

The WTC Health Program uses a complex eligibility chart based on your location, time of exposure, whether you served as a first responder, or were present in another capacity such as a resident or office worker, and whether you have an eligible physical health condition such as cancer or mental health condition such as post traumatic stress disorder when determining eligibility.

As an experienced law firm that has worked with people with WTC-related health conditions from the beginning, we understand how to get you the help you need. Please don't hesitate to claim your free consultation today by calling 1-888-982-8428.

WTC Health Program classifications

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) oversees the WTC Health Program and provides detailed information about the program on its website.

The WTC Health program coordinates medical treatment and offers medical monitoring for each of its participants. Your first step is to ensure that you meet one of the classifications below.

WTC Survivors

WTC survivors are those who lived, worked, attended school, or attended daycare in the entire NYC Disaster Area. Eligibility varies depending on role and location.

The complicated policies of the WTC Health Program provide for differing amounts of exposure time based upon the nature of your work or presence.

Generally, the time frame that the WTC Health Program looks at is between September 11, 2001, and July 31, 2002, but there are exceptions depending upon your individual circumstances.

The Health Program has created guidelines in a complex spreadsheet. Your attorneys will guide you through this process and discuss with you the requirements so that you can focus on your health.

FDNY

Fire Department of New York employees involved in rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, the Staten Island landfill, or the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Any surviving family member who received mental health treatment for help in coping with their loss may receive compensation for services.

General Responders

This category covers several classifications of people. The first are those who volunteered or worked in debris cleanup, recovery, or rescue in Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street, the Staten Island Landfill, or certain peers associated with barge loading.

The second category of general responders includes active and retired members of the NYC Police Department, Port Authority Police, or the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Claimants must have been involved in debris clean-up, rescue and recovery efforts, or related activities.

General responders who worked or volunteered on-site at Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill, or specific barge loading piers are also eligible.

Morgue Workers & Chief Medical Examiner Employees

Morgue workers and employees of the NYC Chief Medical Examiner involved in handling human remains or body bags covered in toxic dust are the third category of general responders.

Port Authority Tunnel Workers

Tunnel worker employees of the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation.

Vehicle Maintenance Workers

Vehicle maintenance workers make up the last category of general responders. Although they have no specific location requirements, they must have faced toxic exposure from the World Trade Center while engaged in cleaning, driving, repairing, or retrieving vehicles that contained contaminated toxins.

First Responders at Pentagon or Pennsylvania Crash Sites

First responders at the Pentagon site in Arlington Virginia or the Shanksville, Pennsylvania plane crash site who performed debris removal, rescue and recovery, demolition, and related services are eligible for WTC VCF cancer payouts. As well as active or retired police officers or firefighters.

Start your VCF claim, request a free lawyer consultation

President Trump signed the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on July 29, 2019.

Claims that might otherwise be late are timely if registered by July 29, 2021. That deadline is fast approaching, and we hate to see anyone who served the United States in such a heroic manner miss receiving the healthcare benefits they deserve.

The WTCHP also applies to those in lower Manhattan, including office workers, residents, teachers, students, etc. 

After your attorney determines your WTC Health Program eligibility, the next step is to see if you qualify for monetary payments from the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

If you plan to apply to the VCF, you must first apply and meet the WTC Health Program eligibility criteria. Like the WTC Health Program, the VCF has a complex chart of eligibility criteria to determine who should receive payments and for what amount. 

Working with an experienced attorney who knows both the WTC Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund allows you to avoid costly mistakes that could affect your eligibility.

Not only can we submit your applications, but we also represent you before the VCF board.

Please call Cannata, Hendele & Cannata today at 1-888-982-8428.