9/11 Victim Compensation Fund: Expanding Access, Honoring Heroes By Worby Vecchio Edelman, LLP on August 25, 2025

Still Fighting for 9/11 Survivors—First Responders and Beyond

From firefighters to office workers, residents to students, Worby Vecchio Edelman continues to ensure that every survivor impacted by toxic 9/11-related exposure has access to the compensation and care they deserve.

September 11, 2001, is etched in our nation’s memory. Each year, as we reflect on that day, we honor the courage of the 9/11 first responders—firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and others—who ran toward danger to save lives and later worked tirelessly in the recovery efforts. They remain true American heroes.

What many may not realize is that the health impact of 9/11 was not confined to first responders. Thousands of people who lived, worked, or went to school near Ground Zero have since developed serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. These conditions, which often take years to appear, include respiratory diseases, cancers, and other chronic health problems.

The Victim Compensation Fund: Not Just for First Responders

When our firm, Worby Vecchio Edelman, served as lead counsel in the original World Trade Center litigation, eligibility was limited to first responders. But today, the landscape has changed.

Thanks to the Zadroga Act and the expanded Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), anyone—residents, office workers, students, volunteers, and others—who was exposed to the dust and toxins of 9/11 and later became sick may now have the right to file a claim.

This expansion recognizes the devastating and lasting reach of that day and ensures that more victims and families can access the compensation and care they deserve.

Our Role and Commitment

As lead counsel in the original World Trade Center litigation, Worby Vecchio Edelman built a reputation as trusted New York 9/11 compensation lawyers dedicated to helping victims and families. With decades of experience navigating these complex cases, we know how to guide those impacted through the Victim Compensation Fund process.

At Worby Vecchio Edelman, we take pride in having led the charge for justice in the original World Trade Center litigation—but our work did not end there. While we continue to stand by the first responders who answered the call on 9/11, we also fight just as hard for the many others who were exposed that day and in the weeks that followed. Residents, office workers, students, and volunteers who lived, worked, or studied near Ground Zero are equally entitled to the protections of the Victim Compensation Fund. More than two decades later, our mission remains the same: to make sure that every survivor—first responder or not—has access to the compensation and care they deserve.

We also understand the importance of compassion. These claims aren’t just legal filings—they are the lived experiences of people whose health, families, and futures were changed forever.

This brief video honors the heroes of 9/11 and shows how we continue to support those still living with its lasting impact more than two decades later.

How We Can Help

The Victim Compensation Fund covers a wide range of 9/11 related illnesses, including many respiratory illnesses and cancers. If you believe your condition may be tied to 9/11 exposure, we can help you file a 9/11 compensation claim.

At Worby Vecchio Edelman, our attorneys will:

Explain the process and answer your questions clearly
Determine whether your condition qualifies under the VCF
File your claim properly and on time
Work on a contingency fee basis—meaning no upfront costs, no hourly charges, and no fees unless we recover compensation for you

Twenty-four years later, the impact of 9/11 continues to unfold. Thanks to the Zadroga Act, the Victim Compensation Fund is still here for survivors and families. Contact the experienced NYC Victim Compensation Fund attorneys at Worby Vecchio Edelman today to see if you may qualify.