The clock is ticking down to a Monday deadline for thousands of cops, firefighters and construction workers.

They’re suing over exposure to toxic World Trade Center dust and must decide by Monday if they want to join a legal settlement that could pay them $800 million.

More than 10,000 people sued the city after the attack.

Their lawsuits blame the government and its contractors for failing to provide proper equipment to protect their lungs.

More than 90 percent of people eligible have taken the deal, but at least 95 percent of the claimants must accept the settlement for it to take effect. For claimants who are undecided the choice is between rejecting the settlement offer and risk taking their case to court. There they would have to prove the Trade Center’s toxic dust caused diseases like cancer; something scientists have yet to confirm.

Published reports say individual payouts would range from thousands to millions of dollars. Plaintiffs who accept the city settlement could also participate in a multi-billion dollar pot of federal money which could be authorized for 9/11 health care coverage. However, first responders who choose to sue the city would not be eligible.

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(Source: WPIX)