9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Eligibility and Coverage

If You have Cancer and you were in the Exposure Zone following 9/11, You Do Not Have to Be a WTC First Responder to Receive Benefits.

The ‘Toxic Cloud’ Exposure Zone

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To be eligible for compensation for any 9/11-related health issues, you must have lived, worked, attended school, or otherwise spent some period of time in the Exposure Zone in Lower Manhattan between September 11, 2001 to July 31, 2002. Although many victims continue to live in New York, you may be covered regardless of where you currently live. It is only necessary to show some form of proof that you were in the exposure zone for a period of time in the 9 ½ months following 9/11.

This zone of contamination is bordered by Canal Street to the north, the Hudson River to the west, and Clinton Street and the East River to the east.

Civic and Emergency Workers

9/11 Victim Compensation Fund eligibility also includes first responders, cleanup crews, public safety workers, medical personnel and volunteers, as well as workers who were involved in the cleaning and repair of vehicles and equipment used by 9/11 responders.

Additionally, workers may be covered if they took part in the transportation and processing of debris from the World Trade Center, including at Staten Island’s Fresh Kills landfill. NYC Morgue employees are also eligible.

Significant Compensation Amounts for Cancer Patients

9/11 Victim Compensation Fund eligibility applies to people whose cancer or other disease has been diagnosed, and has been found to be related to 9/11 events by The World Trade Center Health Program. Although the most common health impact has been with respiratory and digestive disorders, the largest payouts have been given to cancer sufferers to cover the high cost of treatment and related expenses.

See a list of eligible types of cancer and other illnesses here. Additional illnesses and ailments may be added to this list in the future. Compensation may also be provided to families of those whose death is linked to toxic exposure during or after 9/11.

What does the 9/11 VCF cover? Click to learn more


Expert Legal Help
at (877) 505-0090

Call to get the answers you need. Noah Kushlefsky and the VCF team at Kreindler & Kreindler are specialists in helping victims determine their eligibility and acquire a qualified diagnosis if necessary.

They then act on behalf of the victim in completing the 9/11 VCF registration process, preparing the required checklist of documentation, filing a claim for financial compensation, and following up on the claim as well as any issues that may arise.