What If You Missed the October 3, 2013 VCF Fund Deadline?

*** 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. ***

An important deadline to register a claim with the World Trade Center (WTC) Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) recently passed. The VCF and state and federal agencies performed significant outreach to ensure news of the deadline was circulated to potential claimants. If you are just receiving word of the deadline and have a claim, knowing your options is important. 

The October 3, 2013, registration deadline applied only to the following persons: 

• Individuals who suffered exposure, illness or injury due to the September 11, 2001, attacks who were diagnosed prior to October 3, 2011, were required to register with the VCF by October 3, 2013. 

• Those who suffered a 9/11-related illness or injury who did not qualify or register previously had the opportunity to register with the VCF up to the deadline. 

If you were diagnosed with a 9/11-associated condition after October 3, 2011, the deadline this year did not apply to you. Similarly, if you are diagnosed with a qualified cancer, the deadline does not apply. 

If you missed the deadline, consider the following options: 

• Speak with an attorney experienced with the VCF and other programs to assist victims of the 9/11 attacks. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you understand if the deadline applied and specifically what actions could assist you. 

• If you missed the registration deadline, you are still eligible to register a claim for conditions diagnosed after October 3, 2011. Generally, you have two years from the date of diagnosis to file a claim. All claimants must be registered by October 3, 2016. 

• If you missed the VCF deadline, register with the World Trade Center Health Program to receive health monitoring and treatment for those exposed on all WTC sites, including the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.