Justice prepares to quickly process claims for victims’ families

President Bush last Thursday directed the Justice Department to promptly process claims for benefits filed by survivors of public safety and law enforcement officers killed in last week's terrorist attacks. The Justice Department is sending additional staff to New York to help officials process claims filed by survivors of public safety officers and law enforcement officials who perished in last Tuesday's terrorist attacks, Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Thursday. Justice will only require certificates from public safety agencies verifying a victim's employment, instead of the usual, more extensive documentation needed to process claims. According to Ashcroft, the decision to streamline the process was made "in view of the unprecedented loss of life and debilitating injuries to public safety officers" during the attack on the World Trade Center. The 1976 Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act authorizes the government to provide approximately $150,000 to families of police and other law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency squad members and ambulance crew members killed in the line of duty. The law applies to federal, state and local public safety and law enforcement officers. Officers who are permanently and totally disabled are also eligible for benefits. Justice annually adjusts the amount of relief to keep up with inflation. Family members of public safety officers and law enforcement officials killed during the terrorist attacks can call the Justice Department toll-free at 1-888-744-6513 for more information on how to file for benefits. The agency's Bureau of Justice Assistance runs the benefits program. No one has contacted the Justice Department yet to file a claim for death benefits, according to agency spokesman Charles Miller. "There have been absolutely no claims filed as yet, probably because so many people are still missing," he said. To date, there are more than 5,400 people missing since last week's attack, including one FBI agent who worked in the agency's New York field office. Ashcroft said Justice Department lawyers are reviewing all the cases from New York, and the agency is creating a separate computer database to expedite and monitor processing. Justice officials will also work with the Treasury Department to quickly send payments to families once claims are approved, he said. "The provision of benefits is an insufficient but necessary response on behalf of the American people to the unknown number of firemen, law enforcement officers and medical rescue personnel who died answering the call of their fellow citizens on Sept. 11," Ashcroft said. Miller said it was too difficult to estimate how long it generally takes to process a claim. "It depends on the case," he said. Last week, the Office of Personnel Management announced that survivors of federal civilian employees killed in Tuesday's attacks likely are eligible for annuities under the Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employees Retirement System. The Justice Department also administers a program that provides educational assistance to spouses and children of law enforcement officers, fire and emergency public safety officers killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.