NJ bill looks to reopen filing window for 9/11 responder disability pension

TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) –  Shortly after now-retired Jersey City Police Officer Valerie Velazquez-Stetz dropped her son off at school on September 11, 2001, she found herself in riot gear, ready to help after the attacks at the World Trade Center.

“It was a beautiful day, that’s what I remember. Little did I know that, an hour and a half later, all hell would break loose,” said Velazquez-Stetz. “We went back and forth over bringing supplies, dignitaries, helping families go over looking for loved ones, and digging in the pile in the bucket brigade.”

Like thousands of other responders, she felt the effects of her service at Ground Zero.

“Basal cell carcinoma cancer -skin cancer-, sinus surgery, stomach surgery for acid reflux, I had asthma, I developed all of these conditions after 9/11,” said Velazquez-Stetz.

Under a law enacted in 2019, New Jersey 9/11 first responders who suffered permanent and total disability from serving at Ground Zero can apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance. However, the filing window for that ended in 2021. A bill in Trenton looks to extend the filing another two years once passed. The bill advanced through the committee last week, one step closer to a vote.

“Hopefully by next month, it will be done, and then all of the 9/11 responders from New Jersey will get what they deserve,” said Velazquez-Stetz. 

Bill co-sponsors in the Assembly, Robert Karabinchak and Gerry Scharfenberger, have faith it will get done.

“I stand 100% behind them so they can have these benefits in their time of need,” said Karabinchak (D-NJ 18^th District). 

“I think we have to do everything we can now to ensure no one and absolutely no one is left behind,” said Scharfenberger (R-NJ 13^th District). 

Velazquez-Stetz encourages New Jersey’s 9/11 responders who haven’t already to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program in order to be eligible for the pension.

“Don’t wait until you’re sick with the cancer,” said Velazquez-Stetz. “Don’t wait until you get that bad news.”