Note: this article has been updated to include information on the August 23, 2010 change in the BP oil spill claims process. The new, independent Gulf Coast Claims Facility will handle all old and new claims, and old claims filed with BP must be re filed with GCCF. Read on for more information.
The Deepwater Horizon oil rig, leased by British Petroleum (BP) from Transocean, experienced a massive explosion on April 20, 2010, leaving 11 workers dead and an uncontrolled gulf oil spill. In the ensuing weeks the BP oil spill continued, leaking between 12,000 and 25,000 barrels of oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico.
As the oil slowly progressed into coastal fishing areas and onto beaches, industries such as fishing, wildlife and tourism experienced sharp effects. Workers and small business owners faced dramatic loss of income as a direct result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Filing a claim with BP oil spill funding can help replace loss of income from unemployment and provide interim pay.
BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster and Loss of Income
Under the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, any entity that operates and owns the equipment that led to the gulf oil spill must compensate individuals and businesses that experience lost income, lost revenue, damaged property or physical injury or illness.
After the BP oil spill, British Petroleum set up an Oil Pollution Act claims processing method for interim payments to provide unemployed workers and small business owners who lost revenue from the incident. Anyone who experienced direct economic damages can file a claim, and the process is free.
Filing a Claim with BP Oil Spill
The claims process for loss of income, unemployment, or lost revenue involves two options: online or by phone.
- Online: Gather all documentation to provide proof of income. This can involve paystubs, W-2 forms, or profit and loss sheets for small businesses. Complete the Gulf Coast Claims Facility form, following all directions. Submit and wait for a claims representative to call.
- By Phone: call the Gulf Coast Claims Facility Hotline at 800-916-4893. As with filing online, assemble all necessary documents, such as paystubs, W-2 forms, and accounting paperwork for small businesses. A customer service representative will help file the claim against BP.
Gulf Oil Spill and BP Interim Payment
After completing the BP oil spill claim form or filing a claim with BP by phone, you may receive an interim payment within 48 to 72 hours. BP recognizes that immediate financial repayment for loss of income from the oil spill is critical, and has created the interim payment system to replace lost wages and revenue.
To learn more about interim payments, call the hotline listed above.
Unemployed workers and small business owners facing economic destruction or closing of business from the gulf oil spill should research every possible grant and payment option available. From government programs to print and online promotions detailing new programs, gulf residents and business owners may face environmental and economic upheaval for decades from this BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. Knowing how to receive the compensation to which workers and business owners are entitled is key to recovering financial stability.
To read more about getting a payment from BP for income loss, unemployment, personal injury or illness, or damage to property, please read How to File a BP Claim for the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill.
Self-employed workers need different documentation to prove loss of potential income, so please read this specialized article: File a BP Claim for Self-Employed Workers for Loss of Income.
Looking for a phone number to report oily animals, oil on land, technical problems or medical injuries? Know which phone number to call by reading BP Claims Phone Numbers and Gulf Oil Spill Management Hotline.
References:
Neuman, Scott. "Extent of BP's Liability for Gulf Spill Still Murky," NPR, June 9, 2010.
"Oil Pollution Act Overview," United States Environmental Protection Agency, June 2010.
Melanie Zoltan - Melanie Zoltan is a former college professor and administrator who has written for About.com, PCWorld, Brain Child, Thomson Gale, and ...
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