Do Not Miss This: VCF Deadlines

*** UPDATE: Since the date of this blog post, the deadline for filing a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund has been extended until December 18, 2020. ***

As with any legal claim or lawsuit, you must understand the time frame when you can file a claim. If you wait too long after suffering a personal injury, you can lose your right to recover compensation. For claims made to the World Trade Center Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), you may lose your right to compensation and benefits if you do not register in a timely way. 

This October, an important deadline passed. Individuals diagnosed with WTC-related injury or illnesses prior to October 3, 2011, were required to register with the VCF by October 3, 2013. Although this window is now closed, you need to understand other important deadlines if you were at a 9/11 site: 

• Persons diagnosed with a qualified injury generally have two years to file a claim with the VCF. Qualified injury refers to a presumptively covered condition as determined by the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. 

• If diagnosed with a qualified cancer prior to October 12, 2012, you have until October 12, 2014, to register your claim. 

• Those diagnosed with prostate cancer on or before October 21, 2013, have until October 21, 2015, to file a claim with the VCF. 

• Those who suffered an injury not originally recognized on the list of presumptively covered conditions but whose condition was added to the list after October 21, 2013, have two years from the date of addition to the list to file a claim. 

• In all cases, and for all injuries, the absolute deadline for registration of a claim is October 3, 2016. 

Understanding applicable deadlines and requirements for VCF registration is sometimes difficult. If injured on a WTC site, speak with legal counsel in New York to protect your eligibility for compensation.