Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of families are experiencing loss of income from the Deepwater Horizon gulf oil spill that has ravaged the Gulf of Mexico since late April 2010. Fishing, wildlife, tourism, and oil work are just a few industries devastated by the uncontrolled oil disaster. Many families were gearing up for the summer season, waiting to earn the bulk of revenue and income from small businesses and jobs in these and other industries. The BP oil spill changes the financial landscape for these workers, their spouses and partners, and their children.

For families facing unemployment as a direct result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, British Petroleum has set up a loss of income claims process, as required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. Displaced workers can file a claim with BP in one of two ways: online and by phone.

Filing a Claim with BP Online

To file for unemployment claims online, go to the BP Claims Submission Form. Have documentation available before filing the claim. Common documents needed include:

• Paystubs from the most recent two months of work.
• W-2 forms from the entire prior year of work is seasonal and paystubs vary greatly.
• Revenue and expense sheets for self-employed workers.
• Accounting records for small business owners.

Follow the directions on the website.

Loss of Income Claim with BP By Telephone

To file a loss of income claim by phone, call the Deepwater Horizon Response Hotline at 800-440-0858. As with filing online, workers and small business owners need proper documentation to file a loss of income claim from the gulf oil spill. A BP claims representative will walk you through the filing process.

Filing a Claim for BP Oil Spill Can Help Families

In both cases, filing online or by phone, representatives from BP will follow up on claims to determine the value of lost income and revenue. BP issues interim payments within 48 hours of a claim, equal to one month’s lost income or up to $5,000, whichever is smaller. For people and businesses earning more than this cap, when the claims are settled the remainder will be paid out by the BP claims processing system.

Families Facing Financial Hardship from Gulf Oil Spill

For families in financial crisis, the federal government has set up DisasterAssistance.gov, a clearinghouse of website links to direct families to the following financial assistance programs:

• Unemployment assistance
• School lunch and breakfast programs
• WIC
• Food stamps
• Summer food service program
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• Rural housing assistance

and more. Visit this federal government site to learn about programs that help families experiencing loss of income from the gulf oil spill.