Two years ago, Congress passed legislation creating the compensation fund in response to years of complaints that those who were made sick by their exposure to toxic substances at the Ground Zero site needed and deserved health care and compensation.

WSJ: 9/11 Fund Sets First Payments

Ms. Birnbaum said it is still hard to tell how many people will seek compensation for cancers they believe they developed as a result of working at or around Ground Zero and how costly those illnesses will be.

WSJ: 9/11 Fund Sets First Payments