Tomorrow is the last day for people who have undergone medical costs of illness related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, including mesothelioma and other cancers, to seek federal funding. More than 32,000 people have already applied.
The Act on health and James Zadroga 9/11 Compensation of 2010 authorized financial and medical support for people who have suffered physical or were killed as a result of accidents related to terrorism at Ground Zero and other sites, as well as debris removal efforts in the wake of these accidents.
officials of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health say more than 1,140 people developed cancer linked to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. First responders have a cancer rate 15 percent higher than people who are not exposed to the toxic air, a study by the Mount Sinai Medical Center shows.
As the deadline looms and dozens stroke victims to sign up for some type of compensation, now is a good time for people injured or had relatives killed or injured on the scene of the accident to find more information about the compensation fund for victims of 9/11 (VCF) program and the health of the World Trade Center ?? two important programs created under the Zadroga Act.
Health Programme World Trade Center
Cancers initially were excluded from the list of health conditions WTC-related when President Barack Obama signed the provision in law, but 58 different types of cancer including mesothelioma, were added in 2012.
inclusion means that first responders, recovery and cleanup workers and volunteers on 9/11 crash sites that have developed these types of cancers may be eligible for medical monitoring, treatment and reimbursement of certain cancer treatment expenses incurred after October 12, 2012.
residents, students, some visitors, and others working close to 9/11 on sites may also be eligible for supervision and medical care.
Although there is no cost to receive help, people who are not already members of the program have to apply for benefits. More information is available on the program website.
Medical care and monitoring is available only for health problems related to terrorist attacks. The program advises anyone who does not know if their health problems are related to 9/11 to ask their doctor at their first follow-up medical examination.
9/11 Victims Compensation Fund
Although the Zadroga Act produced the VCF and health World Trade Center, they are separate initiatives. The federal government has supported VCF with $ 2.8 billion in repayment of funds to compensate for first responders, volunteers and others who worked, went to school and lived on the 9/11 crash sites.
The fund "provides for compensation for economic loss and non -economic to persons or families of deceased persons who were killed or physically injured as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft accidents" depending on the VCF website.
VCF is intended to provide a "no alternative fault litigation of civil liability" for these people. This means that, in general, anyone who gets compensation for the fund also can not file a lawsuit for damages for personal injury or death related to the misuse, accidents or recovery efforts.
It is always best to discuss these types of problems with qualified lawyer before giving up any legal rights. Speak to a qualified mesothelioma lawyer is also important if exposure to asbestos, with the exception of an incident related to 9/11, may have contributed to your illness.
VCF important deadlines to keep in mind
registration is the first step to apply for VCF for compensation. It involves creating an account which notifies the VCF you are a prospective applicant.
You do not have to file a claim after your registration. If you do not register before the deadline, you lose the ability to file a claim at a later date. The times are based on the types of injuries and the date the injury was discovered
The deadlines for cancers, including mesothelioma.
- The people who knew, or should have known, they suffered a covered cancer October 12, 2012 must register on October 12, 2014.
- people who discovered that they suffer from a covered cancer, including mesothelioma, after October 12, 2012, have two years from the date of diagnosis to register. However, they must register by October 3, 2016.
- Those suffering from known conditions added to the list after October 3, 2011 have two years from the date of the statement was included in apply the registry, but they must register by October 3, 2016.
non-cancer diseases of time:
- people who knew, or should have known , physical injury or illness resulting from the 9/11 attacks as of October 3, 2013 must register on Thursday.
- people who discover after the deadline Thursday have two years from the date they have discovered the physical harm or illness to register, but they must apply no later than 3 October 2016.
Remember: only inscription does not make you eligible for compensation of VCF. Besides recording these deadlines, you must also file a claim. The deadline for all potential candidates to apply is October 3, 2016.
VCF records show that you do not give up your right to file a complaint until your eligibility form is " submitted and deemed substantially complete. " After registering, you can start the eligibility form, but you do not need to fill in that time. Just remember that it must be completed and submitted by October 3, 2016 in order to file a claim.
