So if the first date an individual was present in the NYC Exposure Zone after 9/11 was September 14, 2001, the . We will call the individual when we need to understand an inconsistency, confirm what appears to be a minor error (such as a date shown as 2011 instead of 2001), or to verify information already contained in the Witness Presence Statement. Prostate Cancer. Prostate Cancer - National Oncology Program Office 111-347. Title II of the Zadroga Act reactivated the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF II), expanded its pool of eligible claimants, and appropriated $2.775 billion for additional payments. The WTC Health Programs general guidelines are summarized below. Prostate Cancer 9/11 VCF Payouts and Settlements The average pain and suffering VCF payout for prostate cancer claims ranges from $200,000-to-$250,000. If your physical injury or condition is certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program, the VCF will generally find the injury or condition eligible subject to confirmation that other elements of eligibility, including presence at the site, are documented. The WTC Health Registry will provide you with an authorization form that authorizes the WTC Health Registry to release this information to the VCF. These timeframes are different for each category of injuries and conditions. Oh and Mount Sinai epidemiologist Emanuela Taioli, M.D., Ph.D., recently published a study in Molecular Cancer Research showing that one of the inflammatory responses within the prostate was an increase in an inflammatory T cell, called Th-17, in men exposed to the toxic dust. Court orders, such as custody or guardian agreements, that clearly show your address at that time. You can notify us by uploading a note to your claim, or by calling our Helpline. In order to save administrative expenses so that there would be more money for awards and to have uniformity, the Victim Compensation Fund Special Master determined that the VCF would follow the World Trade Center Health Program list of covered conditions when . or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The VCF has implemented this policy in order to ensure consistency among victims in evaluating the conditions eligible for compensation, and clarity in evaluating an individual victims WTC-related exposure. This portion of a VCF award is also referred to as the pain and suffering portion of the claim. There are specific requirements for the date on which your 9/11-related lawsuit must have been filed, withdrawn, dismissed, or settled and released in order to be eligible for compensation from the VCF. The initial list of presumptively covered conditions has been modified four times since the VCF reopened on October 3, 2011 first on October 12, 2012, when certain cancers were added; a second time on October 21, 2013, when Prostate Cancer was added; a third time on February 18, 2014, when the definition of Rare Cancers was revised; a fourth time on August 4, 2016, when new-onset COPD and WTC-related acute traumatic injury were added; and a fifth time on January 18, 2023, when Uterine Cancer, including endometrial cancer, was added. Collateral sources are defined by the statute to mean all sources, including life insurance, pension funds, death benefit programs, settlement payments from September 11th-related lawsuits, and payments by federal, state, or local governments related to the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or debris removal. Why Was My VCF Claim Denied? - The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. If you were represented by Sullivan Papain Block McGrath and Cannavo (Sullivan Papain) in both your lawsuit and your VCF claim, the VCF may be able to get the necessary information from Sullivan Papain. The VCF has detailed information on VCF policies and procedures. Please contact the unions Safety & Health Department at 212-815-1685 and explain that you are interested in obtaining this information, if available. Unsettled claims withdrawn/dismissed before submitting the VCF claim form or amendment. To be covered by the Program, a condition must be . If you are enrolled and if the WTC Health Program confirms that it has certified your condition for treatment, then it will be able to provide the VCF with information about your certified condition(s). Please note that the WTC Health Program and the VCF are different programs. Respiratory cancers eligible for a VCF award include: Bronchial and lung Heart, pleura, and mediastinum Other undefined respiratory sites in the intrathoracic organs and respiratory system 9/11-related skin cancer includes those diagnosed as either melanoma or non-melanoma. Every year, another 15,000 Veterans are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Therefore, you should be sure the witness follows the directions on the form and provides as much detail as possible when completing it. It will speed the processing of your claim if Bank of America sends the letter directly to the VCF on your behalf. To be eligible for the VCF, you must have been at one of the following locations: To be eligible, individuals must have been present at one of the eligible locations at the time or in the immediate aftermath of the September 11th aircraft crashes. The person you ask to be a witness must have been 18 years old or older on September 11, 2001. If you had filed a 9/11-related lawsuit prior to submitting a VCF claim and settled any of the claims set forth in the lawsuit, there are specific dates by which you must have tendered a release of the settled claims and dismissed any remaining unsettled claims. Note for CWA Local 1101 Members: The VCF has an arrangement with CWA Local 1101 to get information directly from them for members who participated in the World Trade Center response. