The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Changed Its Registration Deadline – What Does This Mean for You?

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund has recently changed its rules regarding the deadline to register for compensation. Historically, a person who was diagnosed with cancer had a strict 2 year window to register with the VCF, which began on the date that they were first diagnosed. If a person registered after this 2 year window had closed, their claim would be denied for failing to timely register.

This rule worked well for people who, at the time they were diagnosed, were also told that their diagnosis was caused by their exposure to the airborne toxins polluting lower Manhattan on and after 9/11. However, this rule was faulty. It failed to account for the thousands of first responders, office workers, residents, teachers, students and other civilians who were diagnosed with cancer, but who were never told that their illness was in fact linked to the WTC toxic dust. It failed to account for the thousands of people who believed the EPA when it said “the air is safe.”

Now, the VCF has tweaked its deadline to account for these potential claimants who, by no fault of their own, were previously ineligible. The new deadline extends the 2 year registration window. The new deadline to register starts at the time a person is first informed by a government entity – like the WTC Health Program – that their illness is in fact 9/11-related. For anyone diagnosed with cancer after 9/11, this is welcome news.

If you were in lower Manhattan on or after 9/11 and were diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible to receive substantial compensation. For a free consultation, contact the experienced attorneys at Barasch & McGarry who have represented 9/11 survivors from the outset. Call 888.351.9421 or contact our office online.