News

9/11 workers claim benefits denied

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

(New York - WABC, June 6, 2007) (WABC) -- A couple of first responders suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from ground zero say they're routinely being denied benefits they deserve. It's an Eyewitness News exclusive.

Eyewitness News reporter Nina Pineda has the story.

Just like Vietnam and Gulf War veterans, it sometimes takes decades for the trauma of these problems surface. And those that responded on September 11th have taken up to six years to recognize their lives were falling apart from what they experienced.

"I feel very depressed, I get agitated very easily ... I've had a couple of very serious bouts with anger," said Glen Klein.

NYPD officer Glen Klein spent eight months at ground zero digging through the debris pile. He lost 14 close colleagues from his ESU unit alone.

"Nothing has ever affected me the way this has," he said.

Klein has bravery and courage awards from 16 years on the job, but like many officers it was hard for them to admit to themselves they were suffering mentally from Post Traumatic Stress disorder, or PTSD.

"I was waking up in cold sweats and taking it out on the family," Alan Forcier said.

Unable to work, both Glen and Alan Forcier applied for disability benefits through the WTC disaster bill. Both were denied compensation.

In a letter from the New York City Medical Review Board, "... the board found no significant psychological findings precluding the detective from performing the full duties of his job." Therefore, his application was denied.

"Review Board wake up. Don't deny these guys because they waited for four years to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. That's a usual symptom and they need help and can't work," attorney Sean Riordan said.

The New York City Pension Review Board cites it is helping those suffering psychologically from 9/11. Out of 105 applications, the board approved benefits for 26 PTSD sufferers, and also 15 first responders also were compensated under for anxiety and depression.

Mayor Bloomberg appoints two members of the three member board.

"The two cases you're talking about are before a board which is made up of city representatives, union representatives and professionals in the medical field. And they're the ones that should make those kinds of decisions," Bloomberg said.

Yet to be one of those denied by those experts has felt like a slap in the face twice.

"We spent hundreds of hours down there at ground zero. We're not scamming, we're not trying to get anything we don't deserve," Klein said.

And dozens of those who responded here are appealing in a lawsuit to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, there is a very important deadline coming up -- June 14th. It is the cutoff for any city worker who responded here and did rescue and cleanup. You can find the information on the right hand side of the page.

Get more News »