During the terrible attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of people were killed and thousands more injured — but that number has continued to grow in the years after the attacks.

Because of exposure to dangerous chemicals at Ground Zero, first responders and others who lived near Ground Zero are also victims of the 9/11 attacks through later-onset diseases such as cancer.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, initially set up to help those with immediate injuries from the attacks, may also be able to help those who have suffered from more long-term injuries, such as cancer.

You may be eligible for compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund if you were diagnosed with cancer after living or working near Ground Zero between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 31, 2002.

What Is the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

The air of Ground Zero was filled with harmful materials and toxins capable of causing cancer, and those who worked or lived in the area may have been exposed to and injured by these substances.

The 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund was created in order to provide compensation for those harmed by cancer-causing toxins from the terrorist attacks.

The fund was established immediately after the terrorist attacks and processed claims dealing with the most immediate injuries and deaths caused by the attacks. The fund was reopened in 2011 to deal with some of the serious health problems that have surfaced in the years following the attacks.

What Expenses Are Covered by the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

The fund offers cash payouts, and an individual plaintiff may receive hundreds of thousands of dollars or, in some case, up to millions.

Cash awards from the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund are tax-free and can help compensate people for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. Some survivors may even be eligible to receive free medical care for life.

There is also compensation available for wrongful death.

Who Is Eligible for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

Those eligible for the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund lived, worked, or were near Ground Zero in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 — any time before May 31, 2002 — and were later diagnosed with one of over 70 types of cancer. Diagnoses of these cancers must have been made at least four years after the exposure, except in the case of blood and bone cancers, which must have been diagnosed at least one year after the exposure.

An estimated 1 million people were exposed to the harmful toxins in the air in the months following these attacks. Many exposed to these dangerous toxins are eligible to receive money from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, including first responders, construction workers, city workers, and nearby students and residents.

How Is Eligibility Determined?

Patients diagnosed with one of dozens of different cancers in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks may be eligible for compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. These cancers include lung cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, leukemia, brain cancer, and many others. A full list of these cancer types is available on our investigation page.

If you or someone you love was diagnosed with cancer in the years following exposure to Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, you may be eligible for compensation from the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.

Eligibility for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund is determined by a few things.

The WTC Health Program must decide whether or not to certify that your illness, injury, or condition is 9/11-related, and you must show that you were present at one of the 9/11 attack sites, within the New York City Exposure Zone, or along the route of debris removal sometime between Sept. 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002.

Is There a Time Limit to Apply?

Claims must be registered by July 29, 2021, “or other applicable deadline,” according to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund website. Other applicable deadlines include within two years of the latest date on which the WTC Health Program certifies the illness is 9/11-related, if it was not prior to July 29, 2019.

The final deadline for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund has been shifted around multiple times since its creation.

Most recently, it was set to end on Dec. 18, 2020, but on July 29, 2019, the president signed into law an act giving “permanent authorization” to the fund: the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The act was named after three 9/11 rescue and recovery workers who all died after fighting their 9/11-related illnesses, as well as after fighting with the federal government in order to secure compensation for people in their position.

The new time limit to apply for compensation from the fund is Oct. 1, 2090, a huge extension compared to the fund’s previous extensions of a few years at a time. The act also commits to providing full compensation to those who received reduced rewards prior to the act’s passing.

Where Can You Get Help With Your Application?

Negotiating the complexities of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund may not be easy, but help is available as you work on your application as you gather evidence, file paperwork, and meet deadlines.

Top Class Actions can connect you with an experienced 9/11 victim fund attorney to help ensure you receive the maximum compensation available.