NEW YORK (AP) — An official at the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund say it has paid out $551 million over the last year.

The fund’s special master, Sheila Birnbaum, released a letter Friday saying the fund had made 2,042 compensation decisions over the 12 months that ended Sept. 30.

Birnbaum says the fund had made 112 decisions totaling $27 million in the previous year.

She says the fund was able to process far more decisions because of an increase in staffing and better communication with those making claims.

The fund was established in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks to provide compensation for those affected.

Sunday was the deadline to apply for compensation for those who developed cancer after working at ground zero.

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