Statement of 911 Health Watch on Updated Statistics from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
For Immediate Release from 911 Health Watch
January 30, 2014
Press Contact: Benjamin Chevat (646) 634-9103
ben.chevat@911healthwatch.org
Statement of 911 Health Watch on Updated Statistics from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
Today, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund released an update on its activities to date. 911 Health Watch Executive Director Benjamin Chevat issued the following statement on the new statistics:
“The VCF approved more than $100 million in compensation awards over the last two months, which is a solid improvement in the Fund’s performance and a lifeline for those struggling with 9/11 related health problems. We’re hopeful that the Fund will continue this trend in the months to come. That with the Fund’s improved website and with better coordination between the VCF, the WTC Health Program and claimants’ attorneys there will be an increasing number of determinations.
“911 Health Watch has been working with the VCF, Members of Congress and lawyers for injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors to get the process moving and get much-needed compensation to those who have been waiting for so long.”
Here are some of the statistics that the Special Master reported on:
The report states that as of January 28, 2014, of those who registered with the VCF, 12,138 have submitted eligibility forms. According to Ms. Birnbaum, of those 12,138, 4,294 have been determined eligible for compensation, while 6,602 claims cannot be decided because they are missing either signed permission to obtain claimants’ records, adequate medical documentation, or sufficient proof that claimants were at the site.
Of the 4,294 claimants who were determined eligible, 1,322 have submitted compensation forms, for which 323 compensation decisions have been made — an increase 211 decisions since November 2013.
As of the January 28, 2014, the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has made determinations for compensation of $135,501,249 million dollars — an increase of $108,344,866 since November.
Of the 323 claims that have had determinations made, 313 have been for responders, 8 have been non responders and 2 have been injured residents.