Eligible Groups - WTC Health Program
Official websites use .gov
.gov
website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
lock
) or
means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Skip Navigation
Apply
Eligible Groups
Supporting Documentation
Application
Related Content
How to Apply
Supporting Documentation
Applications
Designate a Representative
Compensation Programs
Print this page
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.
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 1/10/2002
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 1/10/2002
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 to 5/31/2003
Located in NYC Disaster Area during time frame
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
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.
Pentagon/Shanksville Responders
Active or retired member of a fire or police department (fire or emergency personnel), worked for a recovery or cleanup contractor, was a volunteer, was an employee of the Department of Defense or any other Federal agency, worked for a contractor of the Department of Defense or any other Federal agency between September 11, 2001, and September 18, 2001, or was a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.
Any individuals described above must have participated in rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services
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
Review How to Apply
Go to Required Documentation
Related Content
How to Apply
Supporting Documentation
Applications
Designate a Representative
Compensation Programs
Page Last Reviewed: January 25, 2024
Page Last Updated: December 23, 2025