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  1. Apply
  2. Eligible Groups
  3. Supporting Documentation
  4. Application

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Eligible Groups

The following groups are eligible for enrollment into the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program if the individual meets all four requirements: activity, location, time period, and hours. Enrollment in the WTC Health Program does not guarantee certification and covered treatment for health conditions. Each health condition has individual certification requirements that must be met before treatment is covered.

Fire Department - City of New York

Active or retired member of the FDNY (includes firefighters and emergency personnel

Rescue and recovery effort

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Former WTC sites:
  • Ground Zero, or
  • Staten Island Landfill, or
  • NYC Chief Medical Examiner’s Office
 9/11/2001 to 7/31/2002 4 hours
Surviving FDNY Family Member

Requirements

A surviving immediate family member of an individual of the Fire Department of New York City (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) who was killed at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, is eligible for mental health treatment if the family member received any treatment for a WTC-related mental health condition on or before September 1, 2008.

WTC General Responders

A rescue, recovery, clean-up or related support services worker on or after 9/11.

This group includes people who worked or volunteered onsite in rescue, recovery, debris cleanup, or related support services

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements

May fulfill time period and Minimum Hour Requirements at any of the following locations:

  • Lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), or
  • the Staten Island Landfill, or
  • Certain Barge Loading Piers
 9/11/2001 to 9/14/2001 4 hours
9/11/2001 to 9/30/2001 24 hours
9/11/2001 to 7/31/2002 80 hours
Active or retired member of the NYC Police Department or an active or retired member of the Port Authority Police of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

This group includes people who participated in rescue, recovery, debris cleanup, or related support services

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street) including Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill, or certain barge loading piers, or 9/11/2001 to 9/14/2001 4 hours
Onsite at Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill, or certain barge loading piers, or 9/11/2001, to 7/31/2002 4 hours
Lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), or 9/11/2001 to 9/30/2001 24 hours
Lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street) 9/11/2001 to 7/31/2002 80 hours
Employee of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC or other morgue worker who performed similar post-September 11 functions for such Office staff

Involved in the examination and handling of human remains or dust covered body bags from the WTC attacks

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
A location of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC or the morgue at Bellevue Hospital 9/11/2001 to 7/31/2002 4 hours
Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation Tunnel worker
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Port Authority Trans-Hudson Tunnel 2/1/2002 to 7/1/2002 24 hours
Vehicle-maintenance worker

Exposed to debris from the former WTC while retrieving, driving, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining vehicles contaminated by airborne toxins

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Not Applicable 9/11/2001 to 7/31/2002 4 hours

WTC Survivors

Those who lived, worked, went to school, or attended child or adult day care in the NYC Disaster Area on 9/11 or in the days, weeks, or months after. Also those who were present in the dust or dust cloud within the NYC Disaster Area on 9/11. See a map of the NYC Disaster area here.

Present in the dust or dust cloud
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
NYC Disaster Area 9/11/2001 Not Applicable
Worked, lived, attended school, child care, or adult day care
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
NYC Disaster Area 9/11/2001 to 2/10/2002 4 days (Each day must be at least 4 hours)
9/ 11/2001 to 7/31/2002 30 days (Each day must be at least 4 hours)
Worked as a cleanup worker or performed maintenance with extensive exposure to WTC dust, but activities do not meet general responder criteria
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
NYC Disaster Area 9/11/2001 to 2/10/2002 4 hours
Deemed eligible to receive a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Residential Grant Program, who had a lease for a residence or bought a residence in the New York City disaster area, and who lived in that residence

New York City disaster area

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
NYC Disaster Area
9/11/2001 to 5/31/2003 Resided during the time frame
Employed in disaster area and eligible for grant

This group includes a person whose place of employment:

  • Was located in the New York City disaster area; and
  • Was deemed eligible to receive a grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation WTC Small Firms Attraction and Retention Act program or other government incentive program designed to revitalize the lower Manhattan economy after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
NYC Disaster Area
9/11/2001, and ending on 5/31/2003 Located in NYC Disaster Area during time frame

Pentagon/Shanksville Responders

Active or retired member of a fire or police department (fire or emergency personnel), worked for a recovery or cleanup contractor, or was a volunteer at the Pentagon site in Arlington, Virginia OR the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site.

Pentagon site worker in Arlington, Virginia
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Pentagon Site 9/11/2001 to 11/19/2001 4 hours
Worked at crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Location Time Period Minimum Hour Requirements
Shanksville, PA site 9/11/2001 to 10/3/2001 4 hours



Do you meet the eligibility requirements of one of these groups?

If so, continue to learn more about Required Supporting Documentation needed to complete your application.

If you are unsure which group you qualify for, please contact us.


Review How to Apply Go to Required Documentation


Page Last Reviewed: June 24, 2021
Page Last Updated: May 19, 2023