The World Trade Center Relief Fund was established on September 14, 2001 to assist the 3,000 families (spouses, children, domestic partners, fianc{acute}es, and parents) of the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Fund was created to benefit all victims, including civilians, firefighters, police, and relief workers. It covered victims at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Ultimately, {dollar}79 million in donations were received and distributed. Payments were made to 5,343 beneficiaries of victims. Additionally, 312 injured victims received payments.
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance administered the Fund, including collecting the donations and processing applications from family members for relief. Several units within the department were instrumental in managing the funds. Claims authorized for payment went to the Bureau of Fiscal Services, where a voucher was created, and from there to the Treasury for a check with a letter from the Governor's Office. Revenue Services received the donations and sent out letters to those parties who sent more than {dollar}5,000 as a donation. The unit also handled the deposits to the World Trade Center Relief Fund account. The first payments were made on November 20, 2001 to the surviving spouses of 800 victims. Applications were later accepted and processed from surviving spouses, children, parents or domestic partners. In 2004, the Fund was opened to claims from those injured in the attacks. The last payments from the Fund were made in April 2006, at which time the Fund became depleted.
