Four More Years for First Responders—WTC 9/11

Governor Kathy Hochul has extended a critical deadline for 9/11 responders by four years.

If you worked or volunteered in the rescue, recovery, or cleanup after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, here is what you need to know.

Any worker or volunteer who has not yet registered with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board should do so now. In the months after 9/11, tens of thousands of people dug, hauled, searched, cared for survivors, and brought the victims home to their families, often at the cost of their own health. Many of these heroes are healthy today, but it is important that they are protected in case that changes.

In September 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation that pushes back the deadline to file Form WTC-12 with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. The deadline had been set to expire on September 11, 2026. It is now September 11, 2030.

WTC-12 is not a claim for benefits, and filing it doesn’t mean you’re ill. It is a sworn record of where you worked during the recovery, when you were there, and who employed you at the time. Once it’s on file, you keep the right to seek workers’ compensation later for an illness connected to that work, even if the diagnosis comes many years from now.

Many conditions tied to Ground Zero exposure, including certain cancers and lung diseases, can take decades to appear. Without a registration on file, a responder diagnosed years later could find the door to state benefits already closed.

According to the Governor’s office, anyone who took part in rescue, recovery, or cleanup in the year after the attacks should file, whether or not they were ever injured. That includes people who worked at:

• Ground Zero and the surrounding lower Manhattan area
• The Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island
• The barges and piers used to move debris
• New York City morgues

Volunteers: Volunteers may register as well, but they will need some proof of their participation, such as a letter from the organization they served with, a credential, or a statement from someone who worked alongside them.

Previously denied as late: The new law also looks backward. If a worker became disabled between September 11, 2021 and September 11, 2025, and their claim was rejected only because it came in after the deadline, the Board is now required to take another look. New claims for illnesses or injuries in that window can be filed through September 11, 2030.

Already enrolled in a federal program: Being enrolled in the federal World Trade Center Health Program or registered with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund does not satisfy the state requirement.

Those are federal programs with their own rules and deadlines. State workers’ compensation is its own system, paid through the employer’s insurance carrier, and it requires its own registration.

Don’t wait for the new deadline

This is not the first time lawmakers have extended the filing window, and there’s no guarantee they will do it again. Records get harder to find, supervisors retire, and employers close. The simplest move is to file now:

1. Download Form WTC-12 from the Workers’ Compensation Board at wcb.ny.gov.
2. Fill in your dates, locations, and employer (or volunteer organization) as accurately as you can.
3. Sign it in front of a notary.
4. Send it in a way that gives you proof of delivery, and keep a copy.

If you already filed a WTC-12 in a previous year, you don’t need to file again. If you aren’t sure, contact the Board to check.

If you need help completing forms, contact us at 866-557-7500 or visit NYCOMPLAW.COM.

For more than 70 years, LICOMPLAW has stood beside injured workers across New York. Our team has the resources and experience to take on cases in every line of work, including the responders, laborers, and volunteers who protected us on that fateful day and in the months that followed. If you or a loved one suffered a work-related injury, or you have questions about workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, or New York State pensions, call us at 866-557-7500.

By Brian Molina
Marketing Coordinator & Paralegal

NYCOMPLAW

This article is for general information and is not legal advice.

Sources
 Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, “Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Support 9/11 Victims, Responders, New York’s National Guard and Their Loved Ones” (September 2026): governor.ny.gov
 New York State Senate, Bill S.10605 / A.11531: nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S10605
 New York Workers’ Compensation Law §§ 161–162: nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/WKC/161
 New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, Form WTC-12: wcb.ny.gov

Navigating the intersection of federal 9/11 claims, New York State Workers’ Compensation, and municipal disability pensions require specialized legal strategy. At McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP, our legal team handles every step of the process on your behalf:

1. Establishing Exposure Proof: We locate historical employment records, utility bills, lease agreements, affidavits, or transcripts proving your presence in Lower Manhattan during the qualification period.
2. WTCHP Certification Support: We guide you through enrollment in the World Trade Center Health Program so your medical conditions are officially certified.
3. Maximizing VCF Financial Awards: We document non-economic losses (pain and suffering) and economic losses (lost wages, loss of union pension accruals, and medical expenses) to secure full compensation.
4. Coordinating Disability & Workers’ Comp Benefits: We integrate VCF awards with New York Workers’ Compensation and municipal disability pensions so your rights are protected across all legal avenues.
5. Supporting Families with Wrongful Death Claims: We assist grieving families who lost a loved one to a 9/11-related illness in securing survivor benefits and wrongful death compensation.

On this 25th anniversary, we reaffirm our dedication to the individuals and families who gave so much to New York and our nation. If you or a family member served, lived, or worked in Lower Manhattan in the months following September 11, 2001, you may be entitled to lifetime medical monitoring and tax-free financial compensation.

Contact McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. Let our experienced legal team manage the details so you can focus on your health and family.