By: Hellen Zaboulani
The deadline is approaching for some 9/11 survivors to apply for the federal Victims Compensation Fund.
As reported by the NY Post, most civilian survivors of 9/11 have not yet registered for the federal compensation program, which will close to some for entry this July 29. The deadline will close the window to sign up for payouts, for survivors who were certified by the World Trade Center Health Program before July 29, 2019, as having a Ground Zero-related illness. It also affects families of injured persons, certified before that date, who have since passed away.
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack, advocates have launched a campaign to get as many eligible people as possible to sign up from the certified injured and families of deceased persons who were certified by July 2019, as having Ground-zero related injuries.
This year’s deadline of July 29 does not affect those who were or will be certified by the WTC Health Program after the 2019 date. In fact, the 2019 VCF Permanent Authorization Act, also named the James Zadroga Act, allows anyone affected by 9/11 to continue to register through Oct. 1, 2090. That law was permanently extended, following stirring testimony from retired NYPD Detective Luis Alvarez who battled cancer and who died only a few weeks after addressing Congress.
All in all, roughly 80 percent, or about 400,000, of the affected half-million people impacted were civilians and not first responders at 9/11. However, only 7.5 percent of those civilians are registered with the WTC Health Program, in contrast to 80 percent of first responders such as firefighters and police officers, as per the Barasch & McGarry law firm, which represents many 9/11 health registrants. “It is absolutely clear that many civilian workers did not know that they are eligible to receive benefits from the World Trade Center Health Program or the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund”, said lawyer Michael Barasch. “I implore everyone to be your neighbors’ advocate and help guide them to obtain the protections and benefits to which they are entitled.’’
A retiree advocate group is among those trying to get more civilians registered for the federal aid “A lot of the folks employed by Wall Street are now retired,’’ said Ed Stone, executive director of Retirees for Justice. “It’s hard to reach them. The employers don’t have an incentive to reach out to them”. He added, “It’s a shame because retirees could get an illness related to Sept. 11. … The illnesses have a long latency period.”
