Update on Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)
Special Master Sheila Birnbaum of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, or VCF, recently posted another update on the progress the Fund has made in compensating those injured by the attacks on 9/11.
She has published new program statistics, which show the progress in reviewing claims and making determinations.
http://www.vcf.gov/pdf/VCFProgramStatistics06272013.pdf
So far, almost 18,000 responders and survivors have registered with the VCF, meeting the upcoming October 3rd deadline for starting the application process.
Of those that have registered, 6,693 have submitted the eligibility forms. Of those 6,693, according to Ms. Birnbaum, 4,683 have forms that are incomplete; they are missing “the original Attestations, Certifications, and/or Exhibits” and cannot be processed yet. Just 1,341 have the paperwork done and are being reviewed, and the remaining 669 have had eligibility determinations made.
Of the 669 claims that have had eligibility determinations made, 245 have submitted compensation forms, of which 53 have had compensation decisions.
Hopefully in the next report, we will see a greater increase in the number of cases where a compensation determination has been made.
Ben Chevat
Executive Director
9/11 Health Watch