Eligibility
You can register for WTCHP and VCF if you responded to the Pentagon, World Trade Center, Staten Island Landfill, or Shanksville between 9/11/2001 and 7/31/2002, or if you were at any site where debris, human remains, and evidence connected to the investigation was processed. You are also eligible if you worked at 26 Federal Plaza or 290 Broadway. If you were not assigned to 26 Federal Plaza or 290 Broadway (assigned to an RA, offsite, 26th Street Garage, etc.), but worked in lower Manhattan south of Canal Street, the Staten Island Landfill, the barge loading piers, the morgue, or worked on the cars that were in lower Manhattan south of Canal Street on 9/11, you also are eligible.
STEP 1: Request Two Verification Letters from HRD
To start the WTCHP/VCF registration process, you must first request two Verification Letters from the HRD Call Center (one for each program). These letters fulfill the program’s requirement for proof of response or exposure.
To submit a request, go to 9/11 Duties Survey and complete the survey. Please use your official Bureau name and fill in each field. You will receive your letters within 10 business days of your request. If you have questions about the process or the letters, please send an FBINET email to HQ_DIV03_HRANSWERS or call the HRD Call Center at (202) 324-3333. (If you know of a former FBI employee who needs these letters, please have them call the HRD Call Center at (202) 324-3333 or send an email to [email protected].)
STEP 2: Register with World Trade Center Health Program
For eligible employees, WTCHP provides free health screening, monitoring, and treatment for certified medical conditions, including certain cancers, respiratory diseases (asthma, and chronic cough), digestive disorders, and mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Eligible responders and survivors will receive free annual medical monitoring. If your condition is certified as a WTC- related health condition, WTCHP healthcare providers will provide free, quality, medically necessary treatment for that condition.
The program is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If you have questions, please call (888) 982-4748.
To register, go to www.cdc.gov/wtc/apply.html to download the application. Send the completed form and your Verification Letter together to WTCHP via fax or mail. You will receive a letter confirming your enrollment. If you do not receive the letter within four weeks, call to inquire about your status. Phone wait times can be long, so please be patient.
STEP 3: Register with the Victim Compensation Fund
It is critical for all 9/11 responders to register with VCF now, because registration preserves the right to file claims for injury or death later and there is a statutory deadline to submit claims for the VCF by December 18, 2020. To register:
• Go to www.claims.vcf.gov and create an account with a user name, email address, password, and security questions.
• Then, register by providing your name, address, SSN, and phone number. This takes less than five minutes.
This fund compensates individuals who suffered a physical injury or a condition as a result of the 9/11 attacks, or died as a result of those injuries or conditions. The eligibility standards are based on those set by WTCHP. For more information, call (855) 885-1555 or visit www.vcf.gov.
Updates on deadlines to register and filing information, please click here.
Assistance from the FBI Human Resources Division
HRD can also assist affected employees with other resources, including filing appeals with WTCHP and VCF, and managing Department of Labor claims. To get started, call the HRD Call Center at (202) 324-3333 and request 9/11-related HRD Assistance. It may take up to five business days to receive a response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I call HRD to obtain the Verification Letters, am I enrolled in these programs?
A. No. You must contact each program separately and submit an application to each program.
Q. I have retired from the FBI. Is it too late for me to enroll?
A. No. Call the HRD Call Center today at (202) 324-3333 or send an email to [email protected] to request your Verification Letters. With those in hand, you can enroll in each program.
Q. I worked at a warehouse processing debris and evidence. Can I get the Verification Letters?
A. Yes, with proper documentation. Please call the HRD Call Center at (202) 324-3333 or send an email to [email protected].