If you were a student or attended day care in the NYC Exposure Zone between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, you should provide a copy of your transcript, or official school or day care records from that time. Claims can be filed at www.claims.vcf.gov/account/loginor on a hard copy claim form. The VCF considers medically associated conditions in determining the appropriate amount of compensation. The WTC Health Program provides options for treatment of psychological conditions, including post-traumatic stress. The VCF understands that it is becoming increasingly difficult for some claimants to find documentation supporting their presence at an eligible location after so many years have passed. The VCF considers the totality of the circumstances in each individual case and will consider a wide range of documents to support presence. What are the VCF payouts and how likely you will get one? This is true regardless of the date on which the earlier condition is certified or verified. The VCF will deny your claim and will send you a letter with instructions on how to appeal. You should also notify us once you have requested the letter from Bank of America so we know to expect it in support of your claim. Any location used for the repair, cleaning, or rehabilitation of vehicles or equipment contaminated by WTC-related debris. You can notify us by uploading a note to your claim, or by calling our Helpline. It is therefore very important that you claim all losses and submit the required supporting documentation when you file your claim. The WTC Health Program only provides the VCF with the name of the condition, the WTC Health Program category under which the condition falls (for example, Cancer or Upper Respiratory Disorder), and the associated medical diagnosis code. 107-42, as amended by Public Law No. If an attorney signed and submitted the release on behalf of the individual or the individual's dependent, spouse, or beneficiary, a copy of the retainer agreement with the attorney in the settled lawsuit must be submitted as proof that the attorney was authorized to sign the release. The VCF has detailed information on VCF policies and procedures. This includes lawsuits based on theories of aiding and abetting or assisting an attempt to commit a terrorist act. 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. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and documentation, the VCF will contact you. 107-71, to provide compensation for any individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or the debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those crashes. 9/11 Prostate Cancer WTCHP & VCF Claims | Pitta & Baione The VCF Act provides that the award from settlements in civil suits regarding injuries related to 9/11 will be counted as a collateral source offset. [3] The VCF clarified the rule regarding lawsuit dismissals and newly covered conditions in November 2016. [6] If you asked someone to write an affidavit on your behalf and the affidavit is signed and dated prior to this date, the VCF will accept the affidavit even if it is submitted after February 1, 2023. If you were present because of your work, the Third Party Verification Form is the preferred way to show you were there. For further details on the WTC Health Program process and guidelines, please visit the WTC Health Program website. These timeframes are different for each category of injuries and conditions. Collectively, the laws governing the VCF are referred to below as the VCF Act.. In very limited circumstances where the Personal Representative is unable to obtain Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary, or other Court Order, the Special Master may appoint a Personal Representative for purposes of the VCF claim. It is important to distinguish between the two and be aware of the deadlines that apply based on your individual circumstances. This could happen anytime between now and when the WTC Health Program closes in 2090. To be eligible for an award from the VCF, you must meet the following criteria: There are two deadlines in the VCFs claim filing process:aClaim Filing Deadlineand aRegistration Deadline. September 11th Victim Compensation Fund | Kreindler & Kreindler LLP In the body of the email, please include your first name, last name, last four digits of your social security number or your standard work or enterprise ID number, and the VCF official email address, VCF.Thirdpartyverification@usdoj.gov, which is where human resources can directly send their response. You should still 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. The VCF works with the National Guard to directly obtain information for individuals who assert that they participated in the World Trade Center response while on State Active Duty. The VCFAct states that if an individual tendered a release after the VCFAct was enacted on January 2, 2011, the individual is not eligible for the VCF. 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. In very limited circumstances (set forth below), the VCF may evaluate the eligibility of the physical injury or condition through the Private Physician process, subject to verification by the Special Master with the assistance of the WTC Health Program Administrator. If you were represented by Douglas & London or Napoli, Bern, Ripka, Shkolnik (Napoli Bern) in your lawsuit, you generally do not need to submit additional documents related to your settlement because the VCF may be able to get the necessary information from Douglas & London or Napoli Bern. The VCF needs very specific information and details in order to establish your presence on the basis of such statements and these statements will serve as acceptable proof only if the VCF determines that they are sufficiently reliable. Over 70 cancers including Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer and many others plus breathing and digestive conditions. Court orders, such as custody or guardian agreements, that clearly show your address at that time. You must provide this email address when you call and specifically request they email the letter to the VCF. The certification must come from a college, school or day care facility employee or your legal counsel (if applicable). You should file your claim only after you have been certified by the WTC Health Program for a 9/11-related physical health condition. If you developed your 9/11-related physical injury or condition before September 11, 2001 (a pre-existing condition), you may still be eligible for compensation if your condition has become more severe since that time and the worsening of the condition is determined by the WTC Health Program to be related to the events of September 11th or the debris removal efforts. 