NY National Guard members who responded to 9/11 attacks are eligible to file notice of potential claim for disability benefits
Former members of the Army and Air National Guard, the Naval Militia and New York Guard who were part of the force which responded to 9/11 attacks in New York City have until Sept. 11, 2026 to file paperwork which would enable them to receive benefits if they develop a 9/11 related illness
Latham, New York (12/17/2025) — Members of the New York National Guard who served on State Active Duty in New York City following the destruction of the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, can now register for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs World Trade Center Benefits Program with information provided online.
This state-funded pension benefit is designed to compensate Guard members who developed a 9/11 related illness since the attacks that day on Sept. 11, 2001.
The extension of a pension benefit to 9/11 responders suffering from qualified health conditions was approved by the legislature and added to New York State Military Law in 2023.
Survivors of Guard personnel who die as a result of a 9/11-related condition may also be be eligible for benefits.
These benefits also apply to members of the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard --the state's two state defense forces-- who responded to the attacks.
Submitting the Application for World Trade Center Notice preserves the individual's right to file a claim in the future and waives no legal rights
Registering preserves your right to file a claim in the future and waives no legal rights. A service member does not have to be sick to apply.
The deadline for filing this application is Sept. 11, 2026.
Instructions and documents required to file for this benefit, or to submit the application of notice, can be found online at https://dmna.ny.gov/911/.
More than 12,000 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia, and the New York Guard were part of the state response to the attacks between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 11, 2002.
Service members who were on State Active Duty and involved in rescue, recovery or cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site, or in what is termed the New York City Exposure Zone, between those two dates, are eligible to apply to the program.
Current and former members of the National Guard, Naval Militia and New York Guard, who responded to the 9/11 attacks, who are ill, and have not been reimbursed by the federal September 11 Victim Compensation fund, are eligible for benefits.
The maximum benefit is three-quarters of the annual State Active Duty pay the individual is authorized to receive by law.
The 2023 law provides a presumption that, if an individual becomes permanently disabled due to certain conditions and unable to perform their job, they can claim the condition was the result of participation in the events of September 11 and after, unless it can be proven the condition was the result of other factors.
Qualifying conditions for this presumption include:
- Upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, vocal cord disease, upper airway hyper-reactivity and tracheobronchitis, or a combination of such conditions).
- Lower respiratory tract (bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, reactive airway dysfunction syndrome and various forms of pneumonitis - hypersensitivity, granulomatous, or eosinophilic).
- Gastroesophageal tract (esophagitis and reflux disease).
- Psychological (post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or any combination of these conditions).
- Skin (conjunctivitis, contact dermatitis or burns, infectious, irritant, allergic, idiopathic or non-specific in nature, caused by exposure or aggravated by exposure); and
- New onset diseases (resulting from exposure as such diseases may occur in the future including cancer, asbestos-related diseases, heavy metal poisoning, musculoskeletal disease and chronic psychological diseases).
New York National Guard
Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer, 518-786-4581Share this Story
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