Author Archives: Michael Barasch
9/11 Illness No Longer Bar to Insurance Coverage Under Affordable Care Act
In a 2006 New York Times article, the co-director of Mount Sinai’s World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program, Dr. Robin Herbert, stressed the lifelong health consequences faced by ground zero workers: ”There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center disaster . . . Our […]
How the DOMA Supreme Court Ruling Helps Spouses of 9/11 Victims
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. As a result, same-sex partners who were legally married in their home state were nonetheless denied federal benefits. In 2002, Kenneth R. Feinberg, the special master of the initial September 11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF), announced that gay and lesbian domestic […]
Little Progress on Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA)
In a previous post, we outlined some of the various civil suits initiated in U.S. courts against terrorist organizations as well as other entities that allegedly provided funding and support in relation to the 9/11 attacks on New York City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. While many of these suits are ultimately symbolic in nature, some […]
Issues Affecting Your VCF Award
Once you receive your Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) decision letter, you should expect to receive your first payment within 30 days. The VCF is authorized to pay 10 percent of your total loss in the first installment. The VCF will send you the remainder of your payment sometime between 2016 and 2017. Prior to receiving […]
9/11-Related Compensation Programs
You may have several options to obtain treatment for your 9/11-related injuries or compensation for the death of your loved one under three primary benefits programs: Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program New York State Workers’ Compensation These separate programs have their own requirements, procedures and deadlines. You may be enrolled […]
NY World Trade Center Registry Deadline Approaching Soon
The deadline for registering for the World Trade Center Registry as a 9/11 participant is Sept. 11, 2014. The “participant” designation means that you performed paid or volunteer work related to the World Trade Center attacks in lower Manhattan and that you suffered or may suffer an ailment or injury as a result. Registering is […]
Latest VCF Program Statistics Show Significant Progress
While arguably slow to start, the VCF claims evaluation and compensation process has accelerated as administrators solidify their procedures and work out problems. The latest program data, released on July 3, 2014, shows impressive increases across all facets of the VCF claim process. As of June 30, 2014, the VCF program has achieved the following […]
New Important Deadline Approaches for VCF Candidates
Deadlines are of critical importance for anyone who potentially has a Victims Compensation Fund claim. However, as each important deadline passes, a new one seems to appear on the horizon. This has caused many people to rush or panic unnecessarily, or worse, to erroneously believe they have lost the opportunity to pursue compensation. However, the […]
A Tax Break on Terror-Related Disability Payments: Keep it in Mind
Tax Consequences of Victim Compensation Fund and Terror-Related Disability Payments For individuals who sustained injuries, and for families who lost loved ones as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks, there is some tax relief available. In 2002, then-president George W. Bush signed into law the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001. […]
September 11 Memorial Museum Dedicated
In May of 2014, a group of people gathered deep in the earth to dedicate a space to remember the events of September 11, 2001. Within arms of cement and twisted metal, President Obama dedicated the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Located in the footprints of the north and south World Trade Towers, the memorial bears witness […]