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. Pitta & Baione have earned over $200 million in 9/11 compensation claims for 9/11 related cancers and other conditions. On December 18, 2015, the President signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act (Reauthorized Zadroga Act), Public Law No. Highlights. You should also notify us once you have requested the letter from the Department of Buildings, so we know to expect it in support of your claim. 116-34. 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. The original VCF (VCF I) operated from 2001-2004 under the direction of Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, and distributed over $7 billion. The VCFAct provides that the award from settlements in civil suits regarding injuries related to 9/11 will be counted as a collateral source offset. The VCF has instructions for uploading documents to the online system. 9/11 Prostate Cancer Linked to WTC Exposure - Pitta & Baione You suffered a new loss that you had not suffered at the time of the VCF1 claim filing for example, if you were previously compensated for non-economic loss only and have since been determined to be totally disabled due to an eligible condition, you can amend the claim to seek economic loss. In most cases, you do not need to submit proof of presence as otherwise required if you were deemed eligible for VCF1 (see Section 1.6 for more information on proof of presence). If you were employed by ICE (Legacy U.S. Customs Service, Legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (Investigations, Deportation and Removal Operations, or Office of the Principal Legal Advisor)) and worked in your official capacity at a 9/11 crash site, or you were assigned to a post of duty in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, ICE may be able to provide you with a letter verifying your presence. Date by which lawsuit must be Dismissed/Withdrawn/Settled, After 12/22/2003 and before November 16, 2016. Ground Zero and Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Foundation As a general rule, the compensation you receive in this iteration of the VCF (VCF2) will be calculated based on the amount of compensation any similarly situated person who filed a claim only in VCF2 would receive; any compensation you received in VCF1 will then be applied as an adjustment to the award. Per VCF policy, if registration is timely for any condition or injury, all eligible conditions no matter when determined to be 9/11-related (and regardless of whether there had been a prior timely registration) may be considered for an award, subject to the other requirements of the VCF claims process. But not every cancer will be compensated in that amount. 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. In order to be eligible for compensation under the VCF, an individual must have been present at a 9/11 crash site or in locations of debris removal at any point during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. If you were employed by the New York State Police (NYSP) and worked in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, you can contact the NYSP Medical Monitoring Unit via phone at 518-485-5044, or via email at hresource@troopers.ny.gov, to request a letter documenting the dates and locations of your deployment to the NYC Exposure Zone during that time period. 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. The VCF recognizes various medications for the treatment of conditions related to prostate cancer as presumptively compensable this means that it's not necessary to provide further documentation of necessity to the VCF. If you were employed by Goldman Sachs and worked at a Goldman Sachs office located in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, Goldman Sachs may be able to provide you with a letter verifying your presence. Skin Cancer in September 11th Survivors | 9/11 Benefits - Pitta & Baione About Prostate Cancer. The WTC Health Program includes a Nationwide Provider Network (NPN) to serve members who live outside the New York City metropolitan area. The NPN is available to WTC, Pentagon, and Shanksville responders and WTC survivors. You should therefore also submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous documents or Witness Presence Statements) demonstrating that you were physically present at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC Exposure Zone. The Lead PR is the individual who the VCF will primarily communicate with regarding the claim, and the individual to whom the VCF will issue any payment on the claim. 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. School or day care records and transcripts confirming your enrollment or attendance during the relevant time period. You will still need to submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous records, 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. Many of the third-party entities with whom we exchange information on your behalf also do not accept electronic signatures. For more VCF information or for questions, visit the VCF website or call the VCF directly at 1-855-885-1555. 