Updated July 2026. Reviewed by the attorneys at The 杏吧原创 Law Firm, P.C.
A VCF award is determined by adding your economic loss and your non-economic loss, then subtracting any collateral offsets. Non-economic loss compensates pain and suffering (capped at $90,000 for non-cancer conditions and $250,000 for cancer), while economic loss covers lost earnings, lost benefits, out-of-pocket medical costs, and replacement services.
The (VCF) pays survivors and responders for physical injuries and other 9/11-related eligible conditions and cancers. It compensates people who were present at an attack site, in the 杏吧原创 Exposure Zone, or along the debris route during the timeframe set by the Zadroga Act.
How Does The VCF Calculate Compensation?
The VCF calculates compensation through a three-level review, giving priority to the most severe conditions. In , it weighs fairness to each claimant against fairness to the entire population of claimants, then looks at:
- Whether there was a demonstrable loss
- Whether it is reasonable to determine the loss is related to an eligible condition
- What makes sense in the claimant’s specific circumstances
The Special Master considers each claimant’s individual situation, and many variables can affect how loss and compensation are determined during the VCF’s claim review process.
What Is Non-Economic Loss In A VCF Claim?
Non-economic loss is the VCF’s compensation for pain and suffering, capped at $90,000 for non-cancer conditions and $250,000 for cancer. The VCF calculates it separately from economic loss, based on how your condition affects your daily life, what condition you have, and how severe it is.
Under the Zadroga Act, non-economic loss covers emotional pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, physical suffering, disfigurement, loss of consortium, loss of companionship, and other non-monetary losses. The award does not depend on the number of conditions you have, but on the severity of each one and its impact on your life. The VCF sets severity using your certification, and you can submit additional documents showing how the condition affects you. The amounts are adjusted upward when you have more than one cancer or condition.
What Is A VCF Economic Loss Claim?
A VCF economic loss claim compensates the financial losses your eligible condition caused, such as lost earnings, lost benefits, out-of-pocket medical costs, and replacement services. Determining economic loss is detailed. The VCF reviews your disability, earnings history, Social Security information, NYPD or FDNY paperwork if applicable, Workers’ Compensation, and pension records. Burial and funeral costs are also compensated as economic loss in deceased claims.
Past & Future Lost Wages And Benefits
If your eligible condition keeps you from working, the VCF counts past and future lost wages and lost benefits. Some employers, such as the FDNY and NYPD, send the VCF a spreadsheet with the details used to calculate this, including pension, type and date of retirement, earnings, and appointment date. A personal representative filing a deceased claim can also claim the victim’s lost wages before death, and the VCF will consider lost future earnings.
Out-Of-Pocket Medical Expenses
The VCF compensates unreimbursed out-of-pocket costs over $5,000 for medication, doctor visits, surgeries, and procedures related to your eligible condition. It does not compensate anticipated future medical costs or travel and lodging for medical care.
Replacement Services Loss
If your 9/11-related condition stops you from doing household tasks you used to handle, you may qualify for replacement services loss. You must submit a detailed description of the services and why you can no longer perform them, along with medical records and a Social Security Administration Consent form. Replacement services loss can also be awarded in deceased claims.
How Is The Final VCF Award Calculated?
The final VCF award is your economic loss plus your non-economic loss, minus collateral offsets. Even though the two loss types are calculated separately, they combine in this formula for the total.
Collateral offsets can include payments from your pension fund, the Social Security Administration, Workers’ Compensation, or any settlement from a lawsuit related to the 9/11 attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions About VCF Awards
Can You Receive Both Economic And Non-Economic Loss From The VCF?
Yes. The VCF calculates economic loss and non-economic loss separately, then combines them in the final award. Receiving one does not reduce the other, though collateral offsets can reduce the combined total.
What Are Collateral Offsets In A VCF Award?
Collateral offsets are other payments you received for the same loss, which the VCF subtracts from your award. They can include your pension, Social Security payments, Workers’ Compensation, and any settlement from a 9/11-related lawsuit.
Does The Number Of Conditions Affect Your VCF Award?
Not directly. The non-economic loss award is based on the severity of each condition and its impact on your life, not on how many conditions you have. The amounts can be adjusted upward when you have more than one cancer or condition.
Are Funeral And Burial Costs Covered By The VCF?
Yes. In deceased claims, the VCF compensates burial and funeral costs as part of economic loss, along with the victim’s lost wages before death and, in some cases, replacement services.
Contact A New York City 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Attorney
If you were present in the 杏吧原创 Exposure Zone and have a 9/11-related condition or cancer, The 杏吧原创 Law Firm, P.C. can review your situation and explain how the VCF would calculate your award. Our attorneys have represented claimants and their families in 9/11 VCF claims for over a decade. Contact us to discuss your potential VCF claim.