Who is Eligible to Receive Compensation From the Victim Compensation Fund?

Receive Compensation From the Victim Compensation Fund

All states, the District of Columbia and the United States Virgin Islands offer crime victims’ compensation programs. These state-run programs help to pay for crime-related expenses, such as medical care, counseling, funeral costs, lost wages or loss of support. In addition to the state-run programs, the federal government also administers the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which reimburses crime victims in the U.S. and the District of Columbia for losses incurred as a result of a crime, including terrorist-related crimes.

You must register to be eligible for Victim Compensation Fund from the VCF. The process is simple and easy. All you have to do is submit your claim form. If you are filing on behalf of someone else, make sure they have all the necessary information and meet all the requirements. Your eligibility is based on your 9/11-related physical condition or injury, which must be certified by the WTC Health Program. This means that your condition or injury must be determined to be related to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and/or the debris removal efforts.

If your 9/11-related physical condition is not on the list of certifiable conditions, you may still qualify if it significantly impairs your activities of daily living. You must provide supporting medical documentation to assist the VCF in evaluating your case and to help you obtain a higher non-economic loss award.

Who is Eligible to Receive Compensation From the Victim Compensation Fund?

For both personal injury and deceased claims, a new or subsequent government determination that a specific physical condition or injury is 9/11-related triggers a two-year registration period. This is an important step for all 9/11-related claims to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries and/or conditions.

There are a few exceptions to this Victim Compensation Fund, however. If your condition is not on the list of certifiable illnesses, you may still qualify if it significantly affects your ability to work or earn a living and the government determines that the condition was caused by exposure to toxic substances at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

The criteria for eligibility for a VCF-eligible condition are detailed in the policy and in the FAQs. It is important to review these criteria carefully before submitting your claim. In general, all eligible injuries and conditions must be listed on the VCF’s “qualified injuries” list or in an amended version of that list after January 2, 2012. If your lawsuit was settled prior to the date a condition was added to the qualified injuries list, you must withdraw or dismiss that lawsuit before you can amend your claim.

If you are not satisfied with the VCF’s decision to pay your claim, you may appeal that decision. A decision appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of your final award or disapproval. You will have to prove that the decision was based on reasonable grounds and that you were entitled to the award.