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New law provides
benefits for 9/11 responders; Registration ends August 14th
If you aided in the rescue,
recovery or cleanup efforts of the World Trade Center ruins,
it is important that you register by August 14, 2007, with
the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. By registering,
you will preserve your right to file a workers’ compensation
claim, in case you get sick in the future.
Without a second thought, tens of
thousands of people rushed to help after the terrorist attacks.
Thousands of others worked at the site in the year after 9/11
– and now, over five years later, many of those responders
are becoming sick and some are dying. Under New York State’s
Workers’ Compensation Law, most workers would be barred
from filing a claim, two years after an injury.
The New York State Legislature enacted
legislation extending the deadline for filing a claim, provided
that a worker registers first. If workers and volunteers register
before August 14, 2007, they can file a claim, if they become
sick in the future. However, to date, less than 9,000 people
have registered. Tens of thousands of 9/11 heroes –
who may be eligible for benefits – will slip through
the system if they miss the registration deadline.
Workers and volunteers who engaged
in rescue, recovery and cleanup work should register now.
People who were exposed to the toxic dust or psychological
trauma should protect their right to file a claim. If you
are in doubt about whether or not you qualify, you should
just register.
The law applies to those who worked
in lower Manhattan south of Canal or Pike Streets, between
Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 12, 2002. It also applies to those
who worked at the Staten Island landfill, the barge operation
between Manhattan and Staten Island or the New York City morgue
(or any of the temporary morgues set up during that period).
For detailed information, contact your union, visit the NYCOSH
website at www.nycosh.org, or call the toll-free, 24-hour
hotline, 1-866-WTC-2556. Information is available in Spanish
and English. Find out about registration requirements now,
before it’s too late.
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For a detailed 3-page factsheet
with complete information about workers' compensation for
those who performed rescue, recovery or cleanup work after
9/11, click here.
What are the facts
about workers' compensation reform?
Fact
number 1: New York has the third lowest maximum workers' compensation
benefit in the country.
Fact
number 2: Most of New York’s injured workers get a lower
benefit than the federal poverty line for a family of four.
Fact
number 3: Workers' compensation claims and costs are down
in New York.
Fact
number 4: Arbitrary time-limits on workers’ compensation
hurt workers.
Fact
number 5: Time-limiting workers’ compensation awards
hurts working women.
Fact
number 6: Workers’ compensation benefits are already
‘capped.’
Fact
number 7: Employers who under-report payroll raise workers’
compensation insurance rates for all employers.
Fact
number 8: Worker fraud is a myth–insurer fraud is a
reality.
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Less than six months remain for workers’ compensation registration
program; Out of at least 100,000 eligible, fewer than 7,000
have registered
Time is running out for those who
participated in rescue, recovery and cleanup following the
collapse of the World Trade Center to preserve their right
to file for 9/11-related workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers and volunteers who fail to register with the New York
State Workers’ Compensation Board by August 14, 2007
will be barred from filing a claim even if they develop a
9/11-related physical or mental illness in the future
Only a small minority of workers and
volunteers—less than 7,000 of the estimated 100,000
eligible—has registered under a new workers’ compensation
law, according to the New York Committee for Occupational
Safety and Health (NYCOSH), a non-profit educational advocacy
organization.
“It is imperative that people
who worked within the boundaries or at the sites detailed
in the law register with the New York State Workers’
Compensation Board, whether they are sick or not,” said
Joel Shufro, the organization’s executive director.
“Failure to register will prevent individuals who may
develop cancer or other slow-starting diseases from receiving
benefits.”
Under New York State’s Workers’
Compensation Law, most workers would be barred from filing
a claim two years after an injury. But in August 2006, the
state legislature enacted legislation that allowed workers
to preserve their right to file a claim, now and in the future
by registering with the New York State Workers’ Compensation
Board.
A week before 9/11’s fifth anniversary,
a study released by Mount Sinai Medical Center detailed the
drastic damage to health faced by 9/11 workers and volunteers
who inhaled the toxic dust. More than 70 percent of the 9,500
patients examined developed a potentially serious respiratory
illness. Additionally, the study stated that the longer-term
health consequences of exposure are still unknown.
Consequently, all responders should
register now even if they are healthy. By doing so, they will
be eligible to file for benefits later, should they become
ill – even for conditions that might develop twenty
to thirty years later.
