Speaking at a press briefing just ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, VCF Special Master Allison Turkel delivered a direct appeal to everyone who may have been exposed to 9/11-related toxins: register with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) now – even if you aren’t sick.
“People Do Not Have to Be Sick to Register”
Turkel opened by marking the significance of the moment. “Next week we commemorate 25 years since the terrorist attacks,” she said, honoring the lives lost that day, the heroism of the responders, and the resilience of those still living with 9/11-related health effects.
A quarter century on, she stressed, the work is far from finished. The VCF continues to receive more than 750 new claims every month. Turkel called this “a clear indication of the ongoing importance of our mission.”
One of Turkel’s central messages was that registration is not the same as being ill. “People do not have to be sick to register with the VCF,” she explained. “Registration preserves their right to file a claim in the event that they — and we hope not — do get sick with a 9/11 related illness.” She also reminded potential claimants that the process is accessible to everyone: “Claimants do not need a lawyer to register or file their claim.”
Eligibility Goes Far Beyond First Responders
Turkel was emphatic that the VCF “is not limited to first responders.” Compensation is available to anyone diagnosed with a 9/11-related physical illness who was present at one of the three crash sites during the eligible timeframes:
- The New York City Exposure Zone — all of Lower Manhattan below Canal Street — between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002
- The Pentagon crash site between September 11, 2001, and November 19, 2001
- The Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site between September 11, 2001, and October 3, 2001
That eligible population, she noted, includes:
- Journalists, camera operators, and others attached to the work;
- Those who worked or volunteered in construction, clean-up, and debris removal;
- Utility and telephone line workers; and
- People who lived, worked, visited, or went to school in the NYC Exposure Zone.
The Zadroga Act Provides Secure Funding Through 2090
Turkel addressed a question that weighs on many potential claimants: whether the money will last. She pointed to the 2019 signing of the Zadroga Act, which fully funded the VCF to pay all eligible claims and extended the filing deadline to October 1, 2090. “This means our funding is secure,” she said.
Turkel laid out the scale of the Fund’s impact:
- In 2025 alone, the VCF notified claimants of more than 9,800 award determinations, with over $1.8 billion awarded.
- As of August 31, 2026, the VCF has received more than 112,000 claims and awarded over $18.56 billion to more than 77,000 claimants since reopening in 2011.
But she cautioned that many eligible people still haven’t come forward. As many as 400,000 people who lived, worked, went to school, or visited within the NYC Exposure Zone may have been exposed to the toxins.
The VCF Makes It Easier to Prove Your Presence at an Exposure Site
Turkel acknowledged that after 25 years, it has become “increasingly challenging for claimants to find documents needed to prove their presence,” a key eligibility requirement. In response, the VCF has launched an updated “How to Prove Presence” page and a new Interactive Presence Guide that walks claimants step-by-step through identifying the documentation they need, or who to contact to obtain it.
“Our team is committed to ensuring no claimant feels lost or overwhelmed when submitting a claim,” she said, pointing to the VCF Helpline, staffed by real people who handle an average of more than 4,000 calls a month.
Turkel Issued a Call for the Public to Become Messengers of VCF Information
Now in her fourth year as Special Master, Turkel described expanding outreach as one of her central priorities and asked the public to help. She urged everyone to think about people they know who might have been present at any of the eligible sites, and to share VCF information with friends, family, and community members.
“We want to build this vast network, and everyone can be a partner,” she said.
Speaking as “a born and bred New Yorker” and a member of the affected community herself, Turkel called it “an honor to lead the VCF team in this work.”
Contact Pitta Baione LLP to See if You Are Eligible to File a Claim
If you lived, worked, went to school, volunteered, or even visited Lower Manhattan below Canal Street between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, or if you were present at the Pentagon or Shanksville sites during the eligible windows, and you developed a certified 9/11-related illness as a result, you may be eligible for VCF benefits. Registration costs nothing and simply preserves your right to file a claim if you are ever diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness. Contact Pitta & Baione LLP today to schedule a free consultation to determine your eligibility.
