WTC 9/11 Settlement Calculator 2026: Estimate Your VCF Claim
Use the WTC 9/11 settlement calculator to organize potential September 11th Victim Compensation Fund claim factors involving qualifying presence, WTC Health Program certification, non-economic loss, lost earnings, disability, deceased-victim losses, collateral offsets and supporting documentation.
- The VCF and WTC Health Program are separate federal programs with separate applications.
- VCF compensation generally requires an eligible 9/11-related physical condition and qualifying presence.
- Registration is different from filing a claim and has an individualized deadline.
- Non-economic loss + economic loss − collateral offsets is the basic VCF award framework.
- Mental-health conditions can be treated by the WTC Health Program but are not independently compensable by the VCF.
Get Your Free 9/11 VCF Claim Estimate
Answer the guided questions using your exposure history, certified condition, disability, work loss, prior payments and available documentation.
Latest Victim Compensation Fund Statistics
The VCF’s monthly statistics report, with data as of August 31, 2026, shows $18.56 billion in cumulative awards and 112,302 cumulative claims submitted. It also reports 77,302 cumulative initial compensation determinations and 22,603 amended determinations. During 2026 through August, the VCF reported $1.52 billion awarded and 6,327 claims submitted (VCF August 2026 monthly report).
200,552 Registrations
Cumulative registrations reported as of August 31, 2026.
78,731 Approved Eligibility Determinations
Cumulative approved eligibility determinations shown in the August report.
Claims Continue to Move
The VCF report notes that review timing depends heavily on whether a claim is submitted in good order with required documentation.
Who May Qualify for a 9/11 VCF Claim?
VCF eligibility is not limited to firefighters or police. Potential claimants can include responders, cleanup workers, residents, office workers, students, visitors and other people who meet the VCF’s presence, time-period and physical-condition requirements.
Qualifying Presence
The VCF covers qualifying presence at the World Trade Center or the VCF NYC Exposure Zone between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002; the Pentagon site through November 19, 2001; and the Shanksville site through October 3, 2001, subject to the program’s specific rules.
Eligible Physical Condition
For most claims, the VCF relies on WTC Health Program certification of a 9/11-related physical health condition. A limited VCF Private Physician Process may apply in specified circumstances.
Proof of Presence
Employment records, responder logs, union or agency records, school or residence records, contemporaneous documents and accepted witness evidence may help establish presence.
Other Requirements
Claims can also involve registration timing, lawsuit requirements, claimant authority, deceased-victim documentation and compensation-specific proof.
VCF Compensation Benchmarks in 2026
The VCF calculates each award individually. Its basic compensation framework is non-economic loss + economic loss − collateral offsets.
Mild or negligible impairment begins at $10,000. $90,000 is the highest award the statute allows for a non-cancer condition, and the VCF treats emphysema, interstitial lung disease (including asbestosis) and sarcoidosis as presumptively severe at that level.
$250,000 is the maximum for any one type of cancer. Where an award falls depends on the severity of the certified condition and its effect on normal activities of daily living.
The prostate cancer baseline award is $200,000. Medical records showing recurrence or metastasis support an increase to $250,000, and long-term treatment complications lasting more than two years can also support a higher award.
In a small number of cases, awards reach up to $340,000 for multiple cancers or a cancer with multiple severe non-cancer conditions. The amount is not tied to the number of certified conditions.
The VCF generally presumes $250,000 for the decedent plus $100,000 for a spouse and each dependent, subject to the governing rules.
Potential components include lost earnings and benefits, qualifying out-of-pocket medical costs, replacement services and burial or memorial expenses, less required offsets. Annual gross income counted for lost earnings is limited to $255,610.
Covered WTC-Related Conditions
The WTC Health Program provides medically necessary monitoring and treatment for conditions it certifies as WTC-related. Certification is an official program decision based on exposure and condition-specific requirements.
Cancers
Covered categories include blood and lymphoid cancers, breast, digestive-system, head and neck, mesothelioma, prostate, respiratory, skin, thyroid, urinary-system, uterine and qualifying rare cancers.
Airway & Digestive Disorders
Covered conditions can include asthma, chronic cough syndrome, chronic rhinosinusitis, GERD, interstitial lung disease, RADS and qualifying COPD.
Mental Health & Other Conditions
The Health Program can cover certified mental-health conditions and certain other categories. However, the VCF itself does not compensate a claim based solely on mental-health conditions.
Documents That Can Strengthen a VCF Claim
- WTC Health Program certification letter
- Diagnosis and treatment records
- Employment and union records
- Responder, agency or volunteer records
- Residence, school or office records
- Accepted proof-of-presence statements
- SSA disability records
- FDNY/NYPD or pension records where relevant
- Tax returns and earnings history
- Workers’ compensation information
- Life-insurance and collateral-source records
- Estate, death certificate and dependency records where applicable
How the 9/11 VCF Claim Process Works
WTC Health Program vs. Victim Compensation Fund
WTC Health Program
Purpose: medical monitoring and medically necessary treatment for certified WTC-related health conditions.
