US fund pays millions to poles affected by 9/11 attacks

Poles who were in Lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 attacks may be eligible for compensation from the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF).

In recent years, over 100 Polish citizens contacted Onet media to inquire about the fund, and around fifteen have already qualified for a total of $1.5 million in awards. The VCF has distributed nearly $16.8 billion in aid since it reopened in 2011, and in 2023 alone, it paid out close to $2 billion.

Former President Donald Trump extended the VCF’s operation through 2090 and added $10 billion in funding in 2020. People who previously had their claims denied due to missed deadlines now have another opportunity to apply. Importantly, applicants do not need to be US citizens, but must prove they were present in the exposure zone and have developed an illness linked to the events of 9/11.

Following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, cleanup efforts released toxins into the air. Andrew Kaminski, a Polish-American lawyer, explained that the buildings contained many harmful materials that became airborne when burned, causing respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman initially assured the public the air was safe, a statement later used in legal battles for compensation, but she later admitted to making a mistake.

The VCF provides funds for conditions like cancer, respiratory diseases, and gastrointestinal issues, requiring applicants to provide documentation of their presence in the area, a qualifying illness, and certification from the World Trade Center Health Program.