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of acceptable documentation. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund ("VCF") was created on September 22, 2001, by Public Law No. NOTE regarding Deceased Claims: If you are filing a deceased claim (i.e., a claim filed on behalf of an individual who is believed to have died as a result of an eligible 9/11-related condition), all claims for lost earnings or benefits must be made, and all supporting documents must be submitted, before the VCF finalizes substantive review of the compensation claim. Any location used for the repair, cleaning, or rehabilitation of vehicles or equipment contaminated by WTC-related debris. To do so, the VCF needs the WCB number associated with the individuals Workers Compensation claim. If you are not being treated by the WTC Health Program, you must seek certification for your condition(s) through the WTC Health Program. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Rental agreement, proof of rent payment, mortgage receipts, and/or utility bills that list your address within the NYC Exposure Zone. The VCF Lead Personal Representative Designation Form includes information about the role of the Lead PR, and a summary of the rights and responsibilities of the other co-Personal Representatives. This is true regardless of the date on which the earlier condition is certified or verified. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, we will contact you. 9/11 Prostate Cancer Claims | WTC VCF | Hansen & Rosasco This list includes only major categories of conditions and is not meant to represent every type of eligible injury that falls within each category: Certain types of cancer as specified in the chart below: Rare Cancers defined as any type of cancer that occurs in less than 15 cases per 100,000 persons per year in the United States. Some examples of cancer that meet the rare cancer definition include, but are not limited to, the following: Childhood Cancers defined as any type of cancer diagnosed in a person less than 20 years of age.. A claim has reached the final stages of substantive review when the status in the online system moves to Determination Made: Processing. The VCF will not allow any amendment in a deceased claim after a substantive determination on the compensation claim has been made, except in limited circumstances. Skin Cancer. If you submit voluminous medical records (i.e. When you call, you will be asked to provide your full name so the Service Center can look up your work history. The lawsuit was commenced after December 22, 2003, and a release of claims in such lawsuit was tendered by the individual, or by the individual's attorney (provided the attorney has authority to tender the release) prior to January 2, 2011; You dismissed any claims that were not settled on or before January 2, 2012. Prostate cancer Since the small prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system, only men can get prostate cancer. The Registration Deadline is determined according to claim type, and varies based on individual circumstances. Please only submit documents that are related to your 9/11-related eligible physical conditions. The WTC Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment for physical injuries and conditions resulting from 9/11 exposure. The form includes detailed instructions on how to complete it and where to send it once it is complete. Please view our definitive presence guide for a quick reference on some of the following entities. You may register at any time, so long as you do so before your individual deadline as outlined above. Official websites use .gov You should contact the employee verifications team by email at GS-HCM-Help-Americas@ny.email.gs.com and request an employment verification letter. If you are the parent of a young adult child and are helping your child with his or her VCF claim, the claim form must be completed by the adult child as a self claim in the victims name, with all applicable exhibits and supporting documents signed by the victim. Having an eligible condition is only one of the necessary criteria for compensation. It is therefore possible that an individual may be present for VCF purposes, but not eligible to be certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program, and therefore not eligible for compensation from the VCF. For conditions on original WTC Health Program list or traumatic injuries: This is condition specific that is, timely settlement/ release based on specific conditions does not render earlier conditions for which an individual may be certified or verified (on which a lawsuit was not timely settled/released) eligible for compensation. Section 2: Calculation of Loss (Compensation) | VCF Please be aware that the WTC Health Program will prioritize patients who need treatment for appointments over those seeking certifications to support their VCF claims. The amount usually awarded by the VCF for non-melanoma skin cancer . When you submit a VCF claim, you waive your right to file a civil