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, 911 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 911 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 911 Health Watch or anyone else, and no responder or survivor is entitled to rely upon it and hold 911 Health Watch responsible for any such reliance or the memorandum’s contents.  Nor is 911 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.