Full Answer
What is the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund?
June 15, 2004 - The September 11th Victims Compensation Fund finishes its work processing death and injury claims from families and relatives of 9/11 victims. Families of those killed had until December 22, 2003, to apply for compensation.
How long does it take for a settlement check to clear?
Checks typically clear in a few business days, so your settlement check shouldn’t sit in escrow for more than a week. If it’s taking longer, contact your attorney to see what’s going on. How Long Does It Take to Get Lawsuit Money?
How long does it take to process an expedited claim?
In claims that are approved for expedited processing, assuming all required documents have been submitted, the VCF can often process the claim, issue the award, and process the payment in as little as 3-4 weeks.
How long does the VCF take to decide a claim?
The VCF continues to shorten the timeframe needed to decide a claim and is working towards issuing determinations within one year of submission of the claim form or amendment (assuming all information needed to process the claim has been submitted). The Claim Review Timeline graphic below reflects the most current status of claims in review.
How much did the 9/11 victims get compensated?
$7 billionAt the end of the process $7 billion was awarded to 97% of the families. A non-negotiable clause in the acceptance papers for the settlements was that the families were to never file suit against the airlines for any lack of security or otherwise unsafe procedures.
How long does it take to get paid from VCF?
Once the VCF begins processing the payment, it may take up to 20 days for the Special Master to authorize the payment. The payment then gets processed by the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department, which may take up to 3 weeks.
Is the VCF award taxable?
Tax information: VCF awards are not subject to federal income tax.
How much money is in the VCF?
There is a cap on certain types of non-economic awards According to VCF.gov, the maximum noneconomic award for any single type of cancer is $250,000, except skin cancer, which is in the range of $90,000. The maximum noneconomic award for any one type of noncancerous condition is $90,000.
How do I check my VCF claim status?
How do I check the status of my claim? If you have questions at any time about the status of your claim, you can call the VCF toll-free Helpline at 1-855-885-1555 or log onto the online system and check your claim status.
How does the VCF calculate economic loss?
To calculate economic loss, the VCF must first determine whether there is in fact a compensable loss. There are three types of economic loss: loss of earnings/benefits, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and replacement services loss.
What is the meaning of VCF file?
A VCF file is a standard file format for storing contact information for one or more persons or a business. It typically includes a name, address, phone number, email address, and other contact information. VCF files also support custom fields, images, and other types of media.
How long does it take to get a compensation claim?
An expedited claim can be processed and paid in as little as three to four weeks.
How long does it take for a VCF to process an expedited claim?
Upon receiving a request for an expedited claim, the VCF will review the request and send notification as to whether the request is granted or denied, typically within 48 hours.
How much VCF compensation is available?
The VCF calculation of loss includes two different “types” of losses: economic and non-economic. Economic compensation includes loss of income and tangible losses, such as certain medical expenses, funeral costs, or household services that were previously performed by the victim. Determining compensation for loss of income depends on the wages or salary of the victim prior to his or her illness, condition, or death, as well as the age of the victim.
Who is Eligible for the 9/11 Compensation Fund?
According to vcf.gov, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was created to compensate victims who were present in the Exposure Zone from September 11, 2001 to May 30, 2002.
How long does the VCF claims process take?
Effective May 31, 2021, the VCF’s claim process was streamlined to “shorten the timeframe” between the date of claim submission and the award (the financial compensation). Claims are generally reviewed and paid on a “first in-first out” basis. Currently, the schedule is:
How many people were affected by 9/11?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 400,000 workers, residents, building occupants, and passersby were exposed to the toxic dust cloud created by the attacks. As of June 2020, 54,000 claims have been filed with the 9/11 Compensation fund and $6.69 billion has been awarded in compensation.
How long does it take for a VCF to be paid?
Once payment is authorized, it may take up to three weeks for the U.S. Treasury to disburse the money into the bank account designated on the payment authorization document submitted by the claimant to the VCF.
Why did the 9/11 fund exist?
The fund was created to protect the airlines and U.S. entities from possibly crippling litigation, while compensating those killed or injured in the attacks.
How long does it take to get a death check?
