What is the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund?

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is a fund meant to provide financial compensation for first responders and others who became ill due to exposure to toxic dust and materials at the site of the World Trade Center. In July 2019, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was reauthorized and will remain open until 2090.

More than $10 billion has been allocated to the fund over the next ten years, with additional billions to be authorized until the fund’s expiration in 2090.

Additionally, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund has instituted a look back period, during which victims who did not apply or had their applications rejected during the period of time where the fund was expected to close may reapply.

Although the extension of the fund was seen as a major win for 9/11 victims and advocates, many people may be wondering what the fund pays for and whether they qualify.

What Does the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Pay For?

When the 9/11 attacks occurred at the site of the World Trade Center, pollutants, toxins, and carcinogens were released into the air. These dangerous airborne particles may have been inhaled or ingested by first responders, as well as people who lived, worked, or went to school in the area.

Around 400,000 people are estimated to have been exposed to these toxins. According to some estimates, it is likely that more people will suffer or die from 9/11 diseases than from the attacks themselves.

The 9/11 Victim Compensation fund provides money for people who were harmed by these toxins, as well as coverage for medical expenses such as medical care and hospital bills.

Who is Qualified for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund?

Victims who have been diagnosed with one of more than 70 types of cancer may qualify to apply for compensation through the fund, as well as qualifying respiratory and digestive tract disorders. Approximately 70,000 people have already received payouts from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, and hundreds of thousands more may qualify to apply.

Victims may be eligible to apply for coverage through the fund if they can prove they were present at the site of the attacks between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, and they have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition or cancer. VCF qualifying conditions include chronic respiratory disorder, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic nasopharyngitis, or gastroesophageal reflux disorder. Many cancers also qualify victims to apply for the fund, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, brain cancer, bone cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, and dozens more.

If you have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition or cancer, you may be eligible to apply for compensation from the fund.  Paperwork can be complex and burdensome to participate in the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, so Top Class Actions can put you in touch with lawyers that can assist with the process. Hiring a qualified attorney to assist you in putting together the necessary documentation for your application may make it more likely for you to receive the compensation you are entitled to.