Flint water crisis settlement payments begin for approved claims

Flint Water Crisis Settlement Payments Begin to Roll Out

In a significant move towards addressing the lingering impacts of the Flint water crisis, initial payments from a fund exceeding $600 million have started reaching claimants. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing journey to provide redress to those affected by the elevated lead levels that plagued Flint’s water supply.

A decade has passed since the decision to alter Flint’s water source resulted in disastrous consequences. A switch to the Flint River without proper treatment led to severe contamination from lead and other pollutants as the corrosive water damaged the city’s antiquated pipes. The city endured 18 months of tainted water before reverting back to Detroit’s safer water system.

So far, close to 26,000 claims have been approved to receive a portion of the settlement. Initially, the focus is on approximately 7,000 property damage claims, with payments starting on December 12. As of the latest update, 2,854 payments have been processed according to the official settlement website.

The subsequent phase of disbursements will address health-related claims from both adults and children who suffered during the crisis.

Allocation of the Settlement Fund

The distribution of the settlement fund is primarily aimed at compensating affected children, who receive the largest share of funds:

64.5% for children aged six and under during the crisis.

10% for children aged 7-11 at that time.

5% for those aged 12-17.

Additionally, adults with documented injuries receive 15%, while residential and business claims are allocated smaller portions:

3% for residential property damage, capped at $1,000 per property.

0.5% for business losses, up to $5,000 per business.

Overall, there are 30 distinct categories for claims distribution. While most payments remain modest, some individuals, especially young children with high lead exposure, may receive compensation around $100,000.

The precise total of the settlement fund is not fixed, as the original $626.5 million established in 2020 has been accruing interest, thus increasing in value.