A 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund award is non-economic loss plus economic loss, minus collateral offsets, following the VCF's published policies. Non-economic loss depends on the eligible condition and its severity, within limits set by law. Economic loss mostly means lost earnings, which the VCF projects with its own published assumptions. This 9/11 VCF calculator estimates each part, subtracts the offsets you enter and shows the result after the 10 percent attorney fee limit.
Use it for personal injury claims and for claims on behalf of a victim who died of a 9/11-related condition. It gives a rough estimate only: the Special Master reviews every claim individually.
VCF award = non-economic loss + economic loss (lost earnings, medical expenses, replacement services, burial) minus collateral offsets
The VCF describes this as the basic formula required by the VCF Act. Claims seeking only non-economic loss are the simplest and fastest to review. When economic loss is claimed, the VCF gathers earnings and disability records from sources such as the Social Security Administration, the FDNY, the NYPD and the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.
| Eligible condition | VCF non-economic loss |
|---|---|
| Non-cancer condition that is mild or well controlled, such as asthma, GERD, sinusitis or sleep apnea | Starts at $10,000; up to $90,000 with medical records showing severity |
| Emphysema, interstitial lung disease (including asbestosis), sarcoidosis | $90,000, the highest allowable for a non-cancer condition |
| Non-melanoma skin cancer, two types or one type at multiple sites | Generally in the range of $90,000 |
| Prostate cancer | $200,000 presumptive; up to $250,000 with recurrence, metastasis or long-term complications |
| Other eligible cancers | Generally $90,000 to $250,000 |
| Multiple cancers, or a cancer plus a severe non-cancer condition | May exceed $250,000; maximum $340,000 under current policy guidelines |
| Non-cancer lung disease as severe as lung cancer (special circumstances, on appeal) | $250,000 for one condition; up to $340,000 for multiple |
| Death from an eligible condition (added for the death itself) | $250,000 plus $100,000 for the spouse and each dependent |
By law, non-economic loss for one type of cancer may not exceed $250,000 and for one type of non-cancer condition may not exceed $90,000. If the World Trade Center Health Program has certified your condition, the VCF awards non-economic loss at the lowest end of the range for that condition without further records. Recent medical records, generally from within three years of the claim, can support a higher amount. The award is not tied to the number of certified conditions: one severe condition can be worth more than several mild ones.
For a victim who died of an eligible condition, the regulations set a presumed non-economic award of $250,000 plus $100,000 for the spouse and each dependent (28 CFR 104.44). The VCF also awards non-economic loss for the victim's pain and suffering while living, based on the severity of the condition. The claim is filed by the victim's personal representative, and the VCF asks for an appointment from a court. Economic loss can include the victim's lost earnings after death, replacement services and burial costs.
Example: a victim who died of a cancer certified at the low end of the range ($90,000), with a spouse and two dependents, has non-economic loss of $90,000 + $250,000 + $300,000 = $640,000 before lost earnings. Life insurance of $100,000 would be offset against the death-related losses, leaving $540,000.
For lost earnings, the VCF projects the income the victim would have earned and converts it to a present value. Its policies list the steps, and the calculator follows them in simplified form:
| Step | VCF assumption |
|---|---|
| Income | Generally the three calendar years of earnings before the loss, often from Social Security records |
| Income taxes | Average combined effective rate for the income bracket in the state of domicile; New York: 12.39% at $10,000 up to 33.79% at $350,000 |
| Employer benefits, if not documented | Retirement contribution of 4% of base salary and medical benefits of $7,654.40 a year |
| Work-life | Expected remaining years in the labor force: 34.87 at age 25, 22.14 at 40, 14.13 at 50, 7.36 at 60 |
| Growth | Age-specific rates from 9.347% at 18 down to 3.000% at 52 and older, including 2.3% inflation and 1.83% productivity |
| Unemployment risk | Earnings and benefits reduced by 6% |
| Personal consumption (deaths only) | A share of after-tax income by income and household, such as 12.9% for a married victim with one child at $70,000 |
| Annual limit | Yearly loss limited to $255,610 under current policy |
| Discount rate (after tax) | 2.7% at age 35 and under, 2.5% at 36 to 54, 2.2% at 55 and over |
| Age | Generally no lost earnings if the victim was 70 or older at disability or death |
Source: VCF Policies and Procedures, Section 2.3 (effective August 19, 2026). The work-life table on vcf.gov lists ages 25 to 60 in five-year steps; the calculator interpolates between them and asks for the years outside that range. It discounts each year from the start of the loss and adds employer benefits after the annual limit, which are simplifications. For partial disability, the VCF uses the percent of disability from eligible conditions, and for a victim who can do other work it may subtract residual earnings based on the New York City minimum wage, $35,360 a year in 2026.
The 2015 reauthorization capped annual gross income at $200,000 for each year of loss, the figure still printed in 28 CFR 104.43 and 104.45. The VCF's current methodology states the limit as $255,610, and the calculator uses that figure.
The VCF Act requires the VCF to subtract compensation received, or that you are entitled to receive, from other sources because of the 9/11-related condition. Offsets are valued at present value, and some apply only to certain parts of the award:
A disability pension is offset only to the extent it exceeds the service pension the victim was already entitled to, and 401(k) accounts are not offsets. If your earnings-related offsets are likely to exceed your economic loss, the VCF suggests considering a claim for non-economic loss only.
| As of August 31, 2026 | Total |
|---|---|
| Claims submitted (cumulative) | 112,302 |
| Initial compensation determinations | 77,302 |
| Amended determinations | 22,603 |
| Total amount awarded | $18.56 billion |
| Awarded in 2026 through August | $1.52 billion |
The monthly report does not list an average award. Dividing the total awarded by initial determinations gives about $240,000 per claim with a decision, but that mixes personal injury and death claims and includes amended awards. For other compensation programs, see crime victim compensation by state, the RECA compensation calculator and the wrongful death settlement calculator.
The VCF adds non-economic loss and economic loss, such as lost earnings, and then subtracts collateral offsets like disability pensions, Social Security benefits, life insurance and 9/11 lawsuit settlements.
Non-economic loss for one type of cancer is capped at $250,000. With multiple severe conditions, the VCF may award more, up to $340,000 under current policy guidelines, plus any economic loss.
The presumed non-economic award for a death is $250,000 plus $100,000 for the spouse and each dependent. The VCF adds non-economic loss for the victim's condition while living and any economic loss, minus offsets.
No. IRS Publication 3920 says payments from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 are not included in income.
No more than 10 percent of the award, including expenses routinely incurred in providing legal services. Other expenses need approval from the Special Master.
Claims can be filed until October 1, 2090, but you must register by your own deadline. For a personal injury claim certified by the WTC Health Program, that is two years from the most recent certification.