WTC 9/11

You Were There. You Deserve Care.

Stuyvesant Classes of 2002–2005 may be eligible for no-cost health care & financial compensation under federal programs established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. 

Whether you’re managing related health issues or simply want to secure your future, here’s what to know about the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

1. Under the Zadroga Act, you’re considered a WTC Survivor if you lived, worked, attended school, or were in daycare south of Houston Street (including at Stuyvesant) between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002.
2. If you were a Stuyvesant student in the 2001/2002 school year, you’re eligible.

Stuyvesant was one of the first buildings reopened after the attacks. Students and staff returned on October 9, 2001—just four weeks after 9/11—while fires were still burning at Ground Zero only a few blocks away.

In the months that followed, our community was exposed daily to toxic air, contaminated dust, and damaged ventilation systems. Federal health experts now recognize the exposure as dangerous, and Stuyvesant alumni have already been diagnosed with:

1. Cancers of the skin, thyroid, breast, prostate, and lungs
2. Chronic conditions like asthma, GERD, rhinosinusitis, and sleep apnea
3. Significant mental health impacts

If this sounds like your experience, you’re not alone—and you may qualify for help.

Congress passed the James Zadroga Act in 2010 establishing two federal programs for 9/11 responders and survivors (those who lived, worked, or went to school downtown):

1. World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP)

1. 1. Offers no-cost medical monitoring and treatment for a long list of WTC-related conditions including asthma, GERD, sleep apnea, PTSD, and cancer.
   2. Survivor program applicants must have or believe they have a 9/11 related health condition to be screened, but a prior diagnosis is not required.
   3. Services are available in the tri-state area at several specialized Centers of Excellence (CCEs) and nationwide through the Nationwide Provider Network (NPN).

2. September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)

1. 1. Provides financial compensation for WTC Health Program certified physical illnesses, including both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.
   2. Mental health conditions aren’t eligible for VCF compensation—but they are covered under the Health Program.
   3. Registration is open to everyone eligible (even if you’re currently healthy) and preserves your future right to file a claim.

1. Gather Proof of Presence Documents

This is your first step, even if you currently feel healthy. Accepted Proof of Presence documents for alumni include a school transcript and letter from the Stuyvesant Guidance office confirming the schools location and your attendance. (Email [email protected] for help.)

2. Register with the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)

Registering with the VCF secures your right to file later, and does not require you to sign away any rights to do so. You do not need a 9/11-related diagnosis to register.

3. Apply to the WTC Health Program (WTCHP)

The initial health screening is open to former Stuy alumni with at least one qualifying condition nationwide. You don’t need a prior diagnosis to apply.

4. File a Claim with the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)

Once your condition is certified by WTCHP, you’ll have a two-year window to file a claim with the VCF—starting from the date of certification, not diagnosis.

• You’re not required to prove harm—only that you were present during the exposure period.
• Lawyers specializing in VCF claims are easy to find and their compensation is capped at 10% of your award. Email [email protected] for information on finding a lawyer.
• If you’re a family member of a deceased alum whose death was linked to a 9/11-related illness, your window is two years from the date of death.

StuyHealth (est. 2006) is an advocacy group founded by Stuy alumni to support young adults exposed during 9/11 and Ground Zero cleanup.

• Visit www.stuyhealth.org for information on how the Zadroga programs serve Stuyvesant alumni.
• Email StuyHealth’s outreach team at [email protected] with questions about the application process or navigating the programs

Other Useful Links

• World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program
• September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)