September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: Since 2001

Kreindler has secured over $4 Billion for 9/11 victims and their families

Fighting for 9/11 Victims Since September 11, 2001

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) team at Kreindler & Kreindler, led by Managing Partner Noah Kushlefky has unsurpassed experience helping 9/11 victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve from the 9/11 VCF. We have over 20 intake and case managers who do nothing but work with clients on their VCF paperwork and cases. There are never any fees unless you are compensated.

Through 2022, the government’s September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has distributed over $10 billion to people killed or made sick by toxic conditions following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

In 2019, Congress authorized the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund until 2090 and directed that funds not otherwise already appropriated be placed into the VCF in “such sums as may be necessary” to fund its payment of claims and its administrative expenses.

Most cash awards to people diagnosed with cancer range from $90,000 to $250,000. People diagnosed with multiple cancers may receive higher compensation. People who experience economic losses (lost job earnings due to partial or full disablement) as a result of WTC-related physical condition(s) may receive much higher levels of compensation - as high as $1 million to $4 million.

Our dedicated team can help make recovering compensation easier, plus help you with the appeals process. By law, the maximum fee a 9/11 VCF attorney can collect is 10% of the award (note: there is zero fee if you don’t receive compensation).

How can an experienced 9/11 VCF attorney help?

• Assist you to establish proof of presence (required documents showing evidence of presence)
• Work with you to complete and submit required documents
• Amend existing VCF claims to add a newly diagnosed condition
• Appeal an award decision to maximize the amount of the award

If you were injured or are a surviving family member of someone who was present at one of the designated 9/11 Exposure Zones at any point from September 11, 2001 to May 30, 2002 and have since been diagnosed with a 9/11-related physical health condition, you could qualify for compensation from the September 11th VCF.

What is the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

• A fund created by the federal government following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide compensation to individuals who were present at the World Trade Center or the surrounding New York City Exposure Zone, the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site.
  
• Readministered by Title I of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to compensate victims with certified 9/11-related health conditions caused by exposure to the toxic dust that resulted following the collapse of the Twin Towers. Learn more about the 9/11 VCF program.
• Provides tax-free payments to first responders, workers, volunteers, residents, students, visitors and anyone who was present at a designated 9/11 site at some point between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002.
  
• May compensate eligible individuals for lost earnings.
• The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund encourages anyone who was there to register with the VCF now, regardless of whether you have been diagnosed or certified with an illness.

Learn more about the history of the 9/11 VCF.

No One Has Helped More 9/11 Victims Than Kreindler

To this day, cancer and respiratory illnesses continue to be diagnosed in survivors who were present at some point during the nine months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A 9/11 VCF attorney can help those who qualify to get money they may be entitled to through the government’s Victim Compensation Fund.

Who can apply for compensation from the 9/11 VCF?

What are the qualifications to file a claim with the VCF?

Qualifying for compensation with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund depends on presence and diagnosis.

• Presence - if you spent any duration of time in a designated 9/11 exposure area during the specified time frame
• Locations - NYC Exposure Zone, Freshkill Landfill, Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
• Timeframe - Any point of time from September 11, 2001 through May 30, 2002.
• Diagnosis - have a 9/11-related cancer or serious illness certified by the World Trade Center Health Program.

The VCF offers compensation to those who have been diagnosed with at least one of over 70 different cancers, airway and digestive disorders (aerodigestive disorders) or certain musculoskeletal disorders and were present in an exposure zone between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002. The most common cancer diagnoses linked to 9/11 are non-melanoma skin, prostate, breast, melanoma, lymphoma, thyroid, and lung cancer. The most common aerodigestive disorders include chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, chronic respiratory disorder, and WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Have you or your loved one been diagnosed with a form of cancer that has been linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks?

Experts have identified 70 varieties of cancer that are often detected throughout the 9/11 community. The most prevalent cancers identified among September 11th survivors are non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer and female breast cancer. Learn more about 9/11 cancers.

OVER 70 DIFFERENT CANCERS AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ARE COVERED BY THE 9/11 VCF, THEY INCLUDE:

* ^{information provided by World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, as of June 30, 2020}

Are you or a loved one suffering from a certified 9/11-related health condition such as asthma, GERD or emphysema?

The devastating events of September 11, 2001 created a toxic environment that continues to cause a multitude of medical conditions who were in Lower Manhattan. Many 9/11 survivors suffer from respiratory and digestive illnesses that continue to impact the quality of their lives. A 9/11 VCF attorney can help determine if an individual is eligible for compensation relating to their illness.

What toxic elements were present in the air following 9/11?

With the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers, a noxious, carcinogenic fog engulfed Lower Manhattan. Included in the toxic dust cloud were the following:

Where are the Exposure Zones?

If you were present at any of the designated 9/11 Exposure Zones, including the NYC Exposure Zone, Freshkill Landfill, The Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania between September 11th, 2001 and May 30th, 2002 and have been diagnosed with a WTCHP-certified illness or injury, you may be eligible for compensation through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

The VCF defines the New York City Exposure Zone as the area in Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street from the Hudson River to the intersection of Canal Street and East Broadway, north on East Broadway to Clinton Street, and east on Clinton Street all the way to the East River. The exposure zones also include any area related to or along the routes of debris removal, such as barges and Fresh Kills Landfill. Although the time limits for exposure are more limited, there are also exposure zones at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania—the sites of the other two plane crashes that occurred on September 11, 2001.

How are claims filed for compensation with the 9/11 VCF?

9/11 VCF attorneys:

• Help you establish proof of presence
• Work with you to complete and submit the required documents
• Amend existing VCF claims to add a newly diagnosed condition
• Appeal an award decision to maximize the amount of the award

The VCF calculates each award individually using the following basic formula, as required by the VCF Act: Non-Economic Loss (pain and suffering), minus Collateral Offsets equals compensation. Collateral Offsets are amounts of money subtracted from payments that have already been received by the claimant as a result of the eligible injury. Collateral Offsets include workers’ compensation and Social Security disability payments.

When a claimant has also suffered partial or full disablement as a result of the associated condition and their earnings have been affected, he or she may also be eligible to receive additional compensation for Economic Losses.

If you are suffering from one or more 9/11-related ailments, you may be entitled to compensation from the September 11th VCF.

Trust Kreindler & Kreindler LLP with your claim

• Representing victims for over 70 years, achieving justice and obtaining compensation for clients and their families
• Serving 9/11 victims since September 11th, 2001
• Championed for the passage of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, which created the VCF
• Compiled one of the largest in-house legal teams that focus strictly on VCF claims
• Continues to advocate for victims of the 9/11 community in our fight for justice and accountability by way of a lawsuit against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Who will lead your fight for fair compensation?

Kreindler managing partner Noah Kushlefsky is a staunch advocate for the 9/11 community and will bring the same grit and determination in his quest to get compensation for you.

• Joined Kreindler in 1987
• Leads Kreindler’s efforts since 2001 to secure justice for those injured or killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks and its aftermath
• Appointed Co-Liaison Counsel on the Plaintiffs’ Committee for all September 11th liability litigation
• Cited as one of the architects responsible for drafting the compensation approach utilized by the 9/11 VCF when determining cases involving deceased rescue workers
• Secured over $4 billion in awards for 9/11 victims and their families

How much will I have to pay an attorney to file my claim, and when will I have to pay?

• Consultations with Kreindler are free
• Rejected claims will not result in any charges
• The maximum fee the firm can collect is limited to 10% of the award total

Is it too late to file a claim?

No, the deadline to file a claim is October 1, 2090. However, there is a separate registration deadline that is more time sensitive. Thanks to the extended deadline, applicants can still submit claims to the September 11th VCF to receive compensation and possibly an untaxed lump sum for expenses associated with a 9/11-related illness.

Kreindler’s dedicated 9/11 VCF team is prepared to help you with your application filings and answer your questions. We will provide you with a free consultation to review your claim eligibility. We are honored to have assisted thousands of survivors with their September 11th Victim Compensation Fund claims, and we will continue to fight on behalf of all September 11th victims and family members.