New Compensation Statistics Published

Recent numbers indicate that significant progress has been made to compensate victims of the events of September 11. The Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) continues to pick up momentum in its efforts to process claims and distribute payments to eligible applicants. But more work remains before we can say that all victims and families seeking redress have been considered.

On April 10 of this year, the Special Master issued a new report detailing the Fund’s progress. According to the updated program report, the VCF has reached eligibility determinations on more than 80 percent of the completed eligibility applications it received. Compensation decisions are in progress on nearly 60 percent of compensation forms received. Following is a summary of some of the findings in the recent report:

• The VCF received 13,862 eligibility forms, 6,702 of which are complete and can be decided.

• From eligible claimants, the VCF received 2,046 compensation forms, 1,220 of which can be decided.

• The VCF has made 502 compensation determinations, an increase of 179 since January 28, 2014. Of these claims, 474 involved first responders.

• Individual compensation awards have ranged from $10,000 to nearly $2.8 million. The average award is around $419,000. Approximately $194.6 million has already been designated for distribution.

• The VCF received 53,804 initial applicant registrations and 6,649 interim registrations. Thousands of registrants retain the right to file a claim but have not yet submitted their eligibility paperwork.

While the process may seem slow, more victims and their families receive compensation decisions every day. If you registered with the VCF but have not submitted your eligibility paperwork or if you were recently diagnosed with a covered condition, you may still have an opportunity to file a claim. An experienced VCF claims attorney at Barasch & McGarry can help you assemble and pursue your application.