There are two deadlines in the claim filing process – the first is the Registration Deadline and the second is the Claim Filing Deadline.  Registration is not the same as filing a claim and the deadline varies according to claim type and individual circumstances.  To understand what is applicable to your situation, please see detailed information about the VCF’s Registration Deadlines.

The Claim Filing Deadline is the same for everyone:  October 1, 2090.

Yes, if you participate in a lawsuit under JASTA, you can still file a VCF claim.  See Section 405(c)(3)(C)(i), Zadroga Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. § 40101 note).  Any compensation awarded by the court in the lawsuit or obtained in a settlement of litigation will be treated as an offset and deducted from your VCF award. 

Yes, however, the VCF is required by law to offset any benefit paid by other collateral sources relating to the 9/11 attacks. As a result, USVSST Fund payments made to victims who are also eligible for compensation from the VCF, will be subject to offset by the VCF. To be clear, the VCF is required to offset USVSST Fund payments made on account of 9/11-related injuries to the same victim.

For more information, refer to Section 3.9 of the VCF’s Policies and Procedures.

You should provide one of the following documents based on your circumstances:

When a claimant who has filed a personal injury claim dies, the VCF will stop processing the claim and/or payment of that claim until a Personal Representative of the deceased claimant (“decedent”) is appointed and validated by the VCF.  This protects the decedent’s personal information and ensures details about the claim are shared only with those who are authorized to access the information. 

There are many different types of documents that can be used to demonstrate presence at a 9/11 crash site, in the New York City Exposure Zone, or along the routes of debris removal.  Full details of the most common types of documents are outlined in Section 1.6 of our Policies and Procedures and the Claim Form Document Checklist (Personal Injury or Deceased Claim).

No, you do not need an attorney to file a VCF claim, and there is no priority given to claims submitted by an attorney over those without an attorney.  We evaluate all claims following the same guidelines and calculate all awards using the same methodology, regardless of whether an attorney is assisting with the claim.

To add, change, or remove the attorney on your claim, follow the instructions on the Change of Attorney Form and upload the completed and signed form to your claim.  Once the VCF receives the completed form and any required documents, we will make the appropriate updates to your claim, including who receives correspondence and who is able to access the claim online.

Yes. In cases involving terminal illness or significant financial hardship, you can request that the VCF expedite the processing of your claim. The VCF considers “significant financial hardship” to include an imminent or pending foreclosure or eviction proceeding, utility cut off, or other similar circumstances, as demonstrated by appropriate documentation.

As a general rule, claims are reviewed in “first in, first out” order based on the date the compensation claim was submitted. For claims submitted after August 1, 2016, this is the date the Claim Form was submitted. This means the VCF prioritizes claims that have been waiting longer before beginning review of newer submissions.