9/11 Benefits for Residents
As the center of the business and financial world, it is often easy to forget that Lower Manhattan is also a residential neighborhood, with more than 30,000 residents calling the area home in 2000. Those residents were significantly affected by the events of the day and can work with a 9/11 attorney to secure benefits for the health conditions they have suffered as a result of the continued exposure to toxic dust that blanketed the area for months after the attacks. As a result, lower Manhattan residents who developed 9/11-related health conditions are eligible to receive benefits from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).
RESIDENTS OF THE NYC EXPOSURE ZONE MAY QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS
Lower Manhattan residents who lived within the NYC exposure zone (generally the area of Lower Manhattan below Canal Street) between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, and who suffer a 9/11-related health condition may qualify for benefits. There is no minimum amount of time residents had to be present within the exposure zone to qualify. For example, a resident who moved out of the exposure zone one month after the attacks would still be eligible based on having lived in the exposure zone for any amount of time.
COMMON 9/11-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONS AMONG LOWER MANHATTAN RESIDENTS
Our 9/11 attorney knows that continuous exposure to 9/11 toxins, like that of the exposure zone residents, has resulted in significant respiratory problems for many. According to a study by the World Trade Center Health Registry, the following 9/11-related conditions are most common among residents of the exposure zone:
- Upper respiratory symptoms (URS)
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Asthma/reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS)
- Chronic cough
- COPD
PROVING YOUR PRESENCE IN THE NYC EXPOSURE ZONE
It’s not always easy to prove that you were in a specific location at any given time, especially after 20 years of time has passed. However, the VCF accepts several types of evidence to confirm your presence within the exposure zone during the relevant time frame, including:
- Government documents showing your address within the exposure zone (e.g., W-2 forms, applications for public housing, copies of benefits payment stubs, etc.)
- Rental agreements
- Proof of rent payment
- Mortgage receipts
- Utility bills
- Witness presence statements or affidavits
When submitting evidence confirming your residence, it is best to submit as many different types of documents as you can. When you work with a 9/11 attorney at Pitta & Baione we can help you with this important step.
CONTACT A 9/11 ATTORNEY FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VCF BENEFITS FOR LOWER MANHATTAN RESIDENTS
If you lived in Lower Manhattan during and after the 9/11 attacks and suffer a 9/11-related condition, you may qualify for VCF benefits. For more information about your eligibility, please contact a 9/11 attorney at Pitta & Baione by using our online contact form or calling us at 844-901-1312.
