How To File a Claim With the Victim Compensation Fund in NYC
If you got injured or your loved one died in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, you may be eligible for victim compensation from New York City. Now that more than 10,000 people have been diagnosed with cancer related to the WTC attack, the City offers victim compensation for even more eligible categories.
This article will provide all the details regarding the Victim Compensation Fund in NYC and a step-by-step guide to submitting an application with it.
New York State Victims’ Compensation Fund—Explained
The State of New York offers crime victim compensation for people who are victims of violent crimes, such as homicide, sexual abuse, domestic violence, vehicular crimes, stalking, and many others.
The program receives annual funding from the Criminal Justice Improvement Account. The revenue fund comes from two sources:
- Mandatory surcharges
- Victim assistance fees
Like any other victim compensation fund, the NY Victims’ Compensation Fund receives an annual Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA) compensation grant.
The Fund compensates victims for out-of-pocket expenses, including:
- Lost wages
- Hospital bills
- Mental health counseling
- Crime scene clean-up
- Funeral and burial costs
- Relocation and travel expenses
Victims throughout the state can receive victim compensation from the Fund—all you need to do is from a web browser.
If you are a New York resident who was injured in the 9/11 attack, you should see if you’re eligible for reimbursement from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
What Is the Purpose of the Victim Compensation Fund in New York?
The New York City Victim Compensation Fund refers to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). It is a program that the government created to compensate any individual who suffered physical injuries or died as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
The Senate voted for the reauthorization of the VCF in 2019, and the Fund now receives permanent funding from the federal government.
Individuals who qualify for filing claims with the NYC Victim Compensation Fund include:
- Victims who suffer direct injuries or disabilities resulted from the 9/11 attack
- Family members of the victims who were killed in the attack
- Legal representatives of incapable victims
- Victims who developed illnesses such as cancer as the result of the attack
- Parents or legal guardians of children hurt or killed in the attack
NYC Crime Victim Compensation Requirements
The NYC Crime Victim Compensation Fund is not going to approve every single claim. To ensure the Fund doesn’t deny your application, you should do as required:
- Register with the New York City VCF according to the deadline
- Submit your application before October 1, 2090
- Settle any lawsuit regarding the WTC attack that you may have filed
- Show that you have a World Trade Center Health Program certified injury or illness
- Demonstrate that you were in the New York City Exposure Zone or the debris removal area anytime between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002
- Provide proof of legal authority if you’re filing a claim in someone else’s name
DoNotPay Is the Best Way To Apply for Victim Compensation in NYC
Whether you are a victim of a violent crime that happened in the State of New York or a 9/11 attack victim, DoNotPay will help you apply for reimbursement.
Our Compensation for Crime Victims product enables you to file claims in any state in America, from Oregon, California, and Idaho to Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
By answering a set of specific questions, you provide us with all the necessary information we need to file a claim on your behalf.
To get victim compensation, and follow these steps:
- Choose the Compensation for Crime Victims product
- Inform us whether you’re the victim or another claimant
- Answer the questions
- Add and verify the signature
We will hastily submit your application to the proper institution.
If you are interested in victim compensation services, you should check out our learning center to inform yourself about the topics, such as:
- Emergency funds for domestic violence victims
- Crime victim compensation amounts
- Relocation funds for victims of domestic violence
- The amount of money each victim received through the 9/11 VCF
How Much Reimbursement Will I Get From the NYC Victim Compensation Fund?
How much compensation you will get from the New York City Victim Compensation Fund depends on several factors.
In the following table, you can find out which claimant categories received the largest victim compensation payouts in 2018:
Claimant Category | Number of Approved Claims | Total Compensation Amount |
Responder | 16,525 | $3,849,021,080 |
Non-Responder—Other Capacity | 2671 | $634,886,384 |
Resident Within NYC Exposure Zone | 471 | $102,953,949 |
Non-Responder—Cleaning and Maintenance | 693 | $80,939,483 |
No Response | 370 | $67,191,002 |
NYC—Other Capacity | 164 | $40,725,194 |
Attendant of School, Child Care, or Adult Care Facility Within the NYC Exposure Zone | 55 | $10,754,643 |
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