WHAT THE 9/11 COMMUNITY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAW

On December 18, 2015, Congress reauthorized and extended both the health program and compensation fund available to the 9/11 community. Downtown residents, office workers, students and teachers are all eligible if they were exposed on 9/11 or during parts of the 8 months that followed.

VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND (VCF)

• A total of more than $10 billion has been made available to fully compensate claimants who have pending claims, as well as future claimants diagnosed with certified WTC illnesses. Over $4 billion has been awarded to 22,000+ people.
• The VCF deadline is December 18, 2020.
• VCF claimants with pending claims, and those who have already received awards, have the right to “amend” their claims if their employment status changes as a result of their 9/11 illnesses and/or if they are diagnosed with new WTC-certified illnesses.
• All claims MUST be registered within 2 years of the date of certification by the World Trade Center Health Program.
• VCF awards range from $125,000-$340,000 for certified cancers, and more for economic loss if the claimant has been found disabled by a WTC illness.
• VCF awards range from $20,000-$90,000 for non-cancer certified illnesses.
• All VCF awards are tax free.

HEALTH CARE

• Medical care for the 9/11 community has been extended 75 years.
• The 9/11 community has the right to free health care for WTC-certified illnesses from the WTC Health Program (which has clinics throughout the country).
• Make sure you take advantage of this free exam and go to your annual WTC physical.
• A skin cancer screening is not performed at the WTC Health Program physical; therefore, you should go for a full body skin exam at least once per year. Skin cancers are the most common WTC-related cancers.

MOST COMMON CANCERS AND NON-CANCER ILLNESSES LINKED TO THE WTC TOXINS

There is a presumption that these illnesses were caused by WTC toxic exposure:

CANCERS

• Skin Cancer (Basal Cell, Squamous Cell, and Melanoma)
• Prostate Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Blood Cancers, including Multiple Myeloma, Lymphoma, and Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Rare Cancers

NON-CANCERS

• Interstitial Lung Diseases, including Pulmonary Fibrosis and Sarcoidosis
• Chronic Rhinosinusitis
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Asthma
• Sleep Apnea
• Chronic Respiratory Disorder – Fumes / Vapors
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Altogether, 68 cancers have been linked to the WTC toxins. If you have been diagnosed with a cancer that is not on the list, you may still be eligible. Our firm has been representing the 9/11 community since 2001. We will register you in the Health Program. Once certified, it almost always leads to compensation. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

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