Maltese to 9/11 workers: Sign up now

State Senator Serphin Maltese urges all who worked on 9/11 recovery and cleanup efforts to register with the state’s Worker’s Compensation Board. “If you were involved in the 9/11 recovery effort, even if you are currently healthy, you should register now with the Worker’s Compensation Board to protect your right to these benefits should you become ill,” he said.
Workers’ Compensation claims may now be filed up until August 13, 2008, giving 9/11 workers and volunteers an additional year to register to protect their rights to file claims for current illnesses or problems they may develop in the future, thanks to legislation recently signed into law.
Maltese explained that the exact number of workers and volunteers who assisted in rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts on 9/11/01 and the following year is not known, but estimates are as high as 200,000 workers.
To date, only an estimated 25,000 workers have registered to file claims for benefits with the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board.