Members of New York’s military force who served on state active duty responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in Manhattan can now register to file for potential disability benefits.

Former members of the Army and Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia and New York Guard involved in the rescue, recovery or cleanup operations at the World Trade Center site between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 11, 2002, and have not been reimbursed through the federal September 11 Victim Compensation fund, are eligible to register for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs World Trade Center Benefits Program.

They have until Sept. 11, 2026, to file paperwork, which would enable them to receive state-funded pension benefits if they develop an eligible 9/11-related illness. Registering preserves the right of servicemembers to file a claim in the future if they develop certain illnesses.

The pension benefit was approved by the state Legislature and added to state Military Law in 2023, according to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. Survivors of guard personnel who die as a result of a 9/11-related condition may also be eligible for benefits.

The law provides a presumption that if an individual becomes disabled and unable to work, they can claim the condition resulted from their service, unless it’s proven the condition was the result of other factors.

Qualifying conditions, according to the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs, 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)
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)

About 12,000 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard, Naval Militia and Guard responded to the attacks between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 11, 2002.

Instructions and documents required to file for the benefit, or to submit the application of notice, can be found online here.Â