Understanding Bankruptcy Exemptions Covering September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Payments

Some injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors, who have experienced personal bankruptcy are now finally receiving compensation for the 9/11 injuries under the federal legislation.  Questions have been directed to us at 911 Health Watch Inc. about the relationship between payments from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund 9/11 Fund payments and bankruptcy.  In order to assist generally as much as we can, 9/11 Health Watch has prepared a memorandum that addresses these matters. 

This memorandum can provide some information to you and your lawyer and should be helpful, but it is important to understand that 9/11 Health Watch does not provide legal advice and every individual case is different.  Also the law in a State may have changed since this Memo was drafted.

If you are an injured 9/11 responder or survivor who has undergone bankruptcy and has received or expects to receive an award from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, we urge you to contact a lawyer to discuss the potential impact of a prior or future bankruptcy on your award. 

The memorandum we have provided is not to be construed as legal advice by 9/11 Health Watch or anyone else, and no responder or survivor is entitled to rely upon it and hold 9/11 Health Watch responsible for any such reliance or the memorandum’s contents.  Nor is 9/11 Health Watch in a position, in light of its mission and staffing, to answer questions about this memorandum or legal questions generally.  We are making this memorandum available in the hope that it will assist 9/11 responders and survivors as they begin to navigate their individual circumstances, and as always we wish all well in doing so.