September 11 Victim Compensation Fund says it has paid out $551M over last year

Officials at the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund say it has paid out $551 million over the last year.

The fund's Special Master Sheila Birnbaum released a letter Friday that said the fund had made 2,042 compensation decisions over the 12 months that ended September 30.

Birnbaum said the fund in the year before had made 112 decisions totaling $27 million.

She said the fund was able to process far more decisions due to an increase in staffing and better communication with those making claims.

The fund was established in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks to provide compensation for those affected.

Sunday was the deadline to apply for compensation for those who developed cancer after working at Ground Zero.