After terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, thousands of NYPD members courageously responded to Ground Zero to aid in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts. Due to exposure to the harmful chemicals in the dust cloud that covered lower Manhattan in the months ahead, countless police officers were diagnosed with 9/11-related cancers, illnesses, and diseases that caused them to be physically disabled.
NYPD members who were incapable of working due to their 9/11-related health conditions and were forced into early retirement may be entitled to compensation for their economic loss from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. If you were a police officer who worked in the NYC Exposure Zone in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks, The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. can assist you with securing the award you are eligible to receive from the VCF for your 9/11 NYPD disability retirement claim.
VCF Compensation for NYPD Loss of Earnings and Pension Benefits
New York City police officers suffered a wide range of cancers and illnesses as a result of breathing in the chemicals that permeated the air in lower Manhattan following September 11, 2001. While many were injured or suffered fatality on that tragic day, countless police officers who were at Ground Zero or worked along the debris routes later developed 9/11 cancers and illnesses — sadly, families of NYPD members continue to lose loved ones to health conditions linked to the 9/11 dust cloud two decades later.
The NYPD offers pension benefits to those who are eligible for retirement. Unfortunately, police officers who suffered 9/11-related disabilities may have had no other option than to retire earlier than they had planned, resulting in loss of future earnings and pension benefits. If you retired from the NYPD on a WTC-related accidental pension, a disability pension based on a VCF eligible condition, or received a 9/11-related disability determination from a third-party, you may be entitled to recovery from the VCF for your economic losses.
Additionally, the spouse and dependents of an NYPD member who passed away as a result of their 9/11-related illness may be entitled to the lost earnings and benefits their loved one incurred prior to death. They may also be entitled to compensation for loss of future earnings and non-economic loss in a wrongful death claim.
Documentation for a 9/11 NYPD Disability Retirement Claim
If you’re an eligible NYPD member seeking loss of future earnings and retirement benefits, it’s critical to understand that the NYPD does not provide the VCF with the information you need to prove presence in the NYC Exposure Zone to support your claim. To establish presence, you must submit at least two forms of proof with your claim, such as a memo book entry, WTC Notice of Participation, detail roster assignment sheet, or an overtime report.
The NYPD will directly send the VCF the information it needs to calculate a 9/11 NYPD disability retirement claim, including:
• Historical earnings
• 1/60th calculation for those who have worked 20 years or more
• Amount of pension
• Type of retirement
• Date of appointment
• Retirement date
• Date of WTC reclassification, if applicable
• The basis of the disability determination
• Medical Board Police Pension Fund Article II Reports
If you were granted a WTC disability pension, you usually will not need to submit any further paperwork. However, if you have suffered economic loss due to your 9/11-related illness from another source of employment, you will be required to provide additional documentation.
Contact a VCF Attorney for Help Filing a 9/11 NYPD Disability Retirement Claim
Submitting a claim to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund for loss of NYPD earnings and pension benefits can be overwhelming. A committed VCF attorney can walk you through every step of the claim filing process and fight for your rights to obtain fair compensation. Dearie Law Firm, P.C. provides trusted representation to NYPD members and their families to help ensure they receive the award to which they’re entitled. Contact us for a consultation.