History of the Victim Compensation Fund
September 11, 2023 in 9/11, Mass Disasters, Personal Injury, VCF
After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States was forever changed. Beginning on September 22, 2001, the first 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was created by an act of Congress to provide compensation for victims who sustained injuries or died as a result of the terrorist attacks. The original Victim Compensation Fund was later closed in December 2003 but has been reopened.
Below, the experienced attorneys at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. describe the history of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
The Original Victim Compensation Fund
Just days after the terrorist attacks, Congress enacted the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act. The Act compensated the airline industry for the financial loss it experienced after the attacks. In a statement to the law, the Act also permitted responders and survivors to fight for compensation for injuries sustained from the attacks. If an individual filed a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund, they relinquished their right to sue the airlines. The Original Victim Compensation Fund later closed in December 2003.
The Second Phase
After its closing, the Victim Compensation Fund was later reopened in 2011 when President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law. It provided financial compensation for individuals who developed 9/11-related illnesses after the attacks between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002. This allowed anyone who lived, worked, or attended school in the region south of Canal Street to fight for compensation for covered 9/11-related illnesses. The Act also established the World Trade Center health program, which was designed to provide monitoring and treatment for responders and survivors with covered 9/11-related health conditions.
When it was first reopened, the Victim Compensation Fund allowed new claims to be filed through October 3, 2016; however, in December 2015, it was reauthorized to extend five additional years. The reauthorization also included several changes to the VCF’s policies, including prioritizing claims for victims suffering the most severe conditions.
The number of claims submitted rapidly increased, which caused the Special Master to determine that the remaining funding was inadequate to cover all pending project claims under the current policies and procedures. The Special Master then announced modifications to the VCF’s policies and reduced compensation awards.
Today’s Permanent Victim Compensation Fund
The funding issue for the VCF was later fixed with the passing of the VCF Permanent Authorization Act. In July 2019, President Trump signed The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which is better known as the VCF Permanent Authorization Act.
This Act requires the VCF to provide additional payment to any individual who received reduced compensation following the changes the Special Master established and also extended the claim deadline until October 1, 2090. The act certifies that the VCF will have proper funding in the future years. With the VCF Permanent Authorization Act, individuals who suffer any of the following 9/11-related health conditions may be entitled to compensation:
- Acute traumatic injuries like burns and fractures
- Aerodigestive disorders like sleep apnea and asthma
- 75 different types of cancer, including female breast cancer and skin cancer
- Certain musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome
Contact the NYC Victim Compensation Fund Attorneys at SPBMCC Today
Sullivan Papain has worked with the VCF since its inception. We have dealt with over 2,000 related claims since 2002. Our team has a stellar reputation and has successfully secured the highest Victim Compensation Fund award to date. The attorneys at SPBMCC specialize in World Trade Center health-related law and have extensive expertise in medical malpractice, general negligence, motor vehicle accidents, and mass tort cases. If you have any questions about potential VCF claims or the VCF process, don’t hesitate to contact us at (212) 732-9000 and speak with one of our experienced lawyers. For more information about SPBMCC’s VCF claim process, click here.
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