Officials overseeing the fund set up to settle victims' claims from the Sept. 11 attacks will make their final decisions Tuesday for awarding money to those injured or killed. The program created by Congress had authorized $5.9 billion in payments as of Monday afternoon, with payments ranging from $500 to $8.6 million.
How much did 9/11 victims' families get from the settlement?
The families that opted out of the fund and eventually settled may have received on average of under $5 million, using figures from the report of Sheila Birnbaum, the 9/11 mediator. The information, however, is confidential.
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 much did 9/11 victims get paid tax free?
In addition, 2,300 physically injured 9/11 victims or those who suffered from respiratory problems cleaning up the World Trade Center were each awarded $400,000 tax-free, on average, Feinberg said.
Are you eligible for 9/11 Victim Compensation?
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or an illness connected to your exposure to the toxic air on 9/11, you may be eligible for compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Contact us for a free evaluation and award estimate.
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 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 much money was paid to the victims of 9/11?
12, 2011 — -- Ten years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, deceased victims' families and the injured have been compensated over $7 billion.
How much did the 9/11 victims receive?
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, created by Congress, distributed $7 billion to survivors and victims' families. There have been 2,983 families of those who died and received an average of just over $2 million tax-free per claim, according to Kenneth Feinberg, former pro bono administrator of the fund.
When did Feinberg start distributing compensation?
Feinberg started distributing compensation 11 days after the program was established and began cutting checks in April 2002, until the fund expired by statute in June 2004. Feinberg said 94 families who lost a loved one on September 11 opted not to participate in the fund and decided voluntarily to litigate in Manhattan.
What airline said this was a tragic event?
United Airlines said in a statement that "this was a tragic event and we are actively working to resolve this case."
How much money did the families get from the 9/11 fund?
The families that opted out of the fund and eventually settled may have received on average of under $5 million, using figures from the report of Sheila Birnbaum, the 9/11 mediator. The information, however, is confidential.
How long after 9/11 did Mark Bavis' family get justice?
Nearly 10 years after 9/11, Mark Bavis' family still wants justice. A numerical breakdown of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. Sept. 12, 2011 — -- Ten years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, deceased victims' families and the injured have been compensated over $7 billion.
Did the Bavis lawsuit get dropped?
Other companies and cities that the Bavis initially sued have been dropped from the suit over time . The New York district court dismissed Massport, for example, which oversees Boston Logan airport, focusing on the checkpoint process, Migliori said.
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 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.
How are VCF Awards Calculated?
The 9/11 victim compensation fund formula is generally as follows: Non-economic losses + economic losses – collateral offsets = award amount.
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.
Wrongful Death Awards
Death due to 9/11-certified illness. Award includes compensation for income lost over a normal lifespan.
Get A Free Award Estimate
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer or an illness connected to your exposure to the toxic air on 9/11, you may be eligible for compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Contact us for a free evaluation and award estimate.
Disabling Cancer Awards
Compensation for 9/11-related cancers including income lost due to disability.
VCF Deadline Alert
Deadlines to register VCF claims are approaching. Act quickly to ensure you and your family receive the compensation and benefits you deserve.
Non-Disabling Cancer Awards
The following are some of the hundreds of noneconomic loss awards that the VCF has issued to our clients with non-disabling cancers and other WTC-related illnesses.
Disabling Non-Cancer Awards
Compensation for 9/11-related illnesses (other than cancer) including income lost due to disability.
Non-Disabling, Non-Cancer Awards
The following are some of the hundreds of noneconomic loss awards that the VCF has issued to our clients with non-disabling cancers and other WTC-related illnesses.
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.
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.
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.
How many cancers are on the WTC list?
September 12, 2012 - The final rule adding 58 types of cancer to “the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions” is published in the Federal Register.
When did the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund expire?
The fund paid out more than $7 billion to approximately 2,700 individuals who had been injured as well as to 2,800 families who lost a loved one. The program was renewed in 2006, and after multiple renewals was set to expire in December 2020. However, due to various circumstances – notably the long latency period of many 9/11-related diseases – there was a spike in the number of claims, which threatened to bankrupt the fund.
Who voted to fund the 9/11 victims compensation fund?
Giving in to public pressure and outrage, and due largely to the efforts of former comedian-turned-activist Jon Stewart, who fought for the fund to be extended alongside many first responders, Congress finally voted to fund the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund through 2090.
How Many World Trade Center Victims Are There?
It is virtually impossible to know the exact number, but estimates indicate that at least 80,000 first responders (firefighters, police officers, EMTs, contractors, and clean-up crews) came to the aid of victims following the events of that day. As many as 400,000 more were exposed to a toxic brew of asbestos, heavy metals, jet fuel, pulverized concrete, and other disease-causing substances. At the end of 2018, estimates indicated that more people will have died from toxin-related illnesses than were killed on 9/11 itself.
How Much Am I Eligible For?
There are two different types of compensation available. Compensation for non-economic loss (illness, pain, and suffering) can be as much as $340,000, depending on the illness, whether or not it is chronic and the extent to which it has affected quality of life. You may not be eligible if you have already been compensated in a prior claim or injury lawsuit.
Why are 9/11 survivors more susceptible to severe illness?
Because many survivors of the WTC terrorist attack suffer from respiratory illnesses, they are more susceptible to severe illness if they contract COVID-19. In September, the Victim Compensation Fund announced a new directive that said families of people who have 9/11-related diseases, but succumb to COVID-19, will continue to receive benefits from the fund.
How long will the Victim Compensation Fund last?
Although the Victim Compensation Fund was in danger of running out of money by the end of 2020, in mid-2019 Congress was finally persuaded to act and voted to extend the program for 70 years – ensuring that survivors and their families can get compensation and medical treatment for the remainder of their lives, according to the BBC.
How many people died from 9/11 in 2020?
As of September 2020, more than 1,400 survivors of 9/11 had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, WNEP reported. At that time, the World Trade Center Health program said 44 had died.
Overview
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was created by an Act of Congress, the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (49 USC 40101), shortly after 9/11 to compensate the victims of the attack (or their families) in exchange for their agreement not to sue the airline corporations involved. Kenneth Feinberg was appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft to be special master of the fund. He developed the regulations governing the administrat…
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. Families unhappy with the offer were able to appeal in a nonadversarial, informal hearing to present their case however they wanted. Feinberg personally presided over more than 900 of the 1,600 hearings. At the end of the proces…
The eight-part Feinberg plan
In his book titled What is Life Worth?, Feinberg described the eight-part plan which was applied to approaching the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (see Publications section below).
(i) Identify someone with sufficient and exceptionally broad experience in mass tort action mediation, litigation, and settlement, which Feinberg possessed through his previous personal experience as a political activist and his work in the Agent Orange compensation settlement.
Additional compensation
Despite the disputed claim of the 9/11 Commission Report that the Saudi Arabian government was not 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.
In February 2022, the Joe Biden administration allowed a $3.5 billion fund from the government of Afghanistan to be used by the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
In popular culture
• Worth (2020 film)
See also
• Financial assistance following the September 11 attacks
Publications
• Feinberg, Kenneth (June 2012). Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 9781586489779.
• Feinberg, Kenneth. What is Life Worth?: The Unprecedented Effort to Compensate the Victims of 9/11 (2005), Perseus Books Group. ISBN 9781586484514
External links
• Original fund website (archived)
• Current fund website