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 to 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, 2022. (Survivors include area residents, workers and students. Click here to find out more about whether you qualify as a survivor.)
There are three basic steps to filing a VCF claim:
Register by your applicable deadline (deadlines differ based on your specific situation).
Get certified by the WTC Health program for a physical condition.
File your complete VCF claim and all supporting documents by October 1, 2090. This deadline is the same for everyone.
More detailed information on each is available at our VCF FAQ page.
Eligibility
To be eligible for compensation from the VCF, you need to have a certification from the WTC Health Program establishing the presence of a 9/11-related physical health condition. VCF applicants will also need to establish their presence in Manhattan below Canal Street on 9/11 or during the clean-up activity that ended on May 30, 2002. (The VCF does not care how long you were there – they just need proof you were in the VCF New York City Exposure Zone at some point during those dates.)
Alumni of Stuyvesant or any area school may email us at info@stuyhealth.org for assistance acquiring proof of attendance for their WTC Health Program applications. Nearly all students of Stuyvesant, Murray Bergtraum, Leadership and Service, and Economic and Finance who graduated between 2002 and 2005 are eligible to apply for the VCF if they have a certified physical condition.
Registration
Registration is available to anybody eligible survivor or responder, whether or not they are currently sick. It does not obligate you to file a claim, nor does it require you to waive any rights. Click here for information on how to apply and links to the registration page. We recommend ALL StuyHealth members are 9/11-exposed students take this step. It only takes five minutes!
Register By YOUR Applicable Deadline
You may register at any time, so long as you do so before your individual deadline. Registration is available to any eligible survivor or responder, whether or not they are currently sick. It does not obligate you to file a claim, nor does it require you to waive any rights. Click here for information on how to apply and links to the registration page.
We recommend ALL StuyHealth members who are 9/11-exposed students take this step. It only takes five minutes!
File Your Complete Claim by October 1, 2090
Once you have been certified by the WTC Health Program for a 9/11-related physical health condition, you can file your VCF claim online. (Although you may register with the VCF before your condition is certified by the WTC Health Program, you should wait until after you have been certified by the WTC Health Program to actually file your claim.) You will need to answer questions on the claim form and submit certain documents, all described at the link.
New York City Exposure Zone
Compensation
Everyone who is deemed eligible for compensation by the VCF will get a non-economic loss award. If you lost time from work due to your certified physical condition, you may also be eligible for economic loss. In certain situations, you may also be eligible for reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses you paid as a result of your eligible condition.
If you are already participating in the WTC Health Program: The VCF will receive information about your conditions directly from the WTC Health Program once you submit your claim. You do not need to submit any additional medical records or proof of your certified condition.
Compensation covers both “Non-Economic” and “Economic” loss:
Non-Economic loss is defined as compensation for all physical and emotional pain and suffering. Non-economic loss is based on the nature and severity of your eligible condition(s) and the effect of the condition(s) on your activities of daily living. Non-economic loss awards are capped by statute.
Economic loss is classified as monetary loss caused by an eligible condition. This includes loss of past and/or future earnings or other benefits related to employment, and certain past out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Your total Economic and Non-Economic loss will be calculated based on your specific circumstances and the information you submit with your claim form.
Legal Counsel
You are not required to have an attorney to file a VCF claim. If you choose not to work with an attorney, the VCF Helpline will support you throughout the process. With that said, legal counsel can be hired to assist you in filing your claim, and because of the quantity of paperwork involved, we encourage you to do so. Lawyers’ fees are capped at 10% of the final award. This guideline is set by statute as established by Congress. Feel free to contact StuyHealth for help finding a lawyer.
What if my Claim is Denied?
If your claim is denied, it means the VCF determined you did not meet the eligibility criteria based on the information you submitted. The letter you receive will explain the reason for the denial and provide information about your options to appeal the decision or amend your claim to submit new information.
Not Sure if You Should Apply?
Please contact us with questions about applying. We strongly encourage all Stuyvesant students with qualifying conditions to apply regardless of how minor their health conditions may be. This program is essentially a “use it or lose it” proposition. In applying to the VCF, you will be providing Congress data concerning the total number of individuals affected by 9/11. It’s imperative that we preserve access to this program for future applicants, so please consider participating.
Have more questions or concerns? Check out our VCF FAQ page or Email us!
*The VCF “NYC Exposure Zone” is defined as the area in Manhattan south of the line that runs along 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 to the East River; and any area related to or along the routes of debris removal, such as barges and Fresh Kills landfill. Also note the VCF “NYC Exposure Zone” is different from the WTC Health Program “NYC Disaster Area” that is used to assess eligibility for that program.