The Three WTC Programs Explained
Similar names aside, here’s how to tell the difference between the three programs offered to 9/11 survivors:
WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM
The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program was established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 and provides medical monitoring and treatment to two categories of people affected by the attacks of 9/11 – “survivors” and “responders” – at no out-of-pocket cost. Survivors include those who lived, worked, or attended school in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11. Responders include rescue, recovery, clean-up or related support services workers who worked or volunteered onsite on or after 9/11. Survivors still living in New York metropolitan area have access to health services through the WTC Clinical Centers of Excellence, while those outside of the city are treated through the WTC Health Program’s Nationwide Provider Network. If you are a survivor who believes you have physical or mental health conditions that are related to your 9/11 exposure, you may be eligible for this program. The list of covered conditions is available here. It is NOT necessary to be enrolled in the Health Registry (described below) to participate in this program.
SEPTEMBER 11th VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND
The Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 and provides compensation for economic and non-economic loss for any individual who suffered physical harm as a result of 9/11 or the aftermath. To be eligible, survivors must have a physical health condition certified by the WTC Health Program and have been below Canal Street on 9/11 or during the clean-up period that ended on May 30, 2002. By statute, the VCF may not compensate for psychological conditions, but the WTC Health Program provides mental health treatment as part of their healthcare services. For more information, please refer to our VCF information page.
WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH REGISTRY
The WTC Health Registry was established in 2002 by the NYC Department of Health to monitor the health of directly exposed to the WTC disaster. Participants completed a confidential health survey and are asked to fill out follow-up surveys every few years. The findings are periodically published in medical journals, but the registry does NOT conduct medical testing and is NOT a treatment program. This program is completely independent from the World Trade Center Health Program and is currently closed to new participants. Being enrolled in the WTC Health Registry does not mean you are auto enrolled in WTC Health Program, nor does it auto-register enrollees with the VCF.