9/11 Benefits for Clean-Up Workers

The attacks of 9/11 left behind 1.8 million tons of rubble. Clean-up efforts were dangerous; debris consisted of sharp, unstable pieces of iron and steel laid on top of burning fires, which prompted many workers to write their names on their arms if they fell or were crushed. Those who assisted with the cleanup process suffered significant exposure to the toxins that were released when the towers fell. The exposure from 9/11 has caused numerous health issues in thousands of people. Our WTC lawyer team helps the men and women who were exposed to 9/11 debris secure benefits under the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

9/11 Clean-Up Workers Suffer a Variety of Health Conditions

Anyone exposed to Ground Zero toxins is at risk of developing 9/11-related health conditions, but, generally, the greater the exposure, the worse the health outcomes. For those who sifted through contaminated debris for weeks and months, some common 9/11-related health conditions include: 

• Lung disease and other respiratory illness
• Cancers, including cancer of the skin, bones, breasts, digestive system, and thyroid
• Acute traumatic injuries 
• Mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases 
• Musculoskeletal disorders 
• Digestive illnesses and injuries 

9/11 clean-up workers whose conditions are certified by the WTC Health Program as 9/11-related may qualify for benefits as part of the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). With the help of a WTC lawyer, you can apply for benefits for your 9/11-related health condition. 

Prove Your Presence at a 9/11 Site With Help From Our WTC Lawyer

The second step after getting your health condition certified as 9/11-related is to prove to the VCF that you were present at a 9/11 crash site or in the NYC exposure zone for clean-up efforts between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002. Some relevant documents clean-up workers could use for this purpose include: 

• A third-party verification form signed by your employer or other organization that attests to your presence
• Contemporaneous documents, including official personnel rosters, medical records documenting treatment for injuries that occurred at the site, responder dispatch records, etc. 
• Witness presence statements or affidavits

Important VCF Deadlines 

There are two important deadlines to keep in mind when submitting a VCF claim: the registration deadline and the claim filing deadline. The registration deadline (the deadline by which you must register with the VCF to alert them that you are a potential claimant) is within two years of the latest date on which the WTC Health Program certifies your condition as 9/11-related. The claim filing deadline (the deadline by which you must formally submit your claim) is October 1, 2090 — the program’s expiration date. 

Contact a WTC Lawyer for Help Applying Today  

If you think you may qualify for VCF benefits, please contact a WTC lawyer at Pitta & Baione by using our online contact form or calling us at 844-982-2667.

Pitta & Baione LLP Successful Claims

BREAST CANCER

^$3+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a former Lower Manhattan corporate executive who developed 9/11 breast cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.95+ Million

Favorable result secured for an NYPD detective who responded to the attacks and later suffered from 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.76+ Million

Secured a wrongful death claim on behalf of a union carpenter who worked on the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 lung cancer.

THYROID CANCER

^$1.65+ Million

Secured a favorable result for an area worker in Lower Manhattan who later developed 9/11 thyroid cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1.7+ Million

Secured an expedited award for New York State Supreme Court employee who was disabled by 9/11 brain cancer.

LEUKEMIA

^$1.3+ Million

Secured a wrongful death award on behalf of a Lower Manhattan corporate executive who was diagnosed with 9/11 leukemia.

LUNG CANCER

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a union carpenter who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung cancer.

LUNG DISEASE

^$1.1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a Local 94 operating engineer who worked in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and was later found disabled by 9/11 lung disease.

NASAL CAVITY CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an xpedited award for a DSNY sanitation worker who assisted in the 9/11 cleanup efforts at Ground Zero and was later diagnosed with 9/11 nasal cavity cancer.

BRAIN CANCER

^$1+ Million

Secured an expedited award for a New York City Department of Corrections corrections officer who served as a volunteer responder on 9/11 and later developed a disabling and rare 9/11 brain cancer.

LUNG CANCER

^$960+ Thousand

Secured a favorable result for a wrongful death claim on behalf of a TWU Local 100 MTA worker who participated in the 9/11 recovery efforts and later developed 9/11 lung cancer.

COLON CANCER

^$770+ Thousand

Successfully represented an union carpenter who built temporary structures at Ground Zero as a 9/11 responder and later developed disabling 9/11 colon cancer.

View More Successful Claims