Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

After a cancer diagnosis, someone who worked, lived, attended school, or responded in an area affected by September 11 may wonder: How can I prove that something I was exposed to years ago caused my illness?

Melanoma of the skin is the fourth most common cancer in the 9/11 population of responders and downtown NYC residents, area workers, students and others, as recently ...

The health conditions covered by the World Trade Center Health Program have grown since its inception to include more 9/11-related health conditions. Most significantly,...

Yes. You can receive World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program benefits even if you do not live in the New York metropolitan area. Members who live outside the area...

Yes, you can collect Social Security Disability, workers' compensation, and a VCF award at the same time. The VCF rules recognize that many people receive disability...

You are not required to hire a lawyer to file a claim with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Some people hesitate to hire a 9/11 VCF attorney because...

Program statistics reflect official CDC/NIOSH data through June 30, 2026.

Yes, families who have lost a loved one to a 9/11-related cancer or illness can get reasonable costs of funeral and burial expenses reimbursed through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) as part of a 9/11 wrongful death claim. Hansen & Rosasco has recovered over $20,000 for individual families as part of their wrongful death award. The appointed family “VCF personal representative” will need to provide copies of all invoices, receipts, and payment records to support the claim. Hansen & Rosasco can help you compile all these records for reimbursement.

If you or a loved one went through the effort of putting together a claim for financial compensation with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) while dealing with a serious illness, and the claim was denied, the situation can feel extremely discouraging. It may seem like you've hit a wall. We want to assure you, however, that a denial from the VCF is not a dead end, but rather a hurdle that can be surmounted with the right assistance and knowledge.

The attacks on September 11th caused 70+ different cancers, including a growing number of cases of esophageal cancer.  Scientific evidence supports the connection that even decades later, 9/11 exposure is associated with increased risks of esophageal cancer compared with the general population. It’s important to understand that the Victim Compensation Fund does not require you to prove that 9/11 exposure resulted in your cancer, but that there is a “presumed link” so long as you prove you were present at a qualifying exposure site during the eligible time period and have a certified 9/11-related condition, such as esophageal cancer. 

For anyone who lived, worked, attended school, childcare, or adult care, or participated in rescue and recovery efforts in Lower Manhattan and the vicinity, a diagnosis of esophageal cancer raises the question: Was my 9/11 exposure the cause?  Now, nearly 25 years after September 11th, we know the link between esophageal cancer and the toxic air in lower Manhattan from 9/11 until mid-2002.  If you lived, worked, or went to school in lower Manhattan and were diagnosed with cancer since 9/11, you may qualify for lifetime health coverage and care from the World Trade Center Health Program and a cash award from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).