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9/11 InjuriesHealth ProgramsVictim Compensation Fund

Why We Encourage Everyone to Register Now, Even If They Are Healthy!

December 9, 2020 | Michael Barasch

Nearly two decades after 9/11, thousands of first responders and hundreds of thousands of survivors (people who were living, working, or attending school near Ground Zero) have still not registered with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. It is alarming that only 5% of the 400,000 9/11 survivor population has registered with the free World Trade Center Health Program.  Thankfully, over 80% of responders have registered.

When Congress and the President reauthorized the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund last year, the deadline to file a claim was extended to 2090.  However, the deadline to register (which is a pre-requisite to filing) is 2 years from certification of an illness, and from the date of death of the victim.

We are urging everyone to register with the Victim Compensation Fund if they were in the Ground Zero exposure zone on 9/11, or during any part of the following 8 months, even if they are still healthy. By registering with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, you are protecting yourself and your family for a lifetime.

Exposure to Ground Zero toxins has been linked to 68 different types of cancer and dozens of respiratory diseases. And more health conditions will likely be added to the list of covered conditions in the coming years.

Registering with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund costs nothing, and we are here to help you with the application process, which involves proving you were in the Ground Zero exposure zone.

That proof, in the form of an employment verification letter from your employer, or a school transcript, and/or affidavits from colleagues who were working with you, allows you to have the peace of mind knowing that if you get sick at any time in the future, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund will be there for you.  Please review the affidavits with an attorney to confirm that they will be acceptable to the VCF and the Health Program.

Let’s be frank:  In 30 years, God forbid you are diagnosed with or die from cancer, your witnesses may not be available to sign an affidavit on your behalf.

Protect yourself now! Give yourself, your family and friends that peace of mind today. Register with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Take care!  And, take care of each other!

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