U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund

**Welcome to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund** The Department of Justice and the Special Master administer the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund). Congress created the USVSST Fund by statute, to provide compensation to a specific group of international terrorism victims harmed by state-sponsored terrorism. Since the Fund's establishment in 2015, it has paid out over $10 billion to eligible victims. While no amount of compensation could ever repair what was lost for those devastated by acts of international terrorism, the Department and the Special Master continue to work to ensure that all available funds reach victims and their families. The USVSST Fund provides compensation to individuals (or personal representatives of deceased individuals) who hold a final judgment issued by a United States District Court awarding the individual compensatory damages. The judgment must arise from acts of international terrorism for which a foreign state sponsor of terrorism was found not immune from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA). Individuals must submit applications not later than 90 days after the date of obtaining the final judgment. This is the only official website of the USVSST Fund. Be sure to visit this website for USVSST Fund news, program updates, and reporting; answers to frequently asked questions; access to forms and resources; and information on everything needed to file a claim. ****About the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund**** The Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act (the "Act"), [34 U.S.C. § 20144](https://www.usvsst.com/Content/Documents/34USC20144_PostFairnessfor911FamiliesAct.pdf), as amended, provides for the establishment and administration of the USVSST Fund to provide compensation to certain U.S. persons who were injured in acts of international state-sponsored terrorism. Mary Patrice Brown serves as the Special Master of the USVSST Fund. The USVSST Fund may compensate eligible United States persons who: - hold a final judgment issued by a United States district court awarding the applicant compensatory damages arising from acts of international terrorism for which a foreign state sponsor of terrorism was found not immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act; - were taken and held hostage from the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran, during the period beginning November 4, 1979, and ending January 20, 1981, and certain of their spouses and children; or - are the personal representative of a deceased individual in those categories. In general, the Act requires claimants to submit applications not later than **90 days** after the date of obtaining a qualifying final judgment. [New claimants are encouraged to file their Application Form online.](https://cert.gardencitygroup.com/vtf/fs/home) The USVSST Fund continues to collect [qualifying deposits](https://www.usvsst.com/Home/QualifyingCases) for potential future payment rounds. Victims and their family members can be assured that their claims will be processed promptly, fairly, and transparently. The USVSST Fund updates this website as further information becomes available. ****Reminders to Claimants**** Claimants must meet all USVSST Fund requirements to receive their allocated payment amounts. This includes curing outstanding deficiencies, if any. *There is no guarantee that eligible claimants will receive the full allocated amount, or that payments will be issued immediately.* For more information about receiving payments from the USVSST Fund, please see Frequently Asked Questions ([FAQs](https://www.usvsst.com/Home/Faq)) 4.25 and 8.1-8.14. All claimants have a continuing obligation to update claim information, including informing the USVSST Fund of any compensation from any source other than this Fund not previously disclosed, as well as significant developments involving the final judgment or other facts affecting eligibility. *See* [Notice to Update Claim Information](https://www.usvsst.com/Content/Documents/USVSSTFundNoticetoUpdateClaimInformation.pdf).