On September 22nd, 2001, the United States Congress established the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to compensate every person who suffered direct physical harm and every person who lost a close family member in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This fund was originally only operated until June 2004, but it was reactivated by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in January 2011, extended again by the “Reauthorized Zadroga Act” in 2015, and then essentially had its deadline removed altogether by the “VCF Permanent Authorization Act” in 2019.
Because of this, you still may be eligible to receive compensation in 2025 and beyond for injuries and illnesses that you or a deceased family member suffered as a direct result of the 9/11 attacks on New York City. If you would like to explore your options for a World Trade Center (WTC) lawsuit, a compassionate lawyer from Phillips Law Group can walk you through the legal process and help ensure you and your family obtain the restitution you deserve.
The VCF is designed to help victims of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center first responders who were present at the World Trade Center during the attacks and/or assisted with cleanup at Ground Zero, and anyone else who was within the New York City Exposure Zone or near the routes used for debris disposal between the attack itself and May 30, 2002. In order to qualify for compensation, claimants must be able to prove that they have a specific injury or medical condition that has been certified as 9/11-related through the World Trade Center Health Program or the Private Physician process for the VCF.
Claimants seeking compensation on behalf of a deceased person or legally incapacitated adult must also be able to prove that they have legal standing to pursue that claim—for example, by demonstrating that they have been formally appointed by a court or the decedent themselves as the decedent’s personal representative. Support from legal counsel can be vital to understanding and complying with these and other procedural requirements for a World Trade Center lawsuit filed through the VCF.
Thanks to the VCF Permanent Authorization Act, the claim filing deadline for VCF claims is now October 1, 2090, which means there is no deadline for anyone who could have been exposed to hazardous conditions related to 9/11. However, there is also a separate deadline for prospective claimants to register with the VCF to inform the fund that they may have grounds to file a WTC lawsuit in the future.
Generally, the registration deadline is two years after the date on which the claimant knew or reasonably should have known from professional medical diagnosis that they suffered injury or illness directly stemming from the 9/11 attacks themselves or from the ensuing debris removal process. That said, certain prospective claimants may have different deadlines applicable to them depending on how their injury or illness was certified, as an experienced lawyer can further explain during a free, no-obligation consultation.
The 9/11 attacks changed the course of American history and caused thousands of deaths not only on the day of the attacks, but also in the years and decades afterwards. Fortunately, if you or your family member suffered serious physical harm from being at or near the World Trade Center during or after the attacks, you very likely have grounds to file a claim with the Victim Compensation Fund.
You have support available with your World Trade Center lawsuit from the capable legal professionals at Phillips Law Group. Call today to speak with one of our team members and discuss your potential claim.
Available 24/7 