75 pages or more), you must highlight the relevant information relating to the severity of your condition, or provide a written guide or statement directing us to the pertinent information, so the VCF can assess your non-economic loss. Unsettled claims withdrawn/dismissed on or before January 2, 2012. The person you ask to be a witness must have personal knowledge of your presence at a 9/11 crash site or along the routes of debris removal. Please also see Section 1.9 for additional important information about these records. This means that you waive your right to be party to a future lawsuit even before the VCF determines whether or not you are entitled to compensation. You will receive a letter from the VCF explaining the eligibility decision on your claim. Case Results 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Law Firm Over 300,000 office workers were exposed to toxic air on 9/11 and in the 8 months that followed. Each document submitted must clearly pertain to the named victim and identify the date(s) and location(s) of the victims WTC-related service. Please note that this option is generally available only when legal or geographical obstacles mean that the representative is unable to open an estate to obtain an appointment. In order to process a claim filed by someone other than the victim, the Special Master must first validate the individuals authority to represent the victim for the VCF claim. Cancer Coverage under the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act The VCF might also increase an award if your certified condition worsens. 111-347. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, the VCF will contact you. The VCF will review these submissions on a case-by-case basis and will notify you of any additional information required. If you would like the VCF to contact the U.S. Department of Labor, you must contact the VCF Helpline to request a FECA Authorization Form, and then submit the completed form to the VCF. Additional information about the VCF appeals and hearings process can be found in Section 4. The VCF will accept claims with settled 9/11-related lawsuits if you meet the following conditions: You may have settled all your claims and, in that case, as long as the lawsuit was commenced after December 22, 2003, and the release was tendered by January 2, 2011, you can submit a claim to the VCF. Note: The FECA claim might not contain information to help verify your presence. First, you may pursue a civil action to recover collateral source obligations. See. See Section 405(c)(3)(A)(i) of the VCF Act. In addition, if you were found eligible to receive compensation in VCF1, in most cases, you do not need to submit proof of presence in support of your claim. Why Was My VCF Claim Denied? - The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. A civil action to recover collateral source obligations. 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 VCF encourages you to register now. 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. Claimants must first give their permission to release these responses to the VCF. The adult child may also grant the parent online access to the claim in the VCF claims system. [5] The VCF must apply the time period that Congress established in the VCF Act. Chronic Respiratory Disorder Fumes/Vapors, Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), WTC-exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), New Onset Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD), Sleep Apnea exacerbated by, associated with, or related to, the above conditions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurring in responders, Certain Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSK) occurring in responders and defined as a chronic or recurrent disorder of the musculoskeletal system caused by heavy lifting or repetitive strain on the joints or musculoskeletal system occurring during the period beginning onSeptember 11, 2001, throughMay 30, 2002, or as determined by the Special Master (Note: the VCF may compensate MSK in survivors if appropriate proof is provided), Acute Traumatic Injuries the WTC Health Program defines acute traumatic injury as an injury caused by and occurring immediately after a one-time exposure to energy such as heat, electricity or impact from a crash or fall, resulting from a specific event or incident for which the claimant received medical treatment on or before September 11, 2003, Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue, Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified major salivary glands, Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of mouth, Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined conditions in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system, Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue, Malignant neoplasm of rectosigmoid junction, Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs, Malignant neoplasm of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts, Malignant neoplasms of retroperitoneum and peritoneum, Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura, Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs, Malignant neoplasm of the gallbladder/biliary tract, Malignant neoplasm of the small intestine, Malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system, Uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer, Malignant neoplasm of the kidney except renal pelvis, Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified urinary organs, Follicular (nodular) non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, Other and unspecified types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms, Other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue. Claims with Co-Personal Representatives: If the court has appointed multiple individuals as co-Personal Representatives for the victims estate, the co-Personal Representatives must designate among themselves who will serve as the Lead Personal Representative (Lead PR). 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. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and documentation, the VCF will contact you. Part 104. You should contact the ICE 9/11 Benefits Program by email at ICE.9-11@ice.dhs.gov to request the ICE proof of presence letter . Individuals with questions about those settlements should contact their lawyers. The VCF makes one award for the non-economic loss, also referred to as pain and suffering. In the body of the email please include your first name, last name, last four digits of your social security number or your standard ID number, and the VCF official email address, VCF.Thirdpartyverification@usdoj.gov, where the employee verification team can directly send their response including the work history location letter. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, the VCF will contact you. However, this is not all of what goes into VCF cancer payouts. You should know that the VCF may ask for additional proof of presence, even when your employer or volunteer organization submits a Third Party Verification Form directly to us. Please note that the WTC Health Program and the VCF are different programs. In the body of the email, please include your first name, last name (maiden name, if applicable), your date of birth, and the VCF official email address, VCF.Thirdpartyverification@usdoj.gov, which is where human resources can directly send their response. This means that even if you have other certified or verified conditions, regardless of when they were certified or verified, they will not be eligible for compensation unless they were added to the list of qualified injuries after January 2, 2012, and you withdrew or dismissed your lawsuit prior to filing your claim or amendment. Exhibit A Authorization for Release of Medical Records(, Original and signed Exhibit A Authorization for Release of Medical Records(. Once we confirm we have a complete Signature Page and Exhibit A, we contact the WTC Health Program for information about your certified condition(s). In general, witnesses must show that they directly observed you at the eligible location, or must have been a supervisor or dispatcher who ordered you to that location and has knowledge that you in fact reported to the location. You should contact human resources by email at PayrollTimekeeping@buildings.nyc.gov and request that they directly send the VCF a WTC verification letter. Thus, the amount of compensation you received in VCF1 will be considered when determining whether additional compensation should be awarded. [5] Please note that this is different from the rules applicable to the WTC Health Program. 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. Those dates are: October 12, 2012, for the various cancers identified in the WTC Health Program rule of the same date, February 18, 2014, for Rare Cancers that meet the definition as explained by the WTC Health Program on the same date, January 18, 2023, for Uterine Cancer, including endometrial cancer. On July 29, 2019, the President signed into law The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund(VCF Permanent Authorization Act), Public Law No. 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/. The VCF does not require you to submit original documents. 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. The prostate gland is found below the bladder. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, the VCF will contact you. 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. 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. To be eligible for a VCF payout for prostate cancer the main eligibility criteria for the fund is that you were present on Canal Street as a first responder or in another capacity between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, and developed an injury or illness because of it. You must register for each of these programs separately. 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. If contemporaneous documents from that time are not available, you should ask your employer to complete the VCF Third Party Verification form. 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. Learn more. Listed below are the categories of physical health injuries and conditions that may be certified by the WTC Health Program (presumptively covered conditions). Kreindler has been helping 9/11 victims since 2001, and to-date, we have helped our clients recover more than $3 billion through the Victim Compensation Fund. Note that these records provided to the VCF do not include all NYCTA employees who were involved in the emergency response effort. We will contact you if we need additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter. The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are partnering to prevent, screen and promote research to speed the development of treatments and cures for prostate cancer among Veterans. In limited cases, the FDNY may be able to provide documents and/or information directly to the VCF regarding proof of an EMS members presence at the site. For uniformed NYPD members, the VCF will consider the documents listed below helpful in establishing presence. If you have at least one certified or verified 9/11-related physical injury or condition and meet all of the eligibility criteria to receive compensation, you may also be eligible for payment for other physical injuries or conditions that are not included on the list of presumptively covered conditions (and that are therefore not certified or verified) and that resulted from your 9/11 exposure if you have presented extraordinary circumstances. As a result, the VCF is not able to accept claims solely for psychological conditions. were created contemporaneously with your alleged exposures. This form is optional you are not required to submit this form as part of your claim. As a result, ConEd employees do not need to submit any documents as proof of presence at the site unless the VCF specifically requests such documents. The VCF calculates each award individually using the following basic formula, as required by the VCF Act: Non-Economic Loss (pain and suffering), minus Collateral Offsets . Please view our definitive presence guide for a quick reference on some of the following entities. For all other individuals, the VCF generally needs proof documenting the amount of your settlement, the dates of commencement and release of all claims in the lawsuit, and the order dismissing any claims not part of the settlement. But, aggressive prostate cancer is distinguished by its rapid growth and the speed with which symptoms spread throughout the body. The VCFs New York City Exposure Zone is used to determine an individuals presence for VCF eligibility purposes (and is not dependent on the length of time the individual was at the site), while the WTC Health Programs New York City Disaster Area is used to determine certification for treatment and requires a minimum amount of time spent in the designated area.