Registration preserves the right to file your claim in the future, waives no legal rights, and does not obligate you to file a claim. If eligibility is denied, the letter will explain how to appeal the decision or how to amend your claim in the future when you are able to provide the additional information for consideration. Therefore, Claimants who allege presence based on work with the National Guard will still need to submit other evidence (such ascontemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that they were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. If you decide to upload documents in order to store them with the VCF, you should be very careful to confirm that the document contains as much specific information as possible, and you should review it in detail to ensure that it meets all VCF requirements. Filing a lawsuit after November 2016 waives your right to file a claim with the VCF. Once the required documents are received and verified as sufficient, the claim will be reactivated for review, and if applicable, the VCF will request information from certain government entities, employers, and other third parties that may support presence for VCF purposes. This means that even if you have other certified or verified conditions, regardless of when they were certified or verified, they will not be eligible for compensation unless they were added to the list of qualified injuries after January 2, 2012, and you withdrew or dismissed your lawsuit prior to filing your claim or amendment. If the requested documents are not submitted within 60 days of the date of the missing information letter, your claim may be denied, unless the only outstanding item is confirmation of a certified condition by the WTC Health Program. Please see Section 1.4.e for more information specific to mental health conditions. Therefore, you should be sure the witness follows the directions on the form and provides as much detail as possible when completing it. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The VCF understands that it is becoming increasingly difficult for some claimants to find documentation supporting their presence at an eligible location after so many years have passed. NOTE: If you submit a certified transcript or school record as explained below, you do not need to submit any additional proof of presence with your claim. This means that even if you have other certified or verified conditions, regardless of when they were certified or verified, they will not be eligible for compensation unless they were added to the list of qualified injuries after January 2, 2012, you settled and released your lawsuit prior to the date the specific condition was added to the list of qualified injuries, and you properly withdrew or dismissed any remaining lawsuits prior to filing your claim or amendment. For a listing of the types of documents that can assist the VCF in the evaluation of your claim, see Section 2.1.c Documentation of non-economic loss. Once we confirm we have a complete Signature Page and Exhibit A, we contact the WTC Health Program for information about your certified condition(s). It is important to distinguish between the two and be aware of the deadlines that apply based on your individual circumstances. In most cases, being diagnosed with an additional 9/11 illness will not change the amount of a VCF award that was previously issued. We will contact you if we need additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter. [1] Please note that a determination of this sort, which is sufficient to establish that the claimant reasonably should have known that he or she was eligible to file a claim, is not necessarily sufficient to establish that a claimant suffers from an eligible condition or that the claimant has a disability that warrants an economic loss award. World Trade Center Dust Link to 9/11 Prostate Cancer Cases Non-Disabling Cancer Awards The following are some of the hundreds of noneconomic loss awards that the VCF has issued to our clients with non-disabling cancers and other WTC-related illnesses. This is condition specific that is, timely dismissal based on specific conditions does not render earlier conditions for which an individual may be certified or verified (on which a lawsuit was not timely dismissed) eligible for compensation. Once you receive the letter, you should upload it to your claim or mail it to the VCF. If you were employed by JP Morgan Chase and worked at a JP Morgan Chase office located in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, JP Morgan Chase may be able to provide you with a letter verifying your presence. If you were an employee of the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), and worked in the NYC Exposure Zone, please provide your NYCTA employee identification number to the VCF. You should check to see if your organization is listed in that section before identifying the documentation you need to submit with your claim. You suffered a new loss that you had not suffered at the time of the VCF1 claim filing for example, if you were previously compensated for non-economic loss only and have since been determined to be totally disabled due to an eligible condition, you can amend the claim to seek economic loss. The Lead PR is the individual who the VCF will primarily communicate with regarding the claim, and the individual to whom the VCF will issue any payment on the claim. [6] If you asked someone to write an affidavit on your behalf and the affidavit is signed and dated prior to this date, the VCF will accept the affidavit even if it is submitted after February 1, 2023. Each document submitted must clearly pertain to the named victim and identify the date(s) and location(s) of the victims WTC-related service. What are the VCF payouts and how likely you will get one? If you have a document that you believe can be used to support your claim or your presence at a 9/11 site and it is not on the list below, you should submit the document to the VCF to be reviewed. Note that this is not a comprehensive list of acceptable documentation. If you were represented by Sullivan Papain Block McGrath and Cannavo (Sullivan Papain) in both your lawsuit and your VCF claim, the VCF may be able to get the necessary information from Sullivan Papain. The letter will explain why the document(s) was not sufficient, and will include information about what you can do to correct the document, or suggest additional ways you may prove your presence. Required documentation for withdrawn 9/11-related lawsuits: You must submit proof of timely withdrawal of your lawsuit with your claim. Listed below are the categories of physical health injuries and conditions that may be certified by the WTC Health Program (presumptively covered conditions). The VCF does not require you to submit original documents. dollars for the family of an NYPD police officer who died as a result of 9/11 related cancer. This includes lawsuits based on theories of aiding and abetting or assisting an attempt to commit a terrorist act. