The brave first responders of 9/11 have been offered unlimited World Trade Center sick leave by the city of New York, affecting around 2,000 municipal employees. These employees—including EMTs and peace officers—have become ill following the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office announced the World Trade Center sick leave in October. The plan offers these employees retroactive sick leave, helping to cover medical expenses incurred by 9/11 sicknesses, including cancer.

“My Administration has been working around the clock to provide the unlimited sick leave our brave City workers deserve,” said de Blasio in a statement, according to a Patch article.

In order to be eligible for World Trade Center sick leave, both EMTs and firefighters have to be diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness by an official FDNY doctor. Other employees affected by 9/11 sickness looking for World Trade Center sick leave may be diagnosed by doctors for the World Trade Center Health Program’s Clinical Centers of Excellence.

“This important agreement gives these dedicated public employees, who sacrificed profoundly to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero, the sick leave they need and deserve,” said the executive director for District Council 37, Henry Garrido, in a statement.

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

This new deal comes into play as many of the 9/11 first responders who may soon be diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses are also dealing with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund drying up, the deadline fast approaching.

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was created in the aftermath of the horrific 2001 terrorist attacks to help those who were injured as a result. Thousands of people were killed in the attacks themselves, but now—17 years later—thousands more have been diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses, including dozens of types of cancer.

These illnesses stem from harmful materials and toxins in the air at Ground Zero, carcinogens that affected first responders and those nearby, but only began showing symptoms years later.

So how do you tell if you’re eligible for compensation from the fund? Those eligible include those who lived, worked, or were otherwise near Ground Zero between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 31, 2002, and were later diagnosed with one of more than 70 different types of cancer. Eligible cancers include lung, prostate, melanoma, leukemia, and brain cancer, among many others. Our investigation page includes a full list of eligible cancer types.

For the most part, these cancers do not begin to show symptoms for several years after exposure. Because of this, eligibility for compensation requires that the diagnosis was made at least four years after exposure. The except is for blood and bone cancers, which must have been diagnosed at least one year post-exposure.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with one of the eligible 9/11-related cancers, you may be eligible for World Trade Center sick leave or may be able to gain compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.