The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund established by an act of Congress, commonly referred to as the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, was created to provide compensation for individuals who suffered a physical illness, injury or death as a result of the terrorist-related crashes into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and its aftermath.
The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Towers claimed thousands of victims: those who perished in the Towers, as well as those who became ill from breathing in the toxic dust following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
These victims include the dedicated rescue workers who searched for remains and thousands of individuals from different trades that rebuilt lower Manhattan in the months after the attacks.
Also affected were the office workers who were caught in the dust cloud on September 11, 2001, or who returned to work in dusty and dangerous environments, the residents whose apartments were not properly remediated of the toxic dust, and the school children whose classrooms remained filthy long after September 11.
In fact, compensation is now available to anyone who was present in lower Manhattan for some period of time, for any reason, in the months following September 11, 2001, even those who first returned to the area in early 2002.
In the days, weeks, and months following September 11, these individuals breathed in the harmful dust and smoke which contained the toxic and chemical remnants of the World Trade Center Towers.
Many have since developed serious and chronic ailments, including a variety of cancers, asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, asbestosis, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, GERD, and sleep apnea. Some have also died as a result of their World Trade Center-related injuries.
Recognizing the need to provide health care and compensation to these individuals, the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was signed into law in early 2011.
The 2011 version of the Act devoted approximately $2.775 billion to compensate victims for their injuries through the Victim Compensation Fund and an additional $1.5 billion to funding medical treatment and monitoring for World Trade Center-related injuries.
In December 2015, Congress authorized an additional approximately $4.5 billion in compensation over the next five years. The amended legislation also provides health care for the next seventy-five years. Previously submitted claims, as well as newly diagnosed conditions and recent deaths, will be eligible to receive compensation.
In August 2019, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1327, The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) (VCF Permanent Authorization Act).
The Act extends the VCF's claim filing deadline from Dec. 18, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2090, and appropriates such funds as may be necessary to pay all approved claims. This makes unlimited funds available.
Sadly, the events of 9/11 continue to affect the health and wellbeing of thousands of individuals every year. For those affected, the VCF claim process can be complex, unmet eligibility requirements or missed deadlines can cause your claim to be delayed or even denied.
If you have been diagnosed with 9/11-related cancer, a serious health condition, or have lost a loved one due to toxic exposure on or after 9/11, the VCF lawyers at Gregory J. Cannata & Associates can help.
Over the past 20 years, our attorneys have had the privilege of helping thousands of widows, survivors, responders and residents recover tax-free compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
We understand the complex eligibility requirements, the filing process, and critical deadlines and will help ensure you receive the best possible outcome. Don't wait, speak with an experienced VCF attorney about your eligibility today.
Call 1-888-982-8428 today or contact us online for a no-risk, free consultation.