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People are still suffering effects of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers 17 years later. Since the attack in 2001 in New York City, nearly 10,000 people have been diagnosed with cancers related to dust, smoke, and airborne toxins released from the attack, according to to the New York Post. Many may qualify for the Victim Compensation Fund.
Who is Eligible for the Victim Compensation Fund?
Compensation from the fund can potentially range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. The fund has criteria for qualifying claimants.
It covers over 70 types of cancer diagnoses. The diagnosis must have occurred at least four years after exposure. This excludes blood and bone cancer diagnoses. For these, the timeline is one year after exposure. Other cancers covered by the fund include bladder cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, leukemia, colon cancer, brain cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and more.
Many people who were in the vicinity of the 9/11 attacks and later suffered from cancer may be eligible for relief from the Victim Compensation Fund. The fund covers first responders, firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, as well as city workers in the fields of sanitation, construction, utilities, and cleaning. The fund also covers 9/11 volunteers and out-of-state responders who aided in the aftermath of the attacks. Employees, residents, and students who worked, lived, or attended classes below Canal Street are also eligible. This list is not exhaustive, and others may also qualify.
According to the federal World Trade Center Health Program, 9,795 first responders, workers, residents, students and others have been diagnosed with 9/11 related cancers from the airborne toxins released at the site of the attacks. Four hundred and twenty of these cancer victims have died due to their illness.
Given the latency period of many cancers, victims often do not develop symptoms until years later. The New York Post interviewed several people who have been personally harmed by the carcinogens released in the attacks.
One victim, formerly a sergeant with the NYPD, told the Post that his body’s response to the attacks first presented as gastrointestinal and sinus issues, but later turned into an aggressive form of tongue cancer. Despite having a third of his tongue surgically removed and replaced with a skin graft, he says that his health has continued to deteriorate and he will eventually need to have his jaw reconstructed.
Another victim interviewed by the Post talked about her struggles with fertility following her post 9/11 brain cancer diagnosis. Despite delaying her chemotherapy treatments to attempt to harvest and freeze some of her eggs, complications blocked the procedure. Recalling the experience to the Post, she said, “I’m fearful about everything since 9/11. I was never like that before. I feel that thing just took everything away.”
Background of the Victim Compensation Fund
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was started shortly after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. The purpose of this fund is to provide victims of the attacks with compensation for physical harm, or when applicable, death.
While the original compensation fund was only in place from 2001 to 2004, President Obama reinstated the fund through the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in early 2011. This Act authorized the fund to continue to provide relief to victims until October 2016. However, before the expiration of the Zadroga Act, President Obama signed a bill reauthorizing the Act. This new law allows the Victim Compensation Fund to extend until Dec. 18, 2020.
