How To Apply for BP Unemployed Oil Rig Workers Compensation Fund

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Government,Gulf Coast on June 17, 2010

BP Establishes $100M Fund to Support Unemployed Oil Rig Workers Through Baton Rouge Foundation

On July 30, 2010, BP announced in a press release that it will establish a $100 million charitable fund to support unemployed rig workers experiencing economic hardship as a result of the moratorium on deepwater drilling imposed by the United States federal government.

The Rig Worker Assistance Fund will be administered through the Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation, a supporting organization of The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF). More information is at  RigReliefGrants.org.

Rig Worker Assistance Fund Information FAQ’s

Who qualifies? Under the agreement with BP which established the Rig Worker Assistance Fund, the grant program is limited to people who worked on deepwater rigs on May 6. Based on available information, it’s estimated that up to 9,000 people worked on the 33 deepwater rigs on May 6. If there is money available after the first round of grants, the agreement stipulates a second round of grants may be made to direct support workers.

What are the grant amounts? BP has established a range of $3,000 to $30,000 for the grants. Amounts will be based on financial hardship, which will be determined by several factors, including lost wages and expenses.

What are the key dates? The program will open for applications on Sept. 1. The application period will close Sept. 30. We expect to mail all award checks to approved applicants by Oct. 30.

What’s the phone number to the grant application hotline? The application hotline is (866) 577-8141, and information will be available online at RigReliefGrants.org. Until Sept. 1, the line has a recorded message. On Sept. 1, the line will go live to accept applications. We are hopeful the hotline will begin taking information from applicants before Sept. 1. If the line does go active before then, we will post the information at RigReliefGrants.org.

What can potential applicants do until the application process opens? Rig workers affected by the moratorium should begin gathering documents for the application process. At this time, we expect needed documents will include most recent pay stubs listing year‐to‐date income, verification of employment on one of the 33 deepwater rigs affected by the moratorium, W-2, 1099 and/or income tax returns for most recent calendar year, information related to spousal income, insurance proceeds, unemployment payments, payments from other relief funds and information about average monthly expenses for at least three months prior to May 6.

How will the grant process work? The Foundation is contracting with a third-party administrator to accept and complete grant applications. The administrator will open a call center at the hotline on Sept. 1 to begin accepting applications. We understand many applicants face financial difficulties so we have made every attempt to keep the grant process as simple as possible while offering extra help to those who may need it. Applications can be initiated online, or applicants can receive a package to be filled and returned by mail or by fax.

What happens after the application? The Foundation will review all applications to determine whether there is financial hardship and, if so, the amount of the grant. Beginning Oct. 4, the Foundation will write and mail grant checks weekly, and expects to mail all award checks to approved applicants by Oct. 30. How will information about the grant program be released? The Foundation will alert potential applicants through announcements in news media and companies with deepwater-rig workers.

Information also will be posted online at RigReliefGrants.org. The Foundation will provide weekly updates at the website and to the media. Foundation representatives will respond as quickly as possible to media requests.

What is the Gulf Coast Restoration and Protection Foundation? GCRPF was created to restore and protect the coast. It is a supporting organization of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, which has worked with philanthropists to write more than $230 million in grants across south Louisiana and the world. What is the GCRPF’s fee for managing the grant program: Of the $100 million, BP has agreed that the GCRPF may deduct 6.5% as an administrative fee.