Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Proprietary Schools

Status of Closed School Claims

The chart below contains the approximate status of the claims for each of the closed schools against which students have filed claims. The list of claim processing stages may help you to understand where your school is in the overall process.

Students will help quicken the claims process by doing two things: 1) submitting requested documentation to the Department as soon as possible, and 2) checking this chart to determine the stage of their school's claims. By responding to Department requests quickly and limiting the number of phone and email inquiries to the Department, you allow our small staff to concentrate on completing the high volume of work experienced by this unit. We thank you for your help and patience in this matter. Reminder: The claims process may take from 1-2 years, depending upon the complexity of the claims process. Please note that if you change address before the claim is settled, you must notify the Department in writing and submit a new W-9 and Terms and Conditions form | .

Claim processing stages:

1. Students are given information about filing claims (deadlines for filing claims are provided in school closure bulletins)
2. Department's initial review of claims (check-in to make sure all information/documentation is present)
3. Students sent requests for additional documentation (30-day return given to students)
4. Department's evaluation of claims to determine if student has a valid claim, and if so, the amount of the claim (Department creates student worksheets detailing claim amount and how it was calculated)
5. Department sends worksheets to students with calculated claim amount (30-day return given to students; depending upon the total amount of student claims, students may only receive a percentage of the calculated amount)
6. Claims and spreadsheets are submitted to the insurance company and may require negotiation with insurance company, which may require additional documentation from students and may deny individual claims. Please note that this stage of the claims process is the lengthiest as each individual claim must be settled before the claim may be settled with the insurance company and funds disbursed. The reason is that in most school closures there are more claims than there are funds available; therefore, claimants may only receive a percentage of their claims. Until all claims are settled, the percentage of each claimants' refund cannot be calculated. Students will be contacted as soon as a settlement has been reached.
   
   We appreciate your patience. Please know that we are working diligently on all claims.