BP Claims Paid Under Feinberg Reach $259 Million

The Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), created to compensate people and businesses for damages related to BP Plc’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill, has paid $259 million in claims since the organization took over the process from the oil company on Aug. 23.

BP paid $400 million in claims before GCCF head Kenneth Feinberg began administering the $20 billion fund set up at the insistence of President Barack Obama.

The April 20 well rupture killed 11 people and caused the world’s worst marine crude oil spill. BP said it permanently sealed the well on Sunday. Below is a breakdown of payments made through Sept. 20:

Number of claims filed:

• Individual 41,396
• Businesses 23,185
• Total 64,581

Number of claims paid: 21,193

• Individual $141.86 million
• Business $117.43 million
• Total $259.29 million

Emergency advance payment: $259.29 million

Number of claims denied: 1

Number of ineligible claims: 1,243

Payments made to Real Estate Brokers and Agents as part of a separate fund: $34.5 million

Source: GCCF documents

(Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston)