Issues

New law provides benefits for 9/11 workers and volunteers

Registration open for a year

Thousands of workers and volunteers from across North America rushed to New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, to help in the rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts at the scene of the World Trade Center attack.

Today, many of them are beginning to develop serious respiratory or post-traumatic mental conditions as a result of their exposures and experiences. Even those who are now healthy are at risk of a slow-developing condition.

Everyone who did paid or unpaid rescue, recovery or cleanup work in Lower Manhattan during the year after 9/11 is now eligible and should register with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.

Someone who is registered will be able to file a workers' compensation claim for a 9/11-related disorder no matter when it develops in the future.

But he or she must act soon, because registration closes on August 14, 2007. Anyone who misses that deadline will never be eligible for the free medical care that worker's comp will provide for a slow-developing condition.

For complete information and to obtain all the necessary forms for registration, visit http://www.nycosh.org or call 212-227-6440 ext. 23 (for English) or ext. 24 (for Spanish).

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