A federal compensation program for individuals who became ill or died due to exposure to toxic dust from the September 11, 2001, attacks has encountered delays linked to the Social Security Administration’s failure to provide critical earnings data needed to process claims, according to lawyers, advocates, and officials involved with the fund.

The program, established by Congress in 2010 as the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund and later expanded, aims to provide financial support to those suffering severe health effects from the debris and dust at attack sites including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Eligibility extends beyond those who worked onsite to residents and workers in surrounding areas in the months following the attacks.

To evaluate compensation claims, the fund relies heavily on historical earnings information provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ensure accurate assessments and prevent fraudulent claims. However, in recent months, attorneys representing claimants have reported that the SSA has ceased providing necessary data to the Justice Department, which administers the fund.

Matthew McCauley, a lawyer handling claims, said many clients—often seriously ill and no longer able to work—have waited from a year to 18 months for the SSA to release their earnings records. He emphasized that the delays have compounded the financial hardship facing the fund’s most vulnerable participants.

The cause of the SSA’s inaction remains unclear, although observers note that the agency has undergone significant staffing cuts since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, leading to wider complaints about service delays.

An SSA spokesman, Barton Mackey, acknowledged the issue and stated the agency was taking “immediate action” to supply all current earnings data requested by the fund, with an expected delivery by Wednesday.

Allison Lee Turkel, the special master overseeing the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, confirmed awareness of the problem and said efforts were ongoing to resolve it. Meanwhile, Ben Chevat, an advocate for survivors, praised the Justice Department’s management under Attorney General Todd Blanche but criticized the SSA for its shortcomings.

A Justice Department spokeswoman, Emily Covington, reaffirmed the department’s “forever commitment” to supporting victims and first responders who fell ill from the attacks. She noted that in 2025 alone, the fund issued over 9,800 award determinations totaling more than $1.8 billion. Since its inception, the program has processed more than 112,000 claims and awarded upwards of $18.5 billion.

The reliance on SSA data is a key integrity measure, designed to guard against inflated claims by using official government records instead of self-reported earnings or tax documents. The recent disruption in data sharing raises concerns about the timely and fair distribution of compensation to those most affected by the 9/11 aftermath.