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News

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

July 20, 2015

I am proud to announce that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has made loss determinations of more than $1.3 billion. As of June 30, 2015, the VCF has approved 11,770 eligibility claims and made 5,636 loss decisions, totaling $1,310,149,991. First responders account for 91 percent of the total loss amount. Individuals with cancer diagnoses account for 18 percent of the awards. This information and additional updated program statistics are available.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

April 8, 2015

I am proud to announce that the VCF has made loss determinations of more than $1 billion. As of March 31, 2015, the VCF has approved 10,549 eligibility claims and rendered 4,415 loss decisions, totaling $1,058,398,144. First responders account for 92 percent of the total loss amount. Individuals with cancer diagnoses account for 27 percent of the awards. This information and additional updated program statistics are available.

Messages from the Special Master

Special Notice Regarding Denied Claims

February 9, 2015

The VCF will deny eligibility claims when claimants do not respond to multiple requests for missing information. Many eligibility claims are submitted without required supporting documents. The VCF makes multiple attempts to work with the claimant and/or the attorney to obtain the necessary supporting documentation so that the VCF can determine eligibility. If the claimant does not respond to this outreach (after a minimum of two requests) the VCF will deny the eligibility claim.

Messages from the Special Master

Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

January 15, 2015

Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) issued updated program statistics. As of Jan. 2, 2015, the VCF has found 9,677 claimants eligible for compensation and has made 3,128 compensation determinations (approximately 67 percent of the compensation claims that have been submitted with appropriate supporting documentation). The total value of those compensation determinations is $804,116,233.

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

A message from Special Master, Sheila Birnbaum, on the special notice announcing updated claim forms available for cancer claimants

December 13, 2012

Dear Claimants,

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund has updated the Personal Injury and Deceased Individual claim forms to include the types of cancer that NIOSH has added to the list of WTC-Related Health Conditions. The updated forms are now available online through the Claims Management System.

You will find the eligible types of cancer listed in Part III of the claim form. Please see FAQ 3.21 for details on how to add cancer to your existing claim.

Messages from the Special Master

A message from Special Master, Sheila Birnbaum, on the special notice announcing certain types of cancer added to the list of WTC-Related Health Conditions

October 15, 2012

Dear Claimants,

The final rule adding certain types of cancer to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions took effect on Friday, October 12, 2012.

Messages from the Special Master

Un mensaje de Sheila Birnbaum, Magistrada Especial, sobre el aviso especial que anuncia que se han agregado ciertos tipos de cáncer a la Lista de Afecciones de Salud relacionadas con el World Trade Center

October 15, 2012

Estimados Reclamantes: 
 
La norma definitiva que agrega ciertos tipos de cáncer a la Lista de Afecciones de Salud relacionadas con el World Trade Center entró en vigencia el viernes 12 de octubre de 2012. 
 

Messages from the Special Master

Wiadomość od Special Master, Sheila Birnbaum, dotycząca powiadomienia o określonych typach chorób nowotworowych, które zostały dodane do „List of WTC-Related Health Conditions” („Listy chorób związanych z wydarzeniami w WTC”).

October 15, 2012

Szanowni Państwo, 
 
Ostatecznie przepis, na podstawie którego dodano określone typy chorób nowotworowych do Listy chorób związanych z wydarzeniami w WTC wszedł w życie 12 października 2012 r.  
 

Messages from the Special Master

来自专案助理,Sheila Birnbaum的讯息- 关于宣布把某些类型的癌症纳入到与世贸中心(WTC)相关的健康状况清单的特别通知

October 15, 2012

尊敬的索赔人, 
 
关于把某些类型癌症纳入到与WTC相关健康状况清单的最终规定于2012年10月12日起生效。 
 
根据VCF的要求,如果您在2012年10月12日或之前,知道(或理应知道),身患被涵盖的癌症,您必须在2014年 10月12日之前提交您的索赔,以便让VCF进行审议。如果您在2012年10月12日后才知道患有被涵盖的癌症 ,那么,您必须在知道(或理应知道)患有被涵盖癌症之日起,两年之内,提交索赔,以便让VCF进行审议。例 如,如果您在2012年5月1日知道您患有被涵盖的癌症,您将必须在2014年10月12日前提交您的索赔。但是,如 果您在2013年1月1日知道您 患有被涵盖癌症,您将必须在2015年1月1日前提交您的索赔。 
 
已被确诊患有被涵盖癌症的个人,如果该癌症根据世界贸易中心(WTC)健康计划所制定的标准,被确定为因9/1 1袭击事件造成,同时,满足VCF的其他资格条件,就会符合资格,获VCF赔偿。有关VCF资格要求和纳入与WT C相关健康状况清单癌症类型的更多资料,请看VCF常见问题解答。 
 
此致, 
 
Sheila 

Messages from the Special Master

Statement on the final rule by the National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health to include certain cancers into the World Trade Center Health Program.

September 10, 2012

Sheila Birnbaum, Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), released the following statement on the final rule by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to include certain cancers into the World Trade Center Health Program:

Messages from the Special Master

Declaración Sobre la Decisión Final del NIOSH (Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Ocupacional y Salud) Para Incluir Ciertos Tipos de Cáncer en el Programa de Salud del World Trade Center

September 10, 2012

Sheila Birnbaum, Magistrada Especial del September 11th Victim Compensation Fund [Fondo de Compensación para las Víctimas del 11 de septiembre (VCF)], dio a conocer la siguiente declaración sobre la decisión final del Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Ocupacional y Salud (NIOSH) en la cual se incluyen ciertos tipos de cánceres en el Programa de Salud del World Trade Center: