Resources / Filing Your Claim / File a VCF Claim
How to File a VCF Claim: Step by Step
Key Takeaways
Filing a VCF claim is a two-stage process: register first to preserve your right to file, then submit the full claim after the WTC Health Program certifies your condition. Registration is free, requires no documentation, and has no prerequisites. Once your condition is certified, you gather your documents, submit through vcf.gov, and wait for the VCF to review eligibility, verify presence, assess your certified conditions, and calculate a compensation award. Payment follows after you accept the award. A 30-day appeal window is available if you disagree with the decision.
Register with the VCF
Registration preserves your right to file a compensation claim at any time before your individual deadline. It is free, requires no documentation, and has no prerequisites — you do not need a diagnosis, a condition certification, or an attorney to register.
Register online at vcf.gov or by calling the VCF helpline at 1-855-885-1555. Registration takes approximately 15 minutes online. Your registration deadline is specific to you and depends on when you were diagnosed or when your injury occurred. Do not delay registration — missing your deadline extinguishes your right to file.
Get Your Condition Certified by the WTC Health Program
The WTC Health Program must certify your condition before the VCF can review it for compensation. Certification is a clinical determination made by a WTC Health Program provider — a physician affiliated with a Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE) or a member of the Nationwide Provider Network (NPN) — that your condition is related to your 9/11 exposure.
This certification is what the VCF uses to confirm that your claimed condition is covered. Without it, the VCF cannot calculate non-economic loss for that condition, and in most cases cannot review the claim at all.
Private Physician Process
If you are not enrolled in the WTC Health Program — or if the claimant is deceased and was never enrolled — the VCF's Private Physician Process may allow a treating physician to provide condition verification in place of a WTC Health Program certification. The criteria for this process are narrow. Contact the VCF helpline or consult an attorney to determine whether it applies to your situation.
Gather Your Documents
Before submitting your claim, assemble the following. Incomplete submissions are returned with a Missing Information letter, which pauses your review clock.
- Claim form signature page (completed through the online portal)
- Exhibit A — Authorization to Release Information form with original ink signature
- Proof of presence at a covered site during the exposure period
- WTC Health Program certification letter for the condition(s) being claimed
- Economic loss documentation if claiming lost earnings or replacement services
- Payment information (bank account or mailing address for U.S. Treasury disbursement)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration if filing on behalf of a deceased victim
Submit Your Claim
Submit your completed claim and all supporting documents through vcf.gov or by calling the VCF helpline at 1-855-885-1555 to request a paper submission package. All documents should be uploaded through the portal when possible; paper submissions take longer to process.
Keep copies of everything you submit. After submission, the VCF will send a receipt letter confirming your claim has been received and assigned a claim number. Hold onto this number — you will use it to track your claim status and communicate with the VCF.
The VCF Review Process
After submission, your claim moves through a structured review. Each stage must be completed before the next begins.
Preliminary Review
The VCF verifies that your submission is complete. If anything is missing, you receive a Missing Information letter specifying what is needed and the deadline for providing it. Responding promptly avoids delays.
Eligibility Review
The VCF confirms that you meet the eligibility requirements: presence at a covered site during the exposure period, a covered condition, and timely registration. Eligibility is determined before compensation is calculated.
Compensation Review and Award Calculation
Once eligibility is confirmed, the VCF calculates the award. Non-economic loss is determined using a presumed loss table based on the certified condition. Economic loss — lost earnings and replacement services — requires additional documentation and third-party information requests, which extend the review timeline.
Award Decision
You receive an Award Letter stating the total amount and how it was calculated. You have 30 days from the date of the Award Letter to accept or appeal the decision. If you do nothing within 30 days, the award is deemed accepted.
Payment
Payment is issued by the U.S. Treasury as an electronic deposit. If you are represented by an attorney, you may request that payment be made to an attorney escrow account for disbursement after fees are deducted. Payment is typically disbursed within 30 days of acceptance.
Amending a Filed Claim
You may amend a filed claim if circumstances change. Common reasons to amend include:
- A new condition has been certified by the WTC Health Program after your original claim was filed
- An already-certified condition has worsened and your certification has been updated
- You have additional economic loss documentation not included in the original submission
- New information is relevant to your claim that was not previously available
The full list of grounds for amendment is available at vcf.gov. An amended claim re-enters the review queue. Filing an amendment may extend the overall timeline, but it ensures the VCF has all information needed to calculate the correct award.
Expedited Processing
The VCF offers expedited review for claimants facing terminal illness or imminent financial hardship. Both categories require a complete claim, supporting documentation, a written request for expedited processing, and a call to the VCF helpline to notify them of the request.
Terminal Illness
A letter from a treating physician confirming the diagnosis and prognosis is required. The VCF prioritizes these claims once the written request and documentation are on file.
Imminent Financial Hardship
Documentation of the financial hardship — such as foreclosure notices, utility shutoff notices, or evidence of inability to pay for medical care — must accompany the request. Not all hardship requests are granted; the VCF reviews each on its merits.
A complete, correctly submitted claim is what separates a claim that moves from one that stalls or gets denied. An attorney experienced in VCF claims can identify everything your claim needs, get it submitted completely, and make sure nothing delays your review. That is the practical value of representation in this process.
Common Questions
Exhibit A is the VCF's Authorization to Release Information form. It authorizes the VCF to obtain medical records, earnings information, and other documents needed to verify your claim. The VCF requires an original ink signature — not a digital signature — because this authorization carries legal weight and must be executed as an original document. A scanned or typed signature will not be accepted.
The VCF will send a Missing Information letter identifying what is needed and providing a deadline for your response. The claim is placed in a pending status until the information is received. Respond as quickly as possible to avoid further delays. If you miss the response deadline, your claim may be denied, though you may be able to refile depending on your registration status and individual deadline.
The VCF estimates 18 to 24 months for a full claim review, measured from the date your claim is complete and all required documentation has been submitted. Claims that include only non-economic loss tend to move faster. Claims that involve lost earnings require third-party requests — including to the Social Security Administration and the IRS — which add significant time. Expedited processing is available in limited circumstances.
Yes. You may amend a filed claim to add a newly certified condition, reflect a worsened condition that the WTC Health Program has updated, add additional economic loss documentation, or provide new information relevant to your claim. The full list of amendment grounds is available at vcf.gov. An amended claim re-enters the review queue and may extend the overall timeline.
You have 30 days from the date of the Award Letter to accept the award or file an appeal. If you accept, payment is issued by the U.S. Treasury, typically within 30 days of acceptance. If you believe the calculation is incorrect or that the VCF erred in its eligibility determination, you may file an appeal. Consult with an attorney before the deadline if you have any questions about the award amount or the basis for the decision.
June 2026 · Based on VCF Policies & Procedures effective March 19, 2026
Get a free case review.
Our attorneys can review your registration status, assess your certification, and guide you through every step of the VCF claim process. All consultations are confidential.