The former BP claims center in Slidell has moved to a new location as the oil spill claims process transitions to a new, independent administrator.
The new Gulf Coast Claims Facility opened Monday morning at 1300 Gause Blvd., in Suites A5 and A6, said Amy Weiss, who is a spokeswoman for the organization.
The White House and BP selected Kenneth R. Feinberg to administer the $20 billion fund that the oil giant established to pay victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. Feinberg served as special master of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, distributing almost $7 billion to more than 5,000 victims and families of victims of the 9/11 attacks.
He has said the organization’s goal is making emergency six-month payments in 24 hours for individuals and no more than seven days for businesses. Applications for emergency payments will be accepted through Nov. 23.
The GCCF is the only organization that will be managing business and individual claims related to the Deepwater Horizon incident, according to the organization’s website. BP will not be involved in the decision-making process, the site said.
Though the GCCF has obtained claim information from BP, the organization is requiring those who previously filed a claim with BP to fill out a new claim form, Weiss said. The organization is mailing letters to those people to explain the new process, she said.
The new office is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. To file a claim, visit the claims office, call 800.916.4893 or go to the organization’s website at www.gulfcoastclaimsfacility.com
