9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Approves Nearly $500 Million in Claims

The fund created to help cover the costs of medical care for the first responders of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. recently approved about $494 million in claims from victims and their families. 

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), established in 2011, has approved 7,885 claims and issued more than 1,800 decision on various compensation matters. The compensation will go toward individuals who are still suffering the consequences of their heroic work the day of the attacks and the weeks afterward, when many were exposed to asbestos and other dangerous materials from debris dust. 

Making good progress 

This was positive news for the VCF after the organization got off to a rough start. It was the target of much criticism last year when it awarded just $27 million of the more than $2 billion provided to it through Congress. With this latest round, the VCF has now approved about 20 percent of the claims it has deemed eligible. 

The establishment of this fund has been an important step forward for compensating the people who sacrificed the most on 9/11 and the days following. In addition to the heroes who died climbing the stairs of the World Trade Center, thousands more flooded the Ground Zero site to dig through the debris to find possible survivors and bodies. As a result, many of these people experienced hazardous exposure to materials, leading to various types of cancer and other illnesses. 

If believe you or a family member is eligible for benefits through the VCF, don’t hesitate to reach out to a knowledgeable New York City injury attorney with Barasch & McGarry.