NY World Trade Center Registry Deadline Approaching Soon

The deadline for registering for the World Trade Center Registry as a 9/11 participant is Sept. 11, 2014. The “participant” designation means that you performed paid or volunteer work related to the World Trade Center attacks in lower Manhattan and that you suffered or may suffer an ailment or injury as a result. Registering is the first step in recovering compensation under the benefits program.

To qualify, you must have engaged in 9/11-related duties between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002, including the following:

You qualify whether you were an employee acting within the scope of your employment or a volunteer for a nonprofit or rescue organization. The NY Registry is limited to workers and volunteers who participated in 9/11-related activities at any of the following sites:

“World Trade Center Site” is considered the area bordered by the Hudson River, Canal Street, Pike Street, East River and the lower tip of Manhattan.

You can register as a participant by filing form WTC-12 with the New York Workers’ Compensation Board by the September 11, 2014 deadline. Submitting a WTC-12 only identifies you as a participant. It is not a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. You must take a second step to file your claim for injury or illness compensation.

If you were an eligible employee, you must file Form C-3, Employee’s Claim for Compensation, with the Board. If you were a volunteer, you should file form WTCVol-3, World Trade Center Volunteer’s Claim for Compensation.

New York passed registry rules designed to help the heroes who risked their lives during the aftermath of 9/11. Therefore, if you previously applied for workers’ compensation benefits and were denied because of untimely notice to your employer or late claim submission, the Board will reopen your case and reconsider the denial. You must, however, register as a participant by September 11, 2014.

Contact Barasch & McGarry for assistance with your NY World Trade Center Registry application.