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Office workers who have become ill or who have died from conditions, including 69 different cancers, may be eligible for cash compensation. If you were a DC-37 union member, your union may be able to provide information and/or documentation to support presence for purposes of your VCF claim. Unsettled claims withdrawn/dismissed on or before January 2, 2012. You should call the Bank of America Service Center at 1-800-556-6044 and request that they send the VCF a 9/11 work location history letter detailing your specific office address(es) during that time. You suffered a new physical injury or condition that you had not suffered at the time of the VCF1 claim filing or that was not compensable at the time of VCF1. In addition, Pitta & Baione is one of the only 9/11 law firms that handles every step of the claims process for our clients . If you do not have any of these documents, you may still submit your claim form because the VCF may be able to obtain them from third parties. Witness Presence Statement. When you submit a VCF claim, you waive your right to file a civil action (or to be a party to an action) in any federal or state court for damages sustained as a result of the terrorist- related aircraft crashes of 9/11, or for damages arising from or related to debris removal. Please note that you can seek certification for treatment from the WTC Health Program for purposes of your VCF claim and still be treated for your certified condition by a physician outside of the WTC Health Program. The VCF will contact you if any additional information is needed in these situations. You can contact the WTC Health Registry by calling 866-692-9827. The Special Master exercises this discretion only in very limited circumstances. Once the VCF receives your Claim Form and the completed Exhibit A Authorization for Release of Medical Records- the VCF will request information directly from the WTC Health Program to determine whether you have an eligible condition. This form is optional you are not required to submit this form as part of your claim. SeeSection 1.9for additional information. Court orders, such as custody or guardian agreements, that clearly show your address at that time. As a general rule, you cannot have an active 9/11-related lawsuit at the time you submit your VCF claim or amend your claim to add a new eligible condition. The WTC Health Program only provides the VCF with the name of the condition, the WTC Health Program category under which the condition falls (for example, Cancer or Upper Respiratory Disorder), and the associated medical diagnosis code. Required documentation for settled lawsuits: You must certify on your claim form that you have satisfied the requirements for settling your lawsuit. You can notify us by uploading a note to your claim, or by calling our Helpline. This is true regardless of the date on which the earlier condition is certified or verified. If you had filed a 9/11-related lawsuit prior to submitting a VCF claim and settled any of the claims set forth in the lawsuit, there are specific dates by which you must have tendered a release of the settled claims and dismissed any remaining unsettled claims. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and documentation, the VCF will contact you. If you are unable to obtain these types of documents, the Special Master will consider sworn Witness Presence Statements from people who can attest to your presence at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC Exposure Zone. VCF II opened in October 2011 and was originally authorized to accept claims for a period of five years, ending in October 2016, with a final year for processing and paying claims until October 2017. Your proof of timely withdrawal or dismissal of any remaining claims must be dated no later than the date you submit your claim or amendment seeking compensation for that condition. Settled fully and release tendered on or before January 2, 2011. If, however, your certified condition is not among the list of conditions that the VCF considers to be presumptively severe and it significantly impairs activities of daily living, or if the certification does not reflect the severity of the condition, you may want to submit supporting medical documentation related to your condition to help the VCF evaluate the severity and effect of the condition in order to determine whether an increased non-economic loss award within the appropriate range is warranted. TheVCF Act provides that you may either seek compensation from the VCF or you may file a lawsuit, but you cannot do both except under certain circumstances as explained below. If you have your WTC Notice of Participation which was filed with the NYCERS Pension Fund to preserve your right to file for a WTC disability retirement or reclassification in the future, you should submit it with your claim as it may support presence for purposes of your VCF claim. For civilian NYPD members, please refer to Section 1.7regarding documents needed to demonstrate proof of presence. Therefore, you should still submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that you were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. You must register for each of these programs separately. If your condition is certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program, you do not need to submit any other records to support or demonstrate your condition. You should submit documents reflecting your WCB number. WTC VCF Covered Conditions, Illnesses, & Cancers In limited cases, the FDNY may be able to provide documents and/or information directly to the VCF regarding proof of an EMS members presence at the site. For information about the NPN call 1-888-982-4748. It is therefore very important that you claim all losses and submit the required supporting documentation when you file your claim. This includes confirming that (a) the claim was registered by the applicable deadline, (b) you have an eligible 9/11-related physical condition, (c) there is sufficient documentation to demonstrate that you were present at the site, and (d) any 9/11-related lawsuits have been timely resolved. Please respect that the mission of the WTC Health Program is to provide medical treatment to those who are ill, and do not attempt to expedite your appointment unless you are in need of medical care. Official websites use .gov If you were a Sanitation employee during the period beginning onSeptember 11, 2001, throughMay 30, 2002, the VCF will contact the Sanitation Department to confirm your presence in the NYC Exposure Zone. Having an eligible condition is only one of the necessary criteria for compensation. If your physical injury or condition is certified for treatment by the WTC Health Program, the VCF will generally find the injury or condition eligible subject to confirmation that other elements of eligibility, including presence at the site, are documented. Documents in this category should be certified or be accompanied by a letter from an employee of the school or day care facility, or from your legal counsel (if an attorney is assisting you with your claim), confirming that the document submitted is a true and accurate copy. Although the VCF encourages you to file your claim after you have been certified by the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program for a 9/11-related physical health condition and as soon as the full scope of your claimed losses are known so that your claim for compensation can be reviewed as quickly as possible, the last date on which anyone can file a claim is October 1, 2090. 9/11 Prostate Cancer Claims | WTC VCF | Hansen & Rosasco The adult child can then authorize the VCF to share information about the claim with a parent by adding the parent as an Alternative Contact on the claim form. If the VCF is unable to obtain the required settlement information from third parties, we will contact you and you will be required to provide the settlement information before we can continue processing your claim. Responder dispatch records or union shop steward records showing dates and location(s) of your work. When you submit your complete claim form and we begin reviewing your claim, we will review each presence document. If an attorney signed and submitted the release on behalf of the individual or the individual's dependent, spouse, or beneficiary, a copy of the retainer agreement with the attorney in the settled lawsuit must be submitted as proof that the attorney was authorized to sign the release. If you have at least one certified or verified 9/11-related physical injury or condition and meet all of the eligibility criteria to receive compensation, you may also be eligible for payment for other physical injuries or conditions that are not included on the list of presumptively covered conditions (and that are therefore not certified or verified) and that resulted from your 9/11 exposure if you have presented extraordinary circumstances. The VCF encourages you to register now. You should still submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that you were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, when you submit your claim. How Much Are VCF Cancer Payouts? - Top Class Actions Do Multiple Certified Conditions Increase a VCF Award Amount? Note: the Witness Presence Statement is a template and use of it does not mean it will be determined to be sufficient by the VCF. Once you have registered with the VCF and have a VCF claim number, you may upload or mail documents to the VCF in order to store presence documentation, even if you have no immediate plans to submit a claim. Rule for Newly Covered Conditions and Lawsuits Filed Before November 2016:[2] If the condition for which you are seeking compensation from the VCF was added to the list of qualified injuries after January 2, 2012, your proof of timely withdrawal or dismissal from any lawsuit must be dated no later than the date you submit your claim or amendment seeking compensation for that condition. To begin the certification process with the WTC Health Program, you can find an application on line at www.cdc.gov/wtcor by calling 1-888-982-4748. Second, you may pursue a civil action against any person who is a "knowing participant in any conspiracy to hijack any aircraft or commit any terrorist act." Therefore, you should still submit other evidence (such as contemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that you were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. The VCFAct provides that the award from settlements in civil suits regarding injuries related to 9/11 will be counted as a collateral source offset. If the VCF needs additional information from you after reviewing your claim form and the letter, the VCF will contact you. The VCF has an arrangement with the FDNY in which the FDNY will provide documents directly to the VCF regarding proof of a FDNY firefighters or fire officers presence at the site. In most cases, you do not need to submit proof of presence as otherwise required if you were deemed eligible for VCF1 (see Section 1.6 for more information on proof of presence). If you have an eligible 9/11-related physical condition, it does not mean that you are guaranteed to be compensated by the VCF. [4] The VCF and the WTC Health Program use two different geographic areas and two different timeframes during which an individual needed to be at a 9/11 site. The VCF is a Federal Government program and is separate from the lawsuits between individuals and the Port Authority, the Captive Insurer, and others. The person you ask to be a witness must have personal knowledge of your presence at a 9/11 crash site or along the routes of debris removal. Therefore, settlement payments from lawsuits that were timely settled and released will be deducted from VCF awards. In the body of the email, please include your first name, last name, last four digits of your social security number or your standard work or enterprise ID number, and the VCF official email address, VCF.Thirdpartyverification@usdoj.gov, which is where human resources can directly send their response. If you have exhausted every option available to you to try and find documentation to support your presence at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC Exposure Zone during the relevant timeframe, and you cannot find any documents to submit with your claim, you may request that the VCF deny your claim and provide you the opportunity to provide testimony about your presence at an appeal hearing. You do not have to be a responder to be eligible. The Private Physician process is available only in the following limited circumstances: If the VCF determines that you are an appropriate candidate for the Private Physician process, the VCF will contact you and ask you to provide certain medical records and other information from a non-WTC Health Program physician. When you call, you will be asked to provide your full name so the Service Center can look up your work history. The lawsuit was commenced after December 22, 2003, and a release of claims in such lawsuit was tendered by the individual, or by the individual's attorney (provided the attorney has authority to tender the release) prior to January 2, 2011; You dismissed any claims that were not settled on or before January 2, 2012. The Molecular Cancer Research Journal published research that observed 15 men who were first-responders on September 11, 2001 at Ground Zero and later developed 9/11 prostate cancer and compared those men to 15 men with prostate cancer who were not exposed to the 9/11 related toxins. 