rssFor Some Oil Spill Victims, Claims Have Been ‘Under Review’ for Weeks
Friday, October 15, 2010 at 8:57 am
- 7 Comments
ProPublica reported yesterday that claimants are “struggling to get basic information” about the status of their claims:
Dozens of claimants have told ProPublica they are having trouble getting information about their submissions, and applicants say that the claims agents they speak to on the telephone and in field offices are unable to provide any answers. It is possible to check the status of applications on the website of the operation run by claims czar Kenneth Feinberg, but claimants say they cannot get explanations for their status, for delays in processing, or for the size of the checks sent out for approved claims.
I’ve received a number of calls and emails from claimants raising the same concerns. There has been a marked improvement in the process, with more than 64,000 claims paid as of yesterday. Feinberg, who is overseeing the claims process, says thousands of claims can’t be processed because they lack proper documentation. According to the latest statistics, some 58,000 claims need more documentation.
But the issue of concern for many in the Gulf region is the more than 38,000 claims that remain “under review.” Feinberg, in an interview with me last week, stressed that the the Gulf Coast Claims Facility has caught up with its initial backlog of claims. Any claims that have the proper documentation should be processed quickly.
Three people have told me that they filed claims with the GCCF in August and still have not been paid. Their claims, they say, remain “under review,” and they are having a difficult time determining when a decision will be made.
In fact, one claimant told me the GCCF’s helpline had been sending all callers to voicemail since Monday. It previously gave callers an option to talk to a GCCF representative. I called the helpline yesterday and, sure enough, it sent me to voicemail.
I then called Feinberg’s office to ask about the phone system. Amy Weiss, a spokeswoman for Feinberg’s office, responded in an email an hour later that she “didn’t know of any technical issues.” When I called the helpline again around 4 p.m. yesterday, it appeared to be fixed, as it gave me an option to talk to a GCCF representative.
I’ve asked Feinberg’s office on numerous occasions for an estimate of the number of claims that remain “under review” that were filed in August or early on in the GCCF claims process. I’ve also asked several times if there have been GCCF employees assigned to claims that have been “under review” for weeks or months. I have not received answers to these questions.
I will update when I get a response.
If you are experiencing similar issues with your claims, email me: arestuccia@washingtonindependent.com
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7 Comments
Pingback posted October 15, 2010 @ 9:41 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chael Montgomery, r3publican and Andrew Restuccia, WashIndependent. WashIndependent said: For Some Oil Spill Victims, Claims Have Been 'Under Review' for Months http://bit.ly/cb4Kcw [...]
Comment posted October 18, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
I have the same issues. I have called multiple times to make sure I have proper documents submitted and have been told that I do. I sent all my peperwork in on Aug. 25 and have been Under Review since. I have sent several emails in and called as well with no new updates. All I want are some answers on why the hold up and to resolve my claim.
Comment posted October 21, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
My Original claim with BP was handled fairly quickly and we did receive a check thru end of August. I refiled my claim at the Orange Beach claims office. The forms were actually completed by a claims rep (who was very nice)
The website now says my claim has not been completed. I called and talked to a rep about 2 weeks ago and she had trouble finding my claim, but when she did she said it was in line to be processed.When I called the claims number 5 times this week, it would get me into the que to talk to a representative, and then cut me off.
I sent an email 3 days ago and haven't gotten a reply.
I called this morning and left my cell number and haven't gotten a return call. This sounds like political mumbo Jumbo!
Comment posted October 31, 2010 @ 10:36 pm
73 days my claim has been under review the gccf hired and sent sent two private investigators to speak with me which i gladly did and my claim is still under review . it did me no good to even talk to the private investigators i still have nothing to show for my lost income…………….. i will try gov. christ next.
Comment posted November 11, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
Why cant they either approve or deny a claim, with in a couple of weeks? My claim is still under review and I am on the verge of losing my housing.
Comment posted November 12, 2010 @ 3:44 am
i apply for my claim back in sept and i have all my doc.and i havent heard anything from them not evern a letter. My claim has been under review for four week now. Ms. Gulf Coast Angel
Comment posted January 3, 2011 @ 1:32 am
I received a advance payment the end of oct and put in for my final claim now because it wash marry apperrent to me. That if people. Wait there will be no money left cuz once the 20 billion is gone its. Gone so everyone. Do you final and don’t settle for the quik pay of 5000 when u could. Get. 20000 this us for the there yrs and 5000 don’t go fair when you list everythang I’m homeless jobless and scared could i moved to a crime infested city and don’t know anyone but. My husband.he just list his job and. Our roof over our ahead but we have our faith and a vehicle to sleep in god will see us. Though we lost everything but our faith and our payout us coming just pray. God hears.god bless all of my family and friends that area suffering loss.
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