CLAIMS NOTICES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS​

If you have received a claims notice, you may have a couple of questions. Here are some frequently asked questions to help guide you through the process of adjusting your claim. 

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How do I know if I need to fix my claim?

 

Over the past several weeks, claimants have begun to receive notices via mail about their claim, which inform them whether further action needs to be taken to ensure they are eligible to receive their award. There are two main types of notices:

 

• Approved or Eligible Notices: These notices indicate that a claim is either fully approved, approved but requiring additional information, or eligible based on specific categories such as minor children or residential property damage.

• Deficiency Notices: These notices highlight issues with claims, such as missing documentation, incorrect injury categories, or lack of proof of property ownership. Steps to resolve these deficiencies will be outlined during the presentation.

 

If your notice is approved, no further action is necessary, and the next letter that arrives will tell you how much you will receive and will ask you how you would like to receive it. The options are direct deposit or a check, but Venmo may become an option in the future.

 

If your notice describes your claim as eligible or deficient, then you must take further action to fix your claim within thirty (30) days of the date at the top of your notice.

 

It is important to note that while many notices have already been sent out, thousands are still set to go out in the coming weeks, so don’t panic if you are yet to receive one but be sure to consistently check your mailbox.

 

Lastly, if you do not receive a notice by SEPTEMBER 20, 2024, please contact your attorney’s office ASAP.

 

What is an eligible notice and what do I have to do to fix it?

 

An eligible notice means that your claim is approved, but the administrator is missing information necessary to process and pay out your claim. This is often something simple as valid proof of identity (copy of your driver’s license, birth certificate, passport), or the signing of forms by a claimant who was a child at time of exposure but is now an adult. The notice will inform you of exactly what is missing.

 

Any and all questions should be directed to your attorney or flintwaterclassaction@pittlawpc.com.

 

What is a deficiency notice and what do I have to do to get approved?

 

These notices highlight issues with claims, such as missing documentation (medical records, proof of residency, tax information, business information) incorrect injury categories, or lack of proof of property ownership. The notice will provide what issue(s) your claim has and inform you what documentation is necessary to resolve the issue(s).

 

Additionally, your claim can be deficient for the category it was submitted to, but automatically approved for a different category based on the evidence and documentation you provided. In this instance, you can either take no action, meaning your claim will be eligible for the new category described in the notice or submit the documentation outlined in the notice as necessary for review under the original category. Your attorney can assist you in making this decision, so please contact them if you are considering the latter options.

 

What about other types of notices?

 

One possible notice claimants may receive is a “no category chosen” notice, which means your claim is submitted and on file, but you did not elect for a compensation category AND there was not enough information provided for the administrator to place you in a given category. You can review the categories on the officialflintwatersettlement.com website to see what best fits your loss and your attorney can assist you in making that determination, and in gathering + submitting the necessary materials.

 

You must act fast, as the deadline for submission is thirty (30) days from the date on your notice, which is also printed boldly on the notice under the “Reconsideration Form” section. Feel free to contact your attorney directly or email flintwaterclassaction@pittlawpc.com.

 

Where and how do I send my missing information?

 

All missing information, and your completed + signed missing information form should be mailed to:

 

• 600 Vine Street, STE 2006
  Cincinnati OH 45273-9957

 

What about the Signature attestation & release forms?

 

Signature attestation & release forms are required to affirm no further legal action will be taken against the settlement defendants.
 

• Click here to access the exemplar release form.

• Click here to access the exemplar signature attestation form.

Each claimant (or their representative) must sign these forms to participate in the settlement and get paid. If you are having trouble finding or completing these forms, please contact your attorney or email info@flintwaterjustice.com.

 

How can I provide proof of exposure if my notice asks for it?

 

Many deficiency notices will request further documentation to establish proof of exposure. There are several categories for proof of exposure, which depend on the age of the claimant and the dates of exposure. Find them broken down below, including which documents are sufficient:

 

• Minor children at time of 1st Exposure (Categories 1-21):

  • Water bill: in a parent or guardian’s name for any residence where minor lived between April 25, 2014 and November 2020 for an address that received Flint water. 

  • Birth Certificate: to establish parental relationship.

  • School Record: of attendance between April 2014 and November 2020, if the School received Flint water. Record must have the minor’s name and date listed.

  • Minor’s Blood Lead Test or other Medical Record: between April 2014 and November 2020 listing an address that received Flint water.

  • Income Tax Return: between 2014 – 2020 if the minor was a dependent, listing an address that received Flint water.

 

• Adults (Categories 22-24):

  • Water bill: in the Claimant’s name for each residence for which you lived or paid a water bill between April 25, 2014 and July 31, 2016; OR 

  • School Record: between April 25, 2014 and July 31, 2016, showing the address of the school and your name; OR 

  • Letter from employer: verifying employment at a business in Flint between April 25, 2014 and July 31, 2016 with address (showing Flint address of place of employment and/or employee) OR; Check or pay stub for a business in Flint between April 25, 2014 and July 31, 2016 with address (showing Flint address of place of employment and/or employee); OR

  • Income Tax Return: showing each address where you lived in Flint between 2014 to 2016; OR 

  • Deed, lease, or mortgage statement: in your name and listing an address that received Flint water between April 25, 2014 and July 31, 2016; OR 

  • Other documents: to reliably show address of Claimant’s exposure to Flint water during the relevant category Exposure Period. The Claims Administrator will follow up with you if necessary after their review of the documentation provided.