The law applies to most people who
did paid or unpaid, rescue, recovery or cleanup work, in lower
Manhattan south of Canal or Pike Streets, between Sept. 11,
2001 and Sept. 12, 2002. It also applies to those who worked
at the Staten Island landfill, the barge operation between
Manhattan and Staten Island or the New York City morgue (or
any of the temporary morgues set up during that period). Immigration
status—whether documented or not—does not affect
a person’s eligibility.
If you are in doubt about whether
or not you qualify, find out. For detailed information, contact
your union, visit the NYCOSH website at www.nycosh.org, or
call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline, 1-866-WTC-2556. Information
is available in Spanish and English. Find out about registration
requirements now, before it’s too late.
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Solo Queda
Menos de Seis Meses para el Registro de la Compensación
Laboral para los Trabajadores y Voluntarios del 9/11; De unos
100,00 que pueden ser elegibles solo unos 7,000 se han registrado
Pronto se vencerá el tiempo
limitado para registrarse y preservar los derechos de los
trabajadores y voluntarios del 9/11 que ayudaron en el rescate,
la recuperación o en la limpieza. Aquellos que no se
registren con la Junta de Compensación del Estado de
Nueva York antes del 14 de agosto del 2007, perderán
sus derechos de hacer un reclamo en el futuro, aunque desarrollen
enfermedades o problemas de salud mental relacionada al trabajo
que hicieron durante el 11 de septiembre, 2001 al 12 de septiembre,
2002.
De acuerdo al Comité de Nueva
York por la Salud y Seguridad Ocupacional (NYCOSH), hasta
el día de hoy menos de 7,000 de las estimadas 100,000
personas elegibles se han registrado bajo esta nueva ley.
“Es primordial que las personas
que trabajaron en el área o lugares detallados en la
ley se registren con la Junta de Compensación Laboral
de Nueva York,” dijo Joel Shufro – Director Ejecutivo
de la organización. “Si no se registran antes
del 14 de agosto, las personas pierden su derecho para aplicar
y recibir beneficios en el futuro, aunque la persona desarrolle
cáncer u otras enfermedades que no se desarrollen de
inmediato y que sean asociadas con el trabajo del 9/11.”
Bajo la ley de compensación
laboral, normalmente los trabajadores tienen sol dos años
para presentar un reclamo por accidentes. Pero, en agosto
del 2006 la legislatura del estado de Nueva York paso una
nueva ley dándoles derechos a los trabajadores y voluntarios
del 9/11 que se registren para preservar sus derechos con
la compensación laboral a someter un reclamo ahora
o en un futuro.
Una semana antes del quinto aniversario
del 9/11 el Centro Medico de Monte Sinai presento su estudio
donde se detallo los efectos drásticos a la salud que
puede afectar a los trabajadores y voluntarios del 9/11 que
inhalaron el polvo toxico. Sobre el 70 por ciento de los 9,500
pacientes que han sido examinados ya han presentado problemas
serios respiratorios. Adicionalmente el estudio reconoce que
las consecuencias a la salud de largo plazo todavía
no se conocen.
Toda aquellas personas que respondieron
y ayudaron en el rescate, la recuperación de la cuidad
y en la limpieza debe registrarse aunque gocen de buena salud.
Solo si se registra antes del 14 de agosto del 2007, podrán
someter un reclamo para beneficios y asistencia medica si
se enferman en un futuro, sea veinte o treinta anos después.
Esta ley aplica a toda aquella persona
que trabajo o fue voluntario, sin importar el estatus inmigratorio
de la persona – documentado o indocumentado, que desempeño
su labor en cualquier parte al sur de las calles Canal o Pike,
en Manhattan, o en el tiradero de escombros de Fresh Kills,
en Staten Island, o en la morgue de la ciudad de Nueva York
o en las morgues provisionales, o en los barcos entre el lado
oeste del bajo Manhattan y el tiradero de escombros de Fresh
Kills, en Staten Island.
Si tienen alguna duda si califican,
averigüe! No se quede con los brazos cruzados –
Llame a su unión si es miembro; o visite nuestro sitio
www.nycosh.org. También puede llamar 24 horas al día
al 1-866-WTC-2556 para pedir un paquete de información
detallado y el formulario de registro. La información
esta disponible en ingles y en español. No deje pasar
el tiempo, llame de inmediato.
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