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A Message from Special Master Sheila Birnbaum

January 29, 2013

The VCF has started to issue award decisions to eligible claimants, including information on the amount of the initial pro-rated payment to be made by the VCF. Under the Zadroga Act, the total amount of money for the VCF must cover both claims and administrative costs. Of that total, the Act makes only 31% available during the VCF's first five years. Because the funding works in this way, the Act requires the VCF to break up awards for eligible claims into two payments: one pro-rated payment during the first five years, and a second payment during the sixth year when the additional money may be spent. Please click on the links below for an explanation of how the VCF is calculating the first payments and the detailed Initial Payment Percentage Analysis.