 

• Adults (Category 25):

  • Water bill: in the Claimant’s name for each residence for which you lived or paid a water bill between 8/1//2016 and 11/16/2020 ; OR 

  • School Record: between 8/1//2016 and 11/16/2020 , showing the address of the school and your name; OR 

  • Letter from employer: verifying employment at a business in Flint between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020 with address (showing Flint address of place of employment and/or employee); OR 

  • Check or pay stub: for a business in Flint between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020 with address (showing Flint address of place of employment and/or employee); OR

  • Income Tax Return: showing each address where you lived in Flint between 2016 and 2020; OR 

  • Deed, lease, or mortgage statement: in your name and listing an address that received Flint water between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020; OR 

  • Other documents: to reliably show address of Claimant’s exposure to Flint water during the relevant category Exposure Period. The Claims Administrator will follow up with you if necessary after their review of the documentation provided. 

 

What about proof of injury?

 

Like proof of exposure, proof of injury is another common reason for a deficiency notice and follows the same categories. Find them broken down below, including which documents are sufficient:

 

• For Minors (Categories 1-21)

  • Blood Lead Test between 5/16/2014 and 8/31/2016.

  • Bone Scan Test between 5/16/2014 and 4/20/2021.Cognitive Tests between 5/16/2014 and 6/30/2022

  • Water Lead Tests between 5/16/2014 and 8/31/2016

  • Lead or Galvanized Service Lines

 

• For Adults (Categories 22-24):

  • Blood Lead Test greater than 5.0 mcg/dL between 5/16/2014 and 8/31/2016.

  • Bone Scan Test greater than 5 ug/G between 5/16/2014 and 4/20/2021.

  • Medical Records in which a doctor relates a Medical Condition to the Flint water between 5/16/2014 and 7/31/2016, but that is documented between 5/16/2014 – 4/20/2021.

 

• Adults (Category 25):

  • Blood Lead Test greater than 5.0 mcg/dL between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020.

  • Bone Scan Test greater than 5 ug/G between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020.

  • Medical Records in which a doctor relates a Medical Condition to the Flint water between 8/1/2016 and 11/16/2020, but that is documented between 8/1/2016 – 4/20/2021.

 

What if I suffered a miscarriage or developed Legionnaire’s Disease as a result of my exposure (category 26 and category 27A/B)?

 

For miscarriages between May 16, 2014 and April 30, 2017, you need:

• Proof of Exposure between 4/25/2014 and 7/31/2016 (see above)

• Medical Records documenting Miscarriage and blood lead tests of 5 mcg/dL

 

For a diagnosis of Legionnaires’ Disease between April 25, 2014 and December 31, 2018, you need:

• Proof of Exposure between 4/25/2015 and 12/31/2018

• Medical Records or Death Certificate documenting Legionnaires diagnosis 

 

What are the commonly missing documents for property and business claims?

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Proof needed for Residential Flint Property claims (Category 28) 

• Water bill in your name  

• Income Tax Return showing that you Rented

• Income Tax Return showing that you deducted Property Taxes

• Deed, Lease, or Mortgage statement in your name

• Receipt of Rent payment(s) 

• Property Tax statement
   

Proof needed for Business Property Claims in Flint (Category 29-30):

• Water bill in your name/name of business 

• Proof of Business Ownership (Deed, Lease, Mortgage statement, Income Tax Statement, Tax Registration, State Filing, Certificate of Incorporation)

• Income Tax Returns showing a loss. (2 years prior, year of loss, 1 year after loss)

 

What if I’m completing forms for someone that I have legal authority over?

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Some claimants are handling this process for a relative or someone legally under the care, which requires additional documentation to prove this to the administrator, so the claimant can participate and be paid.

• If you are completing forms on behalf of a decedent, please gather the decedent’s death certificate and estate papers.

• If you are completing forms on behalf of a legally incapacitated person, please gather documents proving your legal authority to do so; 

• If you are completing forms on behalf of a minor child, please gather the minor’s birth certificate and any other documents showing guardianship or adoption, as applicable.

 

It’s also important to note here that many claimants were children at their time of exposure but are now adults. This will require that adult, not their guardian at the time of exposure, to sign the necessary forms, otherwise they will miss out. If your child falls into that category, please contact them asap. Of course, feel free to connect them with your attorney directly or have them email flintwaterclassaction@pittlawpc.com.

 

I’ve submitted all the documentation I need, what comes next?

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Over the course of the next several months, the claims administrator will review your claim, and possible next steps:

• Favorable:

  • A favorable determination letter will provide the dollar amount of your award, and the options for form of payment, which you must respond to and elect to get paid.

• Reconsideration:

  • This letter will explain the outcome of your reconsideration (this applies to those who received deficiency notices and provided additional information requested by the administrator to review the claim) and if denied it will explain why.

• Appeal:

  • For those who have been denied, or bumped into another category you don’t agree with, a letter from the administrator will explain the options for appealing the decision. Your attorney can assist you in charting the path forward for a potential appeal.

 

If any questions you have were not answered sufficiently above, or you need further assistance, please contact your attorney or email flintwaterclassaction@pittlawpc.com at your earliest convenience. We are here for you.