Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLC is drawing attention to several documentation issues that commonly affect eligibility reviews under the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), as more individuals continue to apply for compensation tied to exposures connected to all the affected crash sites.

The company stated that incomplete proof-of-presence records and unclear timelines associated with medical diagnosis data remain the most frequent reason why claims are delayed or denied, even for applicants that should otherwise meet the program’s criteria.

The VCF is designed to provide financial compensation to eligible individuals who suffered physical harm as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attack and subsequent debris exposure. In practice, a claim often depends on whether the applicant can show that they were present in an eligible exposure area during qualifying time periods, and that they have a compensable condition supported by medical documentation. While the requirements are public, the firm noted that applicants often underestimate how specific the documentation must be when reviewed by the program.

“One of the most common problems we see is not that someone lacks eligibility, but that their file doesn’t clearly connect the dots,” said Jason Weisfuse, 9/11 VCF attorney of Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLC. “The VCF reviews what you can document, not what you remember. If proof of presence is thin, or the medical record doesn’t clearly establish when a condition was diagnosed, it can create issues that are avoidable with careful preparation.”

According to Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLC, proof of presence is often the first major hurdle applicants encounter. Many applicants were in Lower Manhattan, near the Pentagon, or in other covered locations briefly, intermittently, or for work that didn’t generate a traditional paper trail. Years later, people may no longer have employment files, union records, school documents, or travel documentation that could support their time and location in a claim.

In those circumstances, the claim may rely on a patchwork of records that must be consistent and credible, such as pay stubs showing job sites, employer letters with details about work assignments, school enrollment records, lease agreements, utility bills, or other similar documents. Sworn statements may play a role in cases where records are limited, but the firm emphasized that they’re usually most effective when supported by objective evidence.

The firm also pointed to medical documentation as a second area that determines whether a claim advances smoothly. VCF reviewers generally look for clear medical records that identify a condition, show diagnostics, and establish a timeline. In some cases, an applicant may have symptoms for years before receiving a formal diagnosis, or their diagnosis may appear in multiple places in a medical chart without a clear date. These gaps can cause confusion during claim review and extend the claims process.

The firm said the practical stakes are significant because claimants may be dealing with serious illnesses while also trying to reconstruct decades-old documentation. In addition, many potential applicants are family members managing paperwork for someone who is ill or has died, which can add complexity to gathering employment, residency, or medical records from multiple sources.

Weisfuse said careful file-building at the outset can reduce delays and lower the risk of a denial based on missing documentation. “People shouldn’t assume that a brief narrative is enough,” he said. “A claim is stronger when it is organized around clear evidence: where you were, when you were there, and what the medical record shows. That approach helps reviewers evaluate the claim without having to infer key facts.”

More information about VCF eligibility considerations and documentation issues is available at the 9/11 cancer attorney, Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLC’s, website.

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For more information about Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLP, contact the company here:

Weisfuse & Weisfuse, LLP
Jason Weisfuse
212-983-3000
jw@weisfuse.com
11 Broadway, Suite 464 New York, NY 10004