World Trade Center Presumption

Eligibility Requirements

World Trade Center Presumption

To be eligible for this presumption, you must have been employed by a participating employer of NYSLRS or another New York public retirement system on September 11, 2001, and:

  1. Participated in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations for any period of time within the first 48 hours after the first airplane crashed or a minimum of 40 hours any time between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002 at:
    • The World Trade Center site (defined as the area below a line starting from the Hudson River and Canal Street bearing east on Canal Street to Pike Street, continuing south on Pike Street to the East River and extending to the lower tip of Manhattan);
    • The New York City morgue or any temporary morgues;
    • The Fresh Kills Landfill; or
    • On the barges that ran between Manhattan and the Fresh Kills Landfill.
    You may also be eligible if you:
    • Participated at specific New York City police department, fire department or emergency medical services sites during the first 24 hours after the first airplane crashed;
    • Repaired, cleaned or rehabilitated vehicles or equipment owned by the City of New York, regardless of whether the work was done at one of the above locations; or
    • Were not a member of a public retirement system at the time that you worked for a public employer in the rescue, recovery and cleanup, and you subsequently become a member of a public retirement system and bought back the service credit that applies to the applicable time period of rescue, recovery and cleanup.
  2. Have been required to take, and then passed, a physical examination upon entry into public service, which did not show a qualifying condition. If you were not required to take a physical examination, you can authorize the release of all relevant medical records prior to September 11, 2001, showing no evidence of a qualifying condition. We highly recommend you gather, maintain and/or submit relevant medical records as early as possible to facilitate processing an application you may file in the future.
  3. Be found permanently incapacitated by the Retirement System due to the qualifying condition or health impairment, and unable to perform your job.

If you are disabled, file an Application for World Trade Center Accidental Disability Presumption (RS6047-W). If you have not already done so, you must file an Application for World Trade Center Notice (RS6047-N) on or before September 11, 2026.

To preserve your right to file at some time in the future if you are presently not disabled, file an Application for World Trade Center Notice (RS6047-N) on or before September 11, 2026.