Investing.com -- Over the last five years, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has paid more than $1.52 billion to recovery workers, residents and first responders who were impacted by the terrorist acts at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Last December, U.S. president Barack Obama signed a bill into law reauthorizing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. A portion of the law reauthorized the VCF, making the original $2.775 billion in appropriations available immediately and providing an additional $4.6 billion, which will become available in October. From 2001 until 2003, the VCF processed claims related to the injuries and deaths caused by the September 11th terrorist attacks. In 2011, the fund was re-opened to compensate first responders and individuals who later experienced health problems related to the cleanup of the attacks.
Since the VCF was reauthorized in December, the VCF's special master has authorized final payment on 8,930 Group A claims, the Justice Department said in a statement. As a result, less than 200 Group A claims still need to be authorized for full payment.
"It has taken a tremendous amount of work to update the regulations to reflect the reauthorization law and to redesign the claim form to make it easier to use, while at the same time continuing to implement the other changes required by the reauthorization,” said VCF Special Master Sheila Birnbaum.
“I encourage claimants to review the new sample claim form and begin gathering the relevant information and documents so they are prepared to submit their claim when the form becomes available online and in hard copy at the end of July."
In addition, Birnbaum updated regulations as an Interim Final Rule on Wednesday, while authorizing a 30-day post-publication comment period. By publishing the Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register, the VCF can begin issuing Group B compensation decisions as soon as the Group B funding becomes available. Birnbaum expects to issue the first Group B loss determinations at the end of the month, while authorizing the first full payments in mid-August.
"I realize no amount of money can alleviate the losses suffered on Sept. 11, 2001, but the 9-11 community is one of great resilience, and the men and women who are working so hard to process VCF claims are proud and privileged to work with all of you."