9/11 survivors

Thanks to a directive issued just before the anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, if a first responder has a 9/11-related illness and dies of COVID-19, his or her family will be able to obtain benefits from the federal Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). This new VCF directive is welcome news for […]

The Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), a critical financial support mechanism for 9/11 heroes, has gained even more importance as the coronavirus ravages survivors and responders. Families who lose a member due to COVID-19 are eligible to be part of the compensation fund as long as a qualifying 9/11-related illness is listed in the […]

In the aftermath of September 11, some New Yorkers wore masks as worry began to spread about the dust hanging in the air in the areas around Ground Zero. In the years following the attacks, we found out that people were right to be worried, as more and more survivors developed respiratory problems and cancers […]

After more than half a year of trying to understand and battle the coronavirus pandemic, we know that COVID-19 infects people of all ages and backgrounds, with the elderly being exceptionally vulnerable. The heroes of 9/11 face heightened risk from the virus due to underlying health problems dating back to that fateful day. “9/11 made […]

Thousands of 9/11 first responders and survivors, already suffering from long-term respiratory problems and other complications due to exposure to Ground Zero toxins, now find themselves at additional risk due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. People with lung diseases like COPD, asthma, or lung cancer or with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk […]

Many 9/11 responders and survivors went through major life changes after the attacks, and those changes may have include getting married or experiencing other life events that resulted in a legal name change. The VCF will accept claims under your new name, but requires some proof of the change. If your name is now different […]