First responders face benefit cuts from 9/11 compensation fund

Many of the first responders who sacrificed their health in the aftermath of 9/11 are facing benefit cuts from the Victim’s Compensation Fund.

News 12 Staff

Feb 17, 2019, 9:44 PM

Updated 1,986 days ago

Share:

First responders face benefit cuts from 9/11 compensation fund
Many of the first responders who sacrificed their health in the aftermath of 9/11 are facing benefit cuts from the Victim’s Compensation Fund.
Jimmy Nolan, of Yonkers, was there when the second plane hit the World Trade Center on 9/11.

He was a carpenter and was renovating an NYU dorm at the time. Nolan says he was part of the recovery and rebuilding efforts for 2 ½ years.
Nolan says he is now dealing with a lot of health issues.

"I get sinusitis, I get migraines, asthma, I get rashes on my hands,” he says.

But now there’s a major blow for Nolan and others who got sick after working at Ground Zero with word that the Victim’s Compensation Fund is running out of money. According to the fund administrator, cuts will be drastic: a 50 percent drop for people who already filed claims. Those who file after Feb. 1 will get cut even more - at 70 percent.

Since the 9/11 Victim's Compensation Fund started, more than 21,000 people received about $5 billion.
White Plains attorney David Worby was the lawyer who started the initial lawsuit against the government on behalf of 10,000 sick workers.

"If we have emergency powers to spend $5 billion for a wall to keep out immigrants, I think we come up with the funds to help our workers and our fireman and our cops and our people who got sick trying to help our country,” he says.

Some members of Congress are reacting in outrage to the announcement.
In a tweet, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says she's introducing a bipartisan bill to make the Victim’s Compensation Fund permanent.
The 9/11 Victim's Compensation Fund is slated to stop accepting claims by Dec. 18, 2020.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued