MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, IS DEADLINE TO FILE CLAIM
IN SEPTEMBER 11TH VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The deadline to file a claim under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund is midnight, Monday, December 22. The congressionally-passed law does not permit extensions for any reason. Those eligible include family members of the 2,976 who died and those individuals who were injured as a result of the terrorist attacks.

The Fund, enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Bush on September 24, 2001, has received to date 5,102 claims (including 2,521 claims received from families of deceased victims representing 85% of those eligible) and paid out nearly $1.5 billion, Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg announced today.

The average amount of compensation paid to date to the families of those who died on September 11 is $1.78 million. Individual death compensation amounts have ranged from $250,000 to $6.9 million. Those physically injured as a result of the attacks have received Fund compensation ranging from $500 to $7.9 million.

“Claims must be received by midnight of December 22, 2003. Only claims filed by midnight, Monday will be processed," said Feinberg. "The Special Master's office has no authority to extend this statutory deadline.

“Further, at the very least, we must receive the name of the victim, the claimant’s name and his or her address and telephone number by midnight, Monday in order to meet the deadline.” Other applicable sections of the claim for, supplemental documentation, original initials, signatures and notarization must be submitted by January 22, 2004.

The claims will be accepted only if they are postmarked no later than December 22; or if you are using a non-postal service delivery provider (e.g., Federal Express, UPS, Airborne, etc.), you must provide a receipt or an air bill with tracking number and name of service provider, indicating the acceptance date (i.e., date picked up for delivery) of December 22, 2003; or if it is received by hand delivery at a Claim Assistance Site on December 22, 2003. All Victim Compensation Fund Claim Assistance Sites will be open until midnight and claims can be filed at these locations:

Manhattan, NY - 75 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013

Arlington, VA - 1616 North Fort Myer Drive, 12th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209

Long Island, NY - 401 Broad Hollow Road, 3rd Floor, Melville, NY 11747

Stamford, CT - 300 Atlantic Street, 9th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901

Staten Island, NY - Wagner College, 1 Campus Road, Kairos House, 2nd Floor

Piscataway, NJ - 1551 South Washington Ave., 3rd Floor, Piscataway, NJ 08854

Boston, MA - One Post Office Square, 28th Floor, Boston, MA 02110

Jersey City, NJ - 101 Hudson Street, 26th Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Feinberg said he anticipates that all eligible claims will be processed and paid by June 15, 2004. The Special Master added that "the failure to file with the Fund because of grief or indecision will only compound the tragedy of 9/11."

Feinberg, a Washington, D.C. attorney specializing in mediation, arbitration and negotiation, was named on November 26, 2001 by Attorney General John Ashcroft to oversee the Fund.

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