You should only complete the online Private Physician forms if you meet the criteria for the Private Physician process. If you do not meet the criteria for the Private Physician process, you should answer “No” to any questions that ask about treatment by a physician not affiliated with the WTC Health Program. You should also answer “No” if the system displays the question that asks if you are ready to provide information regarding the Private Physician process.

Yes. You can request reimbursement for past out-of-pocket medical expenses you paid as a result of your eligible condition(s) if they were paid before the date that the WTC Health Program certified the condition(s). The VCF will not reimburse for expenses you incur after the condition was certified if you decide to have the conditions treated by a non-WTC Health Program physician, or to have prescriptions filled by an unaffiliated pharmacy.

Yes, if the payments are related to your disability from an eligible 9/11-related condition. The statute requires that the VCF offset from your award any disability benefits you are receiving, or entitled to receive, related to your eligible physical health conditions. If you are receiving disability payments for conditions that are not eligible under the VCF, those amounts will not be deducted from your award.

The VCF does not pro-rate payments. Your claim will be paid in full for the calculated loss amount at the time the payment is processed.  

It is the Special Master’s expectation that law firms will disburse payments to their claimants within 30 days of the money being deposited into the law firm account.

If you have already received at least one payment from the VCF and your banking information has changed since the last payment was processed, you must complete a new ACH Payment Information Form and upload it to your online claim as quickly as possible.  When uploading the new ACH form, you should include a letter stating that the new form should replace the banking information currently associated with your claim. If your address has changed, please call our Helpline at 1-855-885-1555 for assistance in updating our records.

Our first priority is to render decisions on claims for those claimants who have not yet received any award. At the same time, we do continue to review amendments and use the same priority order of rendering decisions on older amendments before reviewing newer ones.

The VCF accepts amendments on deceased claims, but these amendments should be rare.  Unlike in a personal injury claim, where the victim is still living, the circumstances of a deceased claim filed do not change.  Therefore, all losses in a deceased claim should be known to the claimant at the time the initial claim is filed.  It is far more efficient for the VCF and increases the pace at which the VCF can issue awards to all claimants, if the VCF only has to review these claims, with all losses included, one time.

Yes, you can amend your personal injury claim to add a new condition or to claim a new loss at any time prior to October 1, 2090.  You can find complete instructions on How to File an Amendment under “Forms and Resources” on our website. 

You should appeal if you are challenging the VCF’s determination on your claim.   

You should amend if you are seeking a new determination based on new information.