9/11 Fund Recognizes Lesbian Partner

A federal fund created to compensate victims of the Sept. 11 attacks has awarded $500,000 to the lesbian partner of a woman who died at the Pentagon, a decision gay rights advocates hailed as a milestone.

Sheila Hein, 51, a civilian Army management analyst who died when a hijacked American Airlines jet slammed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., was wearing a gold band given her by Peggy Neff, her partner of 18 years.

Another, emerald ring that had been a gift from Neff, was missing from Hein's remains.

"It had been pulverized," Neff wrote in an affidavit filed with her federal claim.

"She was my entire world and my soul mate, my closest confidante and my best friend," Neff added.

Under Virginia laws, Neff was not eligible for state aid. But the head of a Department of Justice fund established after the attacks concluded that Neff was entitled to compensation.

Kenneth Feinberg, special master of the Sept. 11th Victim Compensation Fund, wrote on Nov. 26 that Neff had accepted $557,390.

The letter, released this week by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund — which represented Neff — was first reported by the Washington Post.

Neff's lawyers called the decision "a huge step forward for the federal government."

It was unclear whether the decision set a precedent for other partners of those who died in the attacks.

Congress created the compensation fund only 11 days after the terrorist attacks. Families that apply to it are barred from suing anyone — except the terrorists themselves and their accomplices — for damages as a result of the terrorist attacks.

To date, the compensation fund has received 935 applications for benefits, and has made offers in 154 cases. Of the applicants who have replied to those offers, 107 accepted the award, while 19 requested a hearing.

The average award accepted so far has been about $1.6 million. While several factors are considered in setting an award level, the fund adheres loosely to a schedule based on how old the victim was and how much salary he or she earned.

For example, the family of a victim who was younger than 35 and earned less than $50,000 a year might get between $390,000 and $1.9 million. The kin of victims earning the same amount, but older than 35, might receive between $250,000 and $1.7 million.

The federal government pays for the awards.