Although new cases of 9/11 related illnesses are being diagnosed every day, the window is closing for recovering compensation from the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund.

The September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund is a federally funded program which has made $7.3 billion available for individuals and families affected by the toxic chemicals released during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Victim Compensation Fund has awarded $4 billion to 22,000 people for 9/11 illnesses and injuries.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the EPA assured New Yorkers that the air was safe and urged residents to return to their homes. However, this recommendation may have been premature. Individuals who returned to the city in the eight months following the terrorist attacks may have been exposed to toxic dust in the air.

The number of first responders and resident illnesses and deaths increased, prompting Congress to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in 2010. The act, named after a New York police officer who died from 9/11 related illnesses, established the World Trade Center Health Program which provides health care and medical benefits to those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The health crisis did not resolve as expected, with new cases of 9/11 related illnesses diagnosed frequently. Congress responded to this continuing health crisis by extending the Zadroga Act in 2015. This extension allows victims exposed to 9/11 toxic dust to receive health screenings through 2090 and compensation through the Victim Compensation Fund through 2020.

There are numerous certified illnesses which are eligible for compensation under the Victim Compensation Fund. Eligible cancers commonly diagnosed in relation to 9/11 exposure include skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, blood cancers, and rare cancers such as male breast cancer.

Eligible non-cancerous illnesses include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s esophagus, and sleep apnea. Other cancers and illnesses not included in these lists may be eligible for compensation, victims should not assume they are ineligible for benefits under the Victim Compensation Fund.

Although the Victim Compensation Fund has already paid billions of dollars to benefit first responders and 9/11 survivors, hundreds of thousands of individuals may not realize that their cancers and other illnesses qualify them to participate in the program. Unfortunately, these individuals are on a tight timeline, as the registration period for the Victim Compensation Fund will close Dec. 18, 2020.

Residents of New York may not immediately link their cancers to their exposure to toxic dust following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but many 9/11 illnesses have long latency periods. Some illnesses, such as mesothelioma, may just now be emerging.

If you or a loved one are suffering from a 9/11 related illness including cancer, you may be eligible to participate in the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund. Families of deceased first responders and other individuals may also be eligible to participate in the Victim Compensation Fund. A qualified attorney can evaluate your case and, if you are eligible, help you navigate the paperwork required to participate in the Victim Compensation Fund.