action (or to be a party to an action) in any federal or state court for damages sustained as a result of the terrorist- related aircraft crashes of 9/11, or for damages arising from or related to debris removal. The geographic area used to confirm an individuals presence for purposes of their VCF claim can be found at https://www.vcf.gov/nycExposureMap.html. See Section 405(c)(3)(A)(i) of the VCF Act. that is sent directly to the VCF from the employer or other third party, with specific dates and locations, is often sufficient to verify presence. Failure to provide detailed information relating to presence will result in the VCF sending you a Missing Information letter, which may result in your claim being denied if we are unable to get the additional detailed information needed to verify your presence. Therefore, settlement payments from lawsuits that were timely settled and released will be deducted from VCF awards. Your prior eligible condition has substantially worsened, resulting in damages or loss that was not previously compensated. There are two exceptions to this general waiver rule that is, there are two types of permissible lawsuits that you can pursue and still file a claim with the VCF: As noted above, there are two types of 9/11-related lawsuits that you can pursue and still file a claim with the VCF. The WTC Health Program defines a health condition, If, at any point after you submit your original claim, the WTC Health Program certifies you for a physical health condition not previously certified, or you are diagnosed with a new 9/11- related injury or condition that qualifies for verification through the Private Physician process, you may amend your claim byfollowing the, You received specific direction from the VCF to compete the forms; or, You are filing a claim for a deceased individual who was not certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program for the claimed condition; or, You are a foreign resident, living outside the continental United States, who has not been certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program for the claimed condition; or, You do not qualify for certification by the WTC Health Program because you do not meet the program enrollment requirements; or, You are not able to go to a WTC Health Program center (either in the New York City metropolitan area or through the Nationwide Provider Network) to have your condition evaluated and certified for treatment without suffering significant hardship. To be eligible for compensation from the VCF, you must have a physical injury or condition caused by the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or the rescue, recovery, and debris removal efforts during the immediate aftermath. Similarly, if you have an eligible condition that the VCF has identified as presumptively severe and debilitating, you do not need to submit medical records to qualify for the highest non-economic loss award allowed by the statutory caps. That order may be dated after January 2, 2012, only if you have provided proof that you filed a notice of withdrawal on the ECF system in the relevant docket on or before January 2, 2012. You should contact the FBI Call Center at 202-324-3333 to request the FBI proof of presence letter and once received, upload it to your claim or mail it to the VCF. Generally, the VCF provides compensation for the physical injuries and conditions that the WTC Health Program has found to be related to 9/11 and therefore are on the list of conditionsestablished by the WTC Health Program. You may register online at www.claims.vcf.gov or over the phone by calling the VCF Helpline at 1-855-885-1555. If you were a contractor for ConEd, ConEd is unable to provide information regarding your presence at the site within the relevant timeframe. The WTC Health Program website includes a map of the NIOSH-defined New York City Disaster Area, along with detailed information about the number of hours, dates, and levels of exposure that are required for purposes of certifying a condition for treatment. If your claim is denied, you can amend your claim once you have the necessary documents and the VCF will reactivate your claim for review. How Much VCF Compensation Can I Recover? - Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLP WTC VCF Cancer Payouts | 9/11 Cancer Claim Lawyer The VCF encourages early registration for all potential claimants, even if you are not sick or certified by the WTC Health Program, as it helps us establish our priorities, plan for our work, and process all claims as quickly as possible. You should contact the employee verifications team by email at hrsd.employee.verifications@jpmchase.com and request that they directly send the VCF a work location history letter. VCF Pain and Suffering Compensation for 9/11 Cancers Under the Zadroga Act, a 9/11 responder or survivor may be awarded up to $250,000 for non-economic losses related to their cancer condition. All of the eligibility criteria must be met to receive compensation. The court order establishing that the action has been discontinued and/or dismissed, or the notice/letter of withdrawal filed on the ECF system in the relevant docket, must be dated on or before the date you submit your claim or amendment. Proof of Presence documents as specified in, VCF Client Authorization Form (on a form to be provided by your attorney, if applicable) to deposit the payment on your claim