Justice Department seeking public comment on victims fund

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department is seeking public comment on a government program that will provide money to the relatives of those who died or were injured in the Sept. 11 attacks.

The victims' compensation program, established by Congress in September, is to begin Dec. 21 and will dispense money -- the amounts have not been determined -- to cover lost wages and victims' pain and suffering.

The amount of the awards will depend on "the harm to the claimant, the facts of the claim, and the individual circumstances of the claimant," the department said.

The Justice Department is in charge of setting up rules for the program and is seeking comment beginning Monday on many complex issues that must be ironed out.

Among the issues: how people should apply for compensation, whether the program should pay for victims' lawyers and whether people who are not satisfied with their payment can appeal.