Administered by: NIOSH within CDC/HHS.
Important: enrollment does not automatically register a person with the VCF.
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
Purpose: financial compensation for eligible 9/11-related physical injury or death.
Administered by: U.S. Department of Justice.
Important: the VCF separately reviews registration, presence, physical-condition eligibility, compensation, offsets and applicable lawsuit rules.
VCF Deadlines: October 1, 2090 Is Not the Only Date That Matters
The final VCF claim filing deadline is October 1, 2090 for everyone, but there is a separate registration deadline.
For personal-injury claims, the VCF generally requires registration within two years of the date a government entity notifies the claimant that a physical condition is 9/11-related. For most WTC Health Program claimants, that two-year period runs from the most recent certification date. Deceased-victim claims have separate registration rules, including rules tied to prior timely registration, date of death and certain Private Physician Process determinations.
WTC / 9-11 VCF Claim & Compensation Resources
WTC 9/11 Settlement Calculator FAQ
Is the VCF the same as a lawsuit settlement?
No. The VCF is a federal compensation program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, and it pays financial compensation for physical injuries, illnesses or deaths that resulted from the 9/11 attacks. The term “settlement calculator” describes this educational tool, not the legal nature of a VCF award.
What is the final VCF claim filing deadline?
October 1, 2090. Registration is separate and has an individualized deadline: for a personal-injury claim, generally within two years of the date a government entity notifies you that your physical condition is 9/11-related.
How much is non-economic loss for a non-cancer condition?
The VCF says non-cancer awards range from $10,000 to $90,000. Mild or negligible impairment begins at $10,000, and $90,000 is the highest award the statute allows for a non-cancer condition. Emphysema, interstitial lung disease (including asbestosis) and sarcoidosis are presumed severe enough for that maximum.
How much is non-economic loss for an eligible cancer?
Up to $250,000 for any one type of cancer. In a small number of cases, awards reach up to $340,000 for multiple cancers or a cancer with multiple severe non-cancer conditions. Prostate cancer has a $200,000 baseline, rising to $250,000 where medical records show recurrence or metastasis.
Can the WTC Health Program treat mental-health conditions?
Yes, when certified under Health Program rules; its covered conditions include PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders. The VCF, however, cannot accept claims solely for psychological conditions: its policy states that the VCF Act “explicitly prohibits the VCF from compensating for Mental Health Conditions.”
Sources: CDC/NIOSH — covered conditions · VCF — eligibility policy
Do I need an attorney to file a VCF claim?
No. The VCF says you do not need an attorney to file a claim and that claims submitted by an attorney receive no priority. If you do hire one, the attorney may not charge more than 10% of your VCF award. Some claimants choose legal help for complicated eligibility, economic-loss, offset, estate, amendment or appeal issues.
How much does the VCF pay for asthma?
The VCF’s fact sheet sets no asthma-specific amount. Asthma/RADS is one of the conditions it treats as presumptively less severe, warranting lower awards within the $10,000 to $90,000 non-cancer range unless medical documentation shows greater severity. The VCF focuses on records from within three years of the claim submission date.
How much does the VCF pay for leukemia or other blood cancers?
The VCF’s fact sheet sets no leukemia-specific amount. Blood and lymphoid tissue cancers are covered WTC Health Program conditions, and the VCF’s maximum non-economic award for any one type of cancer is $250,000, set according to severity and the effect on daily living. Economic loss is calculated separately.
Sources: CDC/NIOSH — covered conditions · VCF — Calculation of Loss
Review Your Potential 9/11 VCF Claim
Use the calculator to organize exposure, certification and compensation factors, or request a confidential review of the documentation you already have.
VCF & WTC Health Program Sources
VCF — August 2026 Monthly Statistics
Official program statistics as of August 31, 2026 for claims, registrations, determinations and cumulative dollars awarded.
Open August 2026 VCF report →VCF — Eligibility Criteria & Deadlines
Official policy for presence, physical-condition eligibility, registration, claim filing, deceased-victim claims and related requirements.
Open VCF eligibility policy →VCF — Calculation of Loss
Official policy for non-economic loss, economic loss, deceased-victim amounts and collateral offsets.
Open VCF compensation policy →VCF — Non-Economic Loss Fact Sheet
Official benchmarks for non-cancer conditions, cancer, prostate cancer and multiple severe conditions.
Open VCF fact sheet →VCF — Getting Started
Official instructions for creating an account, registering, obtaining certification and filing a claim.
Open VCF Getting Started →CDC/NIOSH — Covered Conditions
Current WTC Health Program condition categories and certification context.
Open covered conditions →CDC/NIOSH — WTC Health Program vs. VCF
Federal explanation of the distinct missions, eligibility and enrollment processes of the two programs.
Open federal comparison →CDC/NIOSH — Eligible Groups
Health Program activity, location, time-period and hour requirements for responder and survivor categories.
Open eligible-groups guidance →
