The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Now Releases SSA Data – What Does This Mean For You?

To claim economic loss, a claimant must have a disability determination from a government entity—such as the Social Security Administration—that is based on his or her 9/11-related illness. Social Security Disability (SSD) is very common among Victim Compensation Fund claimants because the unfortunate truth is that 9/11-related illnesses are so severe that they often become disabling for the sufferer.

While many claimants know that they’re receiving SSD, they have no way of knowing whether or not it is based on their 9/11-related illnesses. Historically, in order to confirm their disabling conditions, claimants would have to trek to their local SSA office, wait in line, and eventually request a form called the SSA-831—which is extremely difficult to retrieve.

Thankfully, those days are over.

Now, the VCF has made available a stream of SSA data that makes it easy to see which illness a claimant’s SSD is based on. This change means no more trips to your local SSA office. Instead, a claimant only has to complete an Exhibit 1 Form, which we would then submit to the VCF. Once the VCF processes the Exhibit 1, they will release SSA data which contains key information, such as a claimant’s primary and secondary disabling conditions and start date of the disability. With this information, we can confirm the nature of a claimant’s disability, and whether or not they are entitled to economic loss.

Have you been found disabled by SSA, NYPD, FDNY, NYCERS or NYSLRS? Make sure you notify your attorney so that they can confirm whether you are entitled to an economic loss award from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.