Once the deadline passes, officials expect it will take about eight to 10 weeks to get all of the checks mailed out. The average death payment is just above $2 million, while the largest death payment to date has been $7.1 million.
How many death claims were there at the World Trade Center?
Fund administrators have determined awards for 2,454 out of 2,963 death claims, and 2,449 injury claims out of about 4,400. The vast majority of injury claims are for lung-related ailments from those who worked in rescue and recovery operations at the World Trade Center site.
How long did the 9/11 fund last?
This fund was scheduled to run for five years but was extended n 2015 for another five years .
What happened on September 11th?
The September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States that took place at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, along with the events leading up to the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site were devastating. To further add to the September 11th tragedy, in the years following the attack, thousands of people became ill due to exposures of the various toxins present in Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street, the Staten Island Landfill, or certain piers associated with barge loading and debris removal in New York City. There are also additional locations of exposure for which compensation can be awarded. The attorneys at Gregory Cannata & Associates can review the particulars of your situation.Many of these individuals are eligible to receive compensation from the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), but they aren't sure if they qualify or how much compensation they will be eligible to receive. Unfortunately, the answer is not simple. Every VCF claimant’s recovery will be different based on the extent of their losses.
What are Qualifying Conditions to be Eligible for a VCF Claim?
Realistically speaking, there are hundreds of illnesses and injuries the 9/11 VCF fund considers as qualified conditions. In general, the following types of illnesses and injuries will qualify a person to be considered for compensation.
Did 9/11 victims have to be present to receive compensation?
Claimants did not have to be present at the World Trade Center on 9/11 to qualify for compensation.Since 9/11, there have been several versions of the VCF. The original VCF fund for victims operated through 2004. In 2010, Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (known as the “Zadroga Act, ...
Can you receive compensation from Victim Compensation Fund?
There are also additional locations of exposure for which compensation can be awarded. The attorneys at Gregory Cannata & Associates can review the particulars of your situation. Many of these individuals are eligible to receive compensation from the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), but they aren't sure if they qualify or how much compensation they will be eligible to receive. Unfortunately, the answer is not simple. Every VCF claimant’s recovery will be different based on the extent of their losses. Contact us today to learn if you may be eligible for compensation.
How much money did the 9/11 victims get?
November 8, 2004 - A report by the Rand Institute for Civil Justice finds that victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks received an average of $3.1 million per person, totaling $8.7 billion.
How much did the 9/11 Act cover?
The act expands health coverage and compensation to first responders and individuals who have developed 9/11-related health problems, setting aside $2.775 billion to compensate claimants for lost wages and other damages related to the illnesses.
What is the WTC covered in?
Part of the World Trade Center's original foundation, left, and the last column removed from the WTC site, center, are covered in a protective wrap during construction of the museum.
When did the VCF report come out?
February 15, 2019 - Bhattacharyya releases the seventh annual status report indicating that the VCF has insufficient funds to pay all current and projected claims. July 29, 2019 - President Donald Trump signs an act into law which authorizes the extension of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
When did Obama sign the 9/11 bill?
January 2, 2011 - President Barack Obama signs the First Responders Bill, also known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, reactivating the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund that ran from 2001-2003.
Who is the Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund?
May 18, 2011 - Attorney General Eric Holder names Sheila L. Birnbaum as Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. She administers the fund created by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
How many countries will the VCF receive in 2021?
As of August 2021, the VCF has received claims from individuals in every US state, as well as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and 31 foreign countries.
Who was responsible for making the decisions on how much each family of a victim would receive?
In the United States. Feinberg was responsible for making the decisions on how much each family of a victim would receive. Feinberg had to estimate how much each victim would have earned in a full lifetime. If a family accepted the offer, it was not possible to appeal.
Did the Saudis sue the Saudis for 9/11?
In spite of the finding of the 9/11 Commission Report that the Saudi Arabian government wasn't involved in the attacks, some 9/11 families sued the Saudi Arabian government in 2016 seeking additional restitution. The lawsuit accuses the Saudis of wrongful death .
How long has it been since 9/11?
