The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act’s Victim Compensation Fund registry is now open. Claimants may begin to fill out basic registration information, such as their names and addresses, but they won’t be able to submit medical and other eligibility information until the end of the month, according to V.C.F. Special Master Sheila Birnbaum.
Birnbaum denied other media reports alleging the process has been delayed.
“There was no way we could get it up and running and be able to test the claims form and get it done in a way that would be meaningful,” said Birnbaum. “The claims section is being tested to make sure it’s understandable and easy to use.”
Birnbaum is organizing clinics for early November that would guide the claimants through the application forms. In the meantime, she said, interested claimants are offered assistance through a telephone help line. A list of frequently asked questions is also available on the V.C.F. website.
For more information, visit www.vcf.gov. To register, visit www.claims.vcf.gov/welcome.aspx.