to your attorneys bank account or an, Your court order may include limitations. You must submit at least two of the following documents if you intend to rely on them to establish presence: If you need help obtaining documents to demonstrate that you were present at the site, please contact the Police Benevolent Association at 212- 298-9144. The Molecular Cancer Research Journal published research that observed 15 men who were first-responders on September 11, 2001 at Ground Zero and later developed 9/11 prostate cancer and compared those men to 15 men with prostate cancer who were not exposed to the 9/11 related toxins. Note for Local 1101 CWA Verizon employees, including Empire City Subway: we have an arrangement with CWA Local 1101 to get information directly from them for members who participated in the World Trade Center response. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, the VCF will contact you. The Registration Deadline isnotthe same for everyone. Any location used by employees of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City (OCME) involved in the examination and handling of human remains, or locations used by morgue workers who performed similar functions for the OCME staff. VCF Eligibility for Lower Manhattan Workers | Barasch & McGarry - 9/11 Blood in the urine, frequent urination, a slower-than-normal urine flow, erectile dysfunction, and blood in the semen following ejaculation are all signs of prostate cancer. This means that a claimant must know (or reasonably should know) both of the physical injury or condition and that there is a causal connection between the injury or condition and 9/11-related exposure. Show that you have a 9/11-related physical injury or condition that is certified for treatment by the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program or, in limited circumstances, that you have a physical injury or condition that was treated by your private physician and verified as 9/11-related through the VCFs, Show that you were present at one of the attack sites, within the. Rule for Newly Covered Conditions and Lawsuits Filed Before November 2016:[2] If the condition for which you are seeking compensation from the VCF was added to the list of qualified injuries after January 2, 2012, your proof of timely withdrawal or dismissal from any lawsuit must be dated no later than the date you submit your claim or amendment seeking compensation for that condition. For individuals enrolled in the WTC Health Registry, the VCF has an arrangement with the WTC Health Registry to obtain direct access to individual survey responses. To register with the VCF you must do one of the following: In general, claimants are considered to have registered on time if their registration is submitted within two years of the date on which the claimant knew or reasonably should have known: (1) that the victim suffered a physical harm as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or debris removal in the immediate aftermath, and (2) that the claimant was eligible to file a claim with the VCF. Note: The automated process will not confirm sufficiency or completeness of these documents this will be done by a VCF team member during preliminary review. If you have exhausted every option available to you to try and find documentation to support your presence at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC Exposure Zone during the relevant timeframe, and you cannot find any documents to submit with your claim, you may request that the VCF deny your claim and provide you the opportunity to provide testimony about your presence at an appeal hearing. If the VCF needs additional information from you after requesting documentation from ConEd, the VCF will contact you. Skin Cancer in September 11th Survivors | 9/11 Benefits - Pitta & Baione The VCF encourages you to register now. Any area related to, or along, routes of debris removal, such as barges and the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island. The VCF will contact you if any additional information is needed in these situations. Before asking someone to submit a Witness Presence Statement on your behalf, you should check Section 1.9 to learn more about the specific documents you can submit based on your individual circumstances. 107-42, as amended by Public Law No. The VCF will also seek information from the WTC Health Program for deceased individuals whose condition(s) was certified by the WTC Health Program prior to death, upon submission of an Exhibit A(for Deceased Individuals) by the victims authorized Personal Representative. Note: The VCF cannot provide information about private settlements. Documents in this category should be certified or be accompanied by a letter from an employee of the school or day care facility, or from your legal counsel (if an attorney is assisting you with your claim), confirming that the document submitted is a true and accurate copy. [5] Please note that this is different from the rules applicable to the WTC Health Program. The adult child can then authorize the VCF to share information about the claim with a parent by adding the parent as an Alternative Contact on the claim form. NOTE: The parent should not be listed on the claim form as an Authorized Representative as this designation is only applicable to Personal Representatives of deceased individuals, and court-appointed guardians of incapacitated adults. When you submit your complete claim form and we begin reviewing your claim, we will review each presence document. If you are unable to obtain these types of documents, the Special Master will consider sworn Witness Presence Statements from people who can attest to your presence at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC Exposure Zone. The VCF has an arrangement with the FDNY in which the FDNY will provide documents directly to the VCF regarding proof of a FDNY firefighters or fire officers presence at the site. Everything You Need To Know About 9/11 Prostate Cancer Claims The Program also covers medically associated conditions, which are conditions that result from the treatment or progression of a certified condition. Different types of documentation are required depending on the representatives relationship to the victim. The original VCF (VCF I) operated from 2001-2004 under the direction of Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, and distributed over $7 billion. By doing so at an appeal hearing, the VCF can ask clarifying questions to help evaluate the claim. The VCF Act explicitly prohibits the VCF from compensating for Mental Health Conditions. Many individuals have asked about gathering documentation now to support their presence for a potential future claim given that the VCF is open to take claims until October 1, 2090. SeeSection 1.9for additional information. 9/11 firefighter with cancer sues NYC in hopes of bigger payout than School or day care records and transcripts confirming your enrollment or attendance during the relevant time period. Highlights. This could happen anytime between now and when the WTC Health Program closes in 2090. These forms may support presence where they: If you were a CWA member and completed this form, please first contact the local union you were a member of at the time of 9/11 to see if they have a CWA form for you in their files. How Much Are VCF Cancer Payouts? - Top Class Actions 911 Cancer Claim | 911 Cancer Fund & VCF Cancer Awards Explained For information about whether you may be eligible for WTC Health Program treatment for emotional or mental harms, you may contact them by phone at 1-888-WTC-HP4U (1-888- 982-4748), or on the web at www.cdc.gov/wtc/. 114-222, may still file a VCF claim. Below is a sample of some of our recent awards for our clients: $4.4 million. All documents submitted for a claim are subject to verification and authentication procedures undertaken independently by the VCF. Once the required documents are received and verified as sufficient, the claim will be reactivated for review, and if applicable, the VCF will request information from certain government entities, employers, and other third parties that may support presence for VCF purposes. This is condition specific that is, timely settlement/release/dismissal based on specific conditions does not render earlier conditions for which an individual may be certified or verified (on which a lawsuit was not timely settled/released/dismissed) eligible for compensation. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and documentation, the VCF will contact you. You do not need to submit any proof of presence with your claim. Each document submitted must clearly pertain to the named victim and identify the date(s) and location(s) of the victims WTC-related service. In some cases, ConEd may be able to verify that an individual worked for ConEd during the relevant timeframe but may not be able to confirm the actual location of where the individuals work was performed. You should also submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that you were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, when you submit your claim. Over 300,000 office workers were exposed to toxic air on 9/11 and in the 8 months that followed. Part 104. You do not need to submit any proof of presence with your claim. If we do not have an agreement with your employer or organization, you should provide your employer/organization with the VCF Third Party Verification Form, and instruct them to send the completed form directly to the VCF. Pay stubs listing your employers address within the NYC Exposure Zone and confirming employment, when used in conjunction with other documents showing you were physically working at the address during the relevant timeframe. Our Team 9/11 Victim Programs Case Results Resources Contact Us 800-887-7299 ENEnglish ESSpanish Our Team Meet Dan Hansen Meet Troy Rosasco Our Team Why Choose Us 9/11 Victim Programs Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) WTC Health Program (WTCHP) 9/11 Lawyers for WTC Victim Compensation Fund Claims | Hansen & Rosasco TheVCF Act provides that you may either seek compensation from the VCF or you may file a lawsuit, but you cannot do both except under certain circumstances as explained below. See Section 2.1.a Valuation of non-economic loss for a listing of conditions considered to be presumptively severe. What are the VCF payouts and how likely you will get one? Dismissal/withdrawal before January 2, 2012 (notice of withdrawal will suffice). If you were employed by JP Morgan Chase and worked at a JP Morgan Chase office located in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, JP Morgan Chase may be able to provide you with a letter verifying your presence. Only those authorized by law or court order may pursue a claim on behalf of another individual.