Required Supporting Documentation
Each eligible group has different eligibility requirements that must be reflected in your supporting documentation. Your supporting documentation must show your involvement in an appropriate activity, at a covered location, during specific time periods, and meet minimum hours requirements as described on the eligible groups page.
Please note: Required supporting documentation must show your full name and the time period for your covered activity. See activities and time periods in the survivor requirements on the eligible groups page. You may need to submit more than one document to show your name, location, and how long you were in the disaster area following September 11, 2001.
Refer to the Responder or Survivor section below to learn more about what you need to provide. Your required supporting documentation must be included with your WTC Health Program application.
Incomplete or insufficient supporting documentation is the top reason for application processing delays. The WTC Health Program cannot process your application for enrollment without the proper required supporting documentation.
Responder Documentation
FDNY ∙ WTC General Responders ∙ Pentagon/Shanksville Responders
As a Responder, you need to provide copies of official documents that support your eligibility. These documents must verify your 9/11 experience as stated in your application.
- The type of work you performed (activity),
- The address and/or street name of where you worked (location),
- The time period you worked at each location, and
- How many hours per day you worked at each location.
Please note: You may need to submit multiple documents to fully verify your eligibility.
- Letter from your employer or union stating your activities, location, days, and hours performing 9/11-related activities on or after September 11, 2001.
- Police memo book(including a copy of the cover page) that shows the days, times, and hours worked at a 9/11-related site.
- Timesheet or overtime report that shows the day, hours, and street names of where you worked.
- Awards or letters that commend your 9/11 activities if it includes dates and locations of work and duties performed
- Letter from the Workers’ Compensation Board for your 9/11-related work if it includes dates and locations of work and duties performed.
Remember: Each WTC General Responder group has specific covered activities, locations, time frame, and hours requirements. Not sure if you qualify? Learn more about Responder requirements.
Survivor Documentation
Lived, worked, or went to school, daycare, or adult daycare in the NYC Disaster Area on or after 9/11 ∙ Present in the dust cloud
As a Survivor, you must provide copies of written documents that show where you lived, worked, attended school, daycare, or adult day care in the New York City (NYC) Disaster Area between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002, or you were present in the NYC Disaster Area in the dust or dust cloud on September 11, 2001.
- Address of your home, workplace, school, daycare center, or adult daycare center;
- Proof of presence in the dust or dust cloud on 9/11; or
- Proof of eligibility to receive a grant from Lower Manhattan Development Corporation Residential Grant Program.
- A lease or utility bill with your name showing your residence between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002
- A pay stub if it shows your work location between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002
- A letter from your resident manager, neighbor, employer, day care center, school, or volunteer organization that states your location between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002
- A student identification card with an associated date between September 11, 2001 and July 31, 2002
- A School Transcript from the Fall 2001 or Spring 2002 semester (or both)
- A grant award letter or documentation from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation with a date between September 11, 2001 and May 31, 2003, showing that your residence received a grant or was eligible for a grant.
- A grant award letter from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation WTC Small Firms Attraction and Retention Act program with a date between September 11, 2001 and May 31, 2003, showing that your place of employment received a grant.
Remember! There are minimum time periods you must have worked, lived, or attended school, daycare, or adult care in the NYC Disaster Area. Not sure if you qualify? Learn more about Survivor requirements.
What if I can’t find any required supporting documentation?
We understand that you may have difficulty obtaining documentation. Please make the best effort possible.
If you cannot find official supporting documentation, you can submit a letter written by someone who can confirm your eligibility details (known as a third-party attestation).
For Responders, the third-party attestation must include:
- Type of response work you performed
- Address or street name of where you worked (For example: World Trade Center site, street address where you were stationed in Lower Manhattan (South of Canal Street), Staten Island Landfill, Certain Barge Loading Piers, and PATH Tunnel)
- Time period of response work at each location
- Number of hours worked per day
- Relationship of the writer to the applicant
- Be signed by the writer
For Survivors, the third-party attestation must include:
- Address of your home, workplace, school, daycare, or adult daycare center
- Description of your exposure to the dust or dust cloud
- Time period of your home, workplace, school, daycare, or adult daycare center
- Number of hours worked or attended school, daycare, or adult daycare center per day
- Relationship of the writer to the applicant
- Be signed by the writer
If you are unable to find someone to write a third-party attestation, you can personally write a letter that includes the required information described above (known as a first-party attestation). This must include details about what you did to try to get copies of your documentation and reason you are unable to provide the documentation.
Need help or have questions about required supporting documentation?
Please call us at 1-888-982-4748. We’d be happy to help answer questions about supporting documentation requirements and other WTC Health Program application issues. Our call center is available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern Time.