The Victim Compensation Fund is a separate program from the WTC Health Program administered by the U.S Department of Justice. The VCF requires a separate enrollment process and provides financial compensation for those diagnosed with an eligible 9/11-related illness.
As expected, a majority of VCF claims came out of New York with 46,505 claims filed so far in the state. The VCF compensates survivors, first responders and those who worked in construction, clean-up, and debris removal.
7,079 claims have been filed out of New Jersey since the program's conception. The VCF also compensates those who lived, worked, attended school or daycare or had extended visits in the affected areas between Sept. 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002 which includes many next door in New Jersey. These people are designated as survivors within the program.
Florida is ranked third in terms of VCF claims with 3,778 claims filed. The WTC Health Program suspects that Florida's large population of members and claims is because many of New York's responders are now retired and decided to settle there.
Those with a 9/11-related illness who were at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site at any point from Sept. 11, 2001, through May 30, 2002, are also eligible for VCF compensation. 1,164 claims have been filed from the state so far.
North Carolina has seen 805 claims filed – even more than Washington DC (27) and Virginia (462) combined despite the Pentagon being one of the crash sites.