Gulf Coast claims fund queries 40,000 claims for cash

Kenneth Feinberg says more than a third of claims to the $20bn BP oil spill compensation fund he runs for President Obama, the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, are inflated, unsubstantiated or fraudulent, the Times reports.

“We have scores of applications for financial aid that appear to be fraudulent,” Mr Feinberg said. “People can put down on a claims form all sorts of numbers.”

He released figures showing:

  • 104,000 claims received
  • 40,000 needed to provide more information
  • Thousands under review, for reasons including possible fraud
  • 116 have been denied outright.

The Gulf Coast Claims Facility has paid out $964m (£600m) to 49,500 claimants since it was created on 23 August.

Websites

Topics