N002012
Friday, January 18, 2002 6:49 PM
Compensation for Parents and Siblings
January 18, 2002
Kenneth L. Wick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Division
Main Building, Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
RE: Victim Compensation Fund
Dear Mr. Zwick,
I lost my only sibling in the WTC attack. I will live with this horror for the
rest of my life. My brother was married and had no children. This loss has
completely shattered my life.
In spite of the fact that I have now become an only child and that I will have
to look after my elderly parents on my own, and that I lost a year of my
postgraduate studies, that I had to have masses of therapy, and have been
barely functioning in my job, I don?t seem to be eligible for any compensation
according to the Final Interim Rule. The fund only recognises the spouse and
children as family members. The fund does not consider my own or my parents
heartache, and I am outraged by that!.
What family values are reflected in the rule? How ould parents and siblings
not be considered to be affected by this terrible tragedy? Did my brother stop
being my brother the moment he got married?
Not only spouses, but also all parents, children and siblings of victims
(whether survived by a spouse) have been affected by the trauma of the
September 11th disaster and must be presumed to be eligible for compensation
under the Act.
A Parents' and Siblings? Pain and Suffering should be part of the fund's
regulation also. More than monetarily, it will acknowledge that we do exist and
that we are suffering too.
Additionally, the regulation should clearly state that surviving family members
have their own , derivative claims. The regulations should also create uniform
rules addressing which family members are entitled to share in an award and how
they will share in the award.
Thank you,
Sincerely yours,
Individual Comment
London, United Kingdom