This September will mark 17 years since the 9/11 attacks. Since that time, thousands of Lower Manhattan residents, office workers, and rescue and recovery personnel present at Ground Zero after 9/11 have developed cancer, lung disease, and a host of other medical conditions.
What is the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund?
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or VCF provides Victims with financial compensation for their losses, both economic and non-economic. It also compensates relatives of Victims who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
What is a victim in the 9/11 attacks?
A “Victim” is defined by the VCF and WTC Health Programs as anyone who was present, at any time between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002, at the site of the attacks that sustained injury or later developed an illness as a direct result of exposure to the toxins emitted at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, or Shanksville crash sites.
What happens if you submit a VCF claim?
Submitting a VCF claim requires completion of the claim form application, as well as the submission of numerous supporting documents and records. If the application is completed incorrectly, or any of the required supporting documentation is missing, the claim will be marked as Inactive and review will not continue until the missing information is provided.
How many years did firefighters lose at Ground Zero?
Another study done in 2006 by Mount Sinai Hospital found that as many as 70 percent of first responders at Ground Zero suffer from chronic lung ailments.4 It is estimated that firefighters who inhaled the air at Ground Zero lost approximately 12 years of lung function.
How much impairment in lung function is there in rescue workers?
This study involved 5,000 rescue workers and found that all had an average of 10 percent impairment in their lung function, with little to no improvement over 6 years.2
What is a WTC certification?
The WTC Health Program certification process simply means that a doctor has officially diagnosed you with a covered condition or cancer, and that you were present in Lower Manhattan after 9/11.
Why does the VCF take so long to process a claim?
Because claims for reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses require the submission and review of significant documentation establishing that the claimed medical expense was related to your eligible condition and that you personally paid for the expense out of pocket, processing these claims takes time and can delay your award. As a result, the VCF has established specific criteria about when and how you should submit your claim for medical expenses.
What is the first step in a VCF claim?
Once you file your claim, the first step the VCF takes is to do a preliminary review to confirm that all of the “minimally required” documents have been submitted. In addition to a complete Claim Form, we require the following documents before your claim can move forward for a more substantive review:
How to expedite a VCF claim?
Yes. In cases involving terminal illness or significant financial hardship, you can request that the VCF expedite the processing of your claim. The VCF considers “significant financial hardship” to include an imminent or pending foreclosure or eviction proceeding, utility cut off, or other similar circumstances, as demonstrated by appropriate documentation. If you want to seek expedited processing of your claim based on a terminal diagnosis or financial hardship, you or your attorney (if you are working with one for your VCF claim) must contact the VCF Helpline at 1-855-885-1555 and upload any appropriate documentation to your claim. You also must submit a complete claim form and all required supporting documents so the VCF has the information needed to process your claim. If you are represented by an attorney for your VCF claim, you should seek your attorney’s assistance. The VCF will review the request and notify you as to whether the request is granted or denied, typically within 48 hours. In claims that are approved for expedited processing, assuming all required documents have been submitted, the VCF can often process the claim, issue the award, and process the payment in as little as 3-4 weeks. In these instances, payment on the claim is issued as soon as the award letter is sent, but you retain your right to appeal within the 30-day appeal period.
When does the VCF stop processing claims?
Effective Date: December 26, 2019. When a claimant who has filed a personal injury claim dies, the VCF will stop processing the claim and/or payment of that claim until a Personal Representative of the deceased claimant (“decedent”) is appointed and validated by the VCF.
What is the Helpline for a claim?
The Helpline can answer questions about the claims process, help you fill out the claim form, and explain the supporting documents you must submit with your claim. You can call for general information, or you can make an appointment to work with a Helpline representative to complete and submit your claim.
When will the VCF be effective?
Effective Date: September 9, 2020. The law that governs the VCF requires that, in order to be eligible for compensation, the victim must have suffered physical harm or death as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the debris removal efforts in the immediate aftermath of those attacks.
When is a claim reviewed in the VCF?
As a general rule, claims are reviewed in “first in, first out” order based on the date the compensation claim was submitted. For claims submitted after August 1, 2016, this is the date the Claim Form was submitted. This means the VCF prioritizes claims that have been waiting longer before beginning review of newer submissions.