104.61, any person who has filed or is a party to a lawsuit seeking damages for injuries sustained as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or for damages arising from or related to debris removal may not file a claim with the Special Master unless they withdraw from such action not later than January 2, 2012.. If we do not have an agreement with your employer or organization, you should provide your employer/organization with the VCF Third Party Verification Form, and instruct them to send the completed form directly to the VCF. The Program also covers medically associated conditions, which are conditions that result from the treatment or progression of a certified condition. How Much Compensation Does the VCF Award for Cancer Conditions? Exhibit A Authorization for Release of Medical Records(, Original and signed Exhibit A Authorization for Release of Medical Records(. A claim has reached the final stages of substantive review when the status in the online system moves to Determination Made: Processing. The VCF will not allow any amendment in a deceased claim after a substantive determination on the compensation claim has been made, except in limited circumstances. Oh and Mount Sinai epidemiologist Emanuela Taioli, M.D., Ph.D., recently published a study in Molecular Cancer Research showing that one of the inflammatory responses within the prostate was an increase in an inflammatory T cell, called Th-17, in men exposed to the toxic dust. FREE CONSULTATION. On December 18, 2015, the President signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act (Reauthorized Zadroga Act), Public Law No. Please note that this option is generally available only when legal or geographical obstacles mean that the representative is unable to open an estate to obtain an appointment. The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Registration and Other Deadlines Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/policies/WTCHP-Minimum-Cancer-Latency-PP-01062015-508.pdf, https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/pdfs/policies/WTCHP_PP_Time_Intervals_New_Onset_AeroDig_Disorders_30_August_2017-508.pdf, Instructions for Letters of Administration with Limitations, VCF Lead Personal Representative Designation Form, Civil Division Freedom of Information Act, Register with the VCF by thedeadline applicable to your individual circumstances, see. For example, the minimum latency period for Prostate Cancer is four years. 9/11 firefighter with cancer sues NYC in hopes of bigger payout than If you were employed by Bank of America (or one of its predecessor companies, including Merrill Lynch), and worked at an office located in the NYC Exposure Zone at any point during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, Bank of America may be able to provide you with a letter verifying your presence. The VCF will notify you if you need to submit any additional documents. Note: The VCF has agreements with certain employers, unions, and other organizations to provide information about presence in support of VCF claims. If you were present because of your work, the Third Party Verification Form is the preferred way to show you were there. In that case, you should submit presence documentation (such as contemporaneous documents, Witness Presence Statements, or affidavits) demonstrating that you were physically present in the NYC Exposure Zone during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002. Box 34500, Washington, D.C. 20043; and request the employer verification letter to confirm your work location between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, for your 9/11 Victim Compensation claim to be sent directly to the VCF at our official email address, VCF.Thirdpartyverification@usdoj.gov. If you do not have a form on file at your local union, please leave a message for Micki Siegel de Hernandez, CWAs National Deputy Director of Occupational Safety and Health at 202-434-1100 to see if your form is on file at the District 1 office. This could happen anytime between now and when the WTC Health Program closes in 2090. Pay stubs listing your employers address within the NYC Exposure Zone and confirming employment, when used in conjunction with other documents showing you were physically working at the address during the relevant timeframe. Please be aware that the WTC Health Program will prioritize patients who need treatment for appointments over those seeking certifications to support their VCF claims. VCF Pain and Suffering Compensation for 9/11 Cancers Under the Zadroga Act, a 9/11 responder or survivor may be awarded up to $250,000 for non-economic losses related to their cancer condition. You should provide this form to individuals who witnessed you at the site or in the NYC Exposure Zone during the relevant time period. The VCF verifies and authenticates all documents you submit with your claim. As a result, the VCF is not able to accept claims solely for psychological conditions. You should contact the employee verifications team by email at GS-HCM-Help-Americas@ny.email.gs.com and request an employment verification letter. The VCF Act provides that the award from settlements in civil suits regarding injuries related to 9/11 will be counted as a collateral source offset. Many individuals have asked about gathering documentation now to support their presence for a potential future claim given that the VCF is open to take claims until October 1, 2090. Blood in the urine, frequent urination, a slower-than-normal urine flow, erectile dysfunction, and blood in the semen following ejaculation are all signs of prostate cancer.
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