Victim Compensation Fund

Substantiating a Victim Compensation Fund Claim, both initial eligibility as well as amount of compensation, is an extremely paper-intensive task. A thorough presentation can require reams of documents ranging from medical records to tax returns, utility bills, deeds, leases, pay stubs, time sheets and much, much more. Keeping track of all this material and keeping […]

Receiving a favorable compensation decision from the VCF may seem like a hollow victory until you actually have the money in hand, especially if you and your family are struggling to make ends meet. Fortunately, the VCF administrators have taken steps to streamline the payment process and avoid many of the issues and delays that […]

Whenever there is money involved, fraud is a concern. The Victim Compensation Fund is no exception, especially in light of several high-profile cases of fraud that occurred during the administration of the first VCF. Fortunately, it has been very encouraging that cases of fraud have thus far been few and far between in the new […]

One of the most common reasons that people hesitate to consult an attorney following a personal injury or other loss is the fear that the attorney’s fees could consume a substantial portion of whatever award they receive. However, in nearly all cases the enhanced rewards you receive coupled with the stress and uncertainty you avoid […]

To be eligible for 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund benefits, you must prove that you were present during or immediately after the terrorist attack. If you are applying for loss of your loved one, you must prove that she or he was present and died as a result of 9/11-related injuries or disease. Proof of presence […]

The VCF hearing process has been largely uncharted territory, owing in part to the fact that the Zadroga Act did not provide any detailed guidelines for adjudicating contested VCF eligibility and compensation decisions. Indeed, the first such hearings have only taken place within the last year. However, consistent with the purpose of the Act, the […]