News

Statistics as of March 31, 2024

I was very proud to step into the role of Special Master in March 2023, particularly as a native New Yorker and someone who was raised to respect and value public service. In the months since, I have been struck by many things that I hadn’t fully anticipated – chief among them the need to inform the public about the VCF and to ensure that every person who might be eligible for a VCF award is aware of the program and has the resources and support they need to register and file a claim.

This report summarizes the VCF’s 12th year of operation, and focuses on the significant changes, challenges, and achievements of 2023. With the appointment of permanent Special Master Allison Turkel in March, the VCF began a new era of leadership, continuing to focus on the needs of the 9/11 community and building the tools to support the program’s longevity. The Fund hit new milestones, awarding $12.8 billion to over 56,600 claimants since re-opening in October 2011. In addition, in 2023 the VCF decided more claims and issued more award dollars than in any previous year.

Statistics as of January 31, 2024

Dear Friends,

When Congress reauthorized the VCF in 2015, it extended the time for individuals to submit new claims – as well as amendments on existing claims – until December 18, 2020. The Reauthorization Act also directed me, as the Special Master, to periodically reassess the VCF’s policies and procedures to make sure that we prioritize claims for individuals who suffer from the most debilitating physical conditions, and that we do not exceed the $7.375 billion in funds appropriated to the VCF.

Dear Friends,

When I stepped into the role of Special Master two years ago, I was focused on our number one priority: to process and pay claims with thoughtful consideration and without unnecessary delay. Although I knew there were challenges ahead, I was eager to build on the progress the VCF team had made since the passage of the Zadroga Act in 2010 and its reauthorization in December 2015.

Dear Friends,

As a team, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) remains committed to awarding compensation as quickly and fairly as possible, and to handling each claim with the individual attention it deserves. The program statistics report we are issuing today reflects the strong and steady progress of the VCF under its current leadership team.

Dear Friends

Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF” or “Fund”) publishes its Sixth Annual Status Report and the second Annual Reassessment of Policies and Procedures required under the terms of the Reauthorized Zadroga Act, Pub. L. No. 114-113 (Dec. 18, 2015). The report details the activities, advances, and accomplishments of a very productive year at the VCF.

Effective November 3, 2016, Deborah Greenspan concluded her service as Deputy Special Master. Debby was instrumental to the success of the VCF from the time the initial program was enacted in 2001, through the reopening in 2011 and the recent reauthorization in 2015. Over the years, Debby brought her tremendous expertise and commitment to the victims of 9/11 to ensure a claims process that is transparent, equitable, and carefully considers the individual circumstances of each and every claim.

Dear Friends,

As we approach the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) has accomplished since its reopening in 2011, and to update you on our plans regarding the work that remains to do.

Dear Friends,

It has been exactly one month since I officially joined the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”). In that time, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in the workings of the VCF and begin developing plans for the future so that we can meet the goal of processing claims in a thoughtful way, but without unnecessary delay. I am pleased to report that we are well on our way to meeting the immediate goals that I set when I joined the program last month.

亲爱的朋友们： 
 
自从我开始担任 9/11 受害者赔偿基金（“VCF”）的特别监察官以来，我始终怀着深深的谦卑感。《扎德罗伽法案》于 2010 年通过并在 2015 年 12 月获得再次批准，我非常钦佩 VCF 团队在 Sheila Birnbaum 的坚定带领下所取得的显著进展。我在就任时也清楚意识到继续此项工作的紧迫性，这样才能快速、高效地处理索 赔，为遭受 2001 年 9/11 恐怖袭击的受害者提供全额赔偿。在过去五年中，Sheila 致力于设计、实施并运营一个公正透明的项目，此项目切合索赔者的需求和担忧，我在此对她展现的同情心和所作 的贡献表示感谢。我们现处于过渡阶段，我已向 VCF 员工清晰说明我们的第一要务是处理并支付索赔，与此同时需要考虑周全，并避免不必要的拖延。   我已经详细了解项目的最新进展，并将全力推进项目发展。

接下来，我非常高兴地宣布我们所取得的重大进展。首先，我们在支付 A 组索赔与评估、裁决 B 组索赔方面建立了新的里程碑。

Drodzy Przyjaciele, 
 

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