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VCF FAQ

1.3 是否有任何情况可以加快对我的索赔的审核?

December 9, 2022

有。在涉及绝症或重大经济困难的情况下,您可以要求VCF加快处理您的索赔。VCF认为“重大财务困难”包括迫在眉睫或待决的法拍或驱逐程序,或无家可归,如适当的文件所示。如果您想根据绝症诊断或经济困难寻求快速处理您的索赔,您或者您的律师(若您有律师协助您向我们的VCF索赔)必须拨打VCF的求助热线1-855-885-1555,并将任何适当的文件上传到您的索赔上。您还必须提交完整的《索赔表》和所有必需的证明文件,以便VCF拥有处理您的索赔所需的信息。如果您由律师代理您的VCF索赔,您应该寻求律师的帮助。VCF将审核该请求,并通常在48小时内通知您VCF是否接受或拒绝该请求。在批准加急处理的索赔中,假设您已提交所有必需文件,VCF通常在短到3-4周内可以处理索赔,作出裁决,并处理付款。在这些情况下,一旦发出裁决书,就会立即发出索赔付款,而您保留在三十天申诉期内上诉的权利。

VCF FAQ

1.3 ¿Habrán algunas circunstancias en el que se pueda acelerar la revisión de mi reclamo?

December 9, 2022

Sí. En los casos que envuelvan enfermedades terminales o dificultad financiera significativa, usted puede pedir al VCF que acelere el procesamiento de su reclamo. El VCF considera “dificultad financiera significativa” una eminente o pendiente orden de desahucio o ejecución de hipoteca, o falta de vivienda, siempre y cuando sea demostrada con la documentación apropiada. Si usted desea acelerar su reclamo a base de una enfermedad terminal o dificultad financiera usted debe comunicarse con la línea de ayuda del VCF al 1-855-885-1555 y someter los documentos adecuados a su reclamo.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master on the 21st Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks

September 9, 2022
Dear Friends, The anniversary of the September 11th attacks is always a time for reflection.  For me personally, this is the first anniversary since being appointed earlier this year as the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund’s (“VCF”) interim Special Master.  Despite my relatively short time in this role, I have been touched by the stories in each claim I have reviewed, and deeply impressed by the perseverance, resilience, and humility of the community our team serves.  Today, we continue to pay tribute to the lives lost and the community that came together during the recovery efforts in response to one of our country’s hardest challenges.
Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Incoming Special Master - August Flentje named Special Master for an interim period

April 29, 2022

It is an honor to step into the role of Special Master on an interim basis while the process to identify Rupa Bhattacharyya’s permanent successor is identified.  I have been a career civil service attorney with the Department of Justice since 1998, and have managed several Civil Division components for temporary periods, including the branch that has responsibility over the operations of the VCF.  In that capacity, I’ve worked with Rupa to help address issues that arise in the management of the VCF and am familiar with its functions and operation.  I look forward to working with the VCF aga

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master – Rupa Bhattacharyya Farewell

April 29, 2022

Dear Friends,

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master – Kimberly (Kim) C. Brown Joins the VCF as the Director of Operations

February 24, 2022

Kimberly (Kim) C. Brown has joined the VCF as the Director of Operations. In this new position, Kim will focus on overseeing the VCF’s day-to-day operations in areas such as the Helpline and the processing of hard copy mail, identifying opportunities for innovation as the VCF continues to move into its long-term status stemming from the passage of the VCF Permanent Authorization Act.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from the Special Master - Tenth Annual Status Report

February 9, 2022

The VCF successfully navigated another highly productive year in 2021, in a year that saw not one but two significant anniversaries: the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Zadroga Act, which created in the VCF, in January, and then the solemn reminder months later that twenty years have passed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

October 17, 2014

Fiscal Year 2014 was a very productive year at the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. In our first two years, we were focused on everything required to start a significant new program, including hiring staff, developing claim forms and ways to process those forms, and reaching out to prospective claimants to file their claims. This year, we were focused on processing and paying claims, and we have seen positive results.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

September 9, 2014

Every year on September 11th we reflect on the lives that were forever changed by that terrible day. At the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, we are working harder than ever to assist the survivors who have been injured as a result of 9/11. We have made great strides in the past year, resulting in 7,885 claimants being found eligible to receive compensation and issuing 1,843 compensation decisions totaling $493,768,674. But this somber anniversary is, for the Fund, not a moment to pause, but rather a reminder that we must increase our efforts and build on our recent progress.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

July 3, 2014

Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) issued updated program statistics. This report shows the progress we have made over the past few months. As of June 30, 2014, the VCF has issued 7,075 eligibility decisions and 1,145 compensation decisions. For the second quarter in a row, the number of issued compensation decisions has increased by more than 100% over the previous quarter.

Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

April 10, 2014
Updated VCF Program Statistics and Nell McCarthy joins VCF Leadership Team.
Messages from the Special Master

A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum - First VCF Appeal Hearings Convened

February 10, 2014

I am pleased to announce that the first VCF appeal hearings were held on January 29, 2014 at the VCF office in New York City.

All claimants have the opportunity to appeal the VCF decision if their claim is denied as ineligible due to such circumstances as missing proof of presence, or if a particular injury or illness is denied as ineligible. A claimant also has the opportunity to appeal a compensation calculation.

Messages from the Special Master

SEPTEMBER 11th VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND BEGINS ACCEPTING CLAIMS

October 31, 2011
DOJ Press Release - Claimants May Now Fill Out Eligibility Form on Fund's Website
Messages from the Special Master

A message from Sheila Birnbaum announcing the release of the Eligibility Claim Form

October 31, 2011

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to announce that the VCF is now accepting claims applications on its website, www.VCF.gov. Users who have registered for the Fund can fill-out an online Eligibility Form that will be used to determine whether you are eligible for compensation through the VCF. If you are found eligible, you will be invited to complete the Compensation Form, which will be used to determine the amount of compensation you are owed.

Messages from the Special Master

Special Master Sheila L. Birnbaum Announces Opening of September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

October 3, 2011
DOJ Press Release - Fund Will Continue to Open in Phases throughout October