Programs to Help 9/11 Responders and Survivors

Federal Programs

World Trade Center Health Program

WTC Health Program

Provides health care — medical monitoring and treatment -‐ to responders and survivors (area workers, residents, students) who were exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero and now are sick due to their exposures. The World Trade Center Health Program is run by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and directed by Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH and the official Administrator of the WTC Health Program. The program provides medical monitoring and treatment for WTC‐related conditions to responders and survivors, delivered locally in the New York City area through Medical Centers of Excellence and nationally through a network of medical care providers (the National Program). In the 2015 reauthorization the program was essentially made permanent since it is authorized until 2090. There is no time limit for joining the program.

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

The 2019 passage of “the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act”, provided for the reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to continue providing compensation to injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors thru 2090. The VCF is run by the U.S. Department of Justice under the direction of a Special Master appointed by the Attorney General.

New York State Programs

New York State Workers Compensation

Workers' Compensation Board

Normally, workers who are injured or made ill on the job must file a claim with the N.Y.S. Workers Compensation Board within two years of sustaining a workplace injury or illness. Since 9/11 -related health conditions may not develop for many years, the New York State Legislature has amended the law twice to extend that deadline for 9/11 responders.

For more information you can go to the New York State Workers Compensation Board website.

Having filed with the New York State Workers Compensation Board does not mean you have registered for the federal program the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). You MUST still register for the VCF if you want to be considered for compensation by that program.

Line of Duty Injury

Line of Duty Injury (LODI) benefits enable active-duty FDNY, NYPD, DOC and DSNY employees to get treatment for illnesses and injuries arising out of participation in WTC operations. LODI benefits end when the uniformed member retires. More information about LODI benefits, including death benefits, is available from each department’s medical division or the worker’s union.

Disability and Death

The New York State Legislature has enacted the World Trade Center (WTC) Disability Law. The law establishes a presumption that certain illnesses for certain New York City and State employees were caused by rescue, recovery or cleanup operations at the WTC and, if disabling, entitle the employee to accidental disability retirement benefits. For more information for City Employees, visit the City’s website.

The World Trade Center Volunteer Fund

The World Trade Center Volunteer Fund (WTC VF) was established in 2002 to provide benefits to volunteers who incurred lost wages and/or health related problems due to their volunteer work in the WTC rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts.

Normally, unpaid volunteers are ineligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, the NY Workers’ Compensation Law was amended to provide coverage for WTC volunteers.

The WTC Volunteer Fund is administered by the Workers’ Compensation Board and is now funded by New York State.

For more information on N.Y.S. Workers Compensation Boards World Trade Center Volunteer Fund.

The World Trade Center Health Registry

World Trade Center Health Registry

While not open to new members there is research being done by the World Trade Center Health Registry.

The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry was established in 2002 to monitor the health of people directly exposed to the WTC disaster—responders and survivors of 9/11, including those who lived, worked, or went to school in the area of the disaster or were involved in rescue, clean up and recovery efforts.

Enrollees completed a confidential health survey and are asked to complete follow up surveys every few years so that the Registry can track post-disaster changes in their physical and mental health.

Survey findings are published periodically in medical journals. The WTC Registry does NOT conduct medical tests and is NOT a treatment program. The enrollment in the registry is closed. They are not accepting anyone else to be in the study. Being enrolled in the Registry does NOT mean that you are enrolled in the WTC Health Program or the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). For more information

For more information visit the Registry website.

Last updated: April 26, 2022