Filing Multiple Trust Claims

A single refinery, shipyard or school boiler room might have contained pipe covering from one company, cement from another and gaskets from a third. Over a career, a worker could move between sites and trades, adding more products to the list. Each company that went bankrupt left behind its own trust with its own rules. So the question is not which one trust fits you, but how many of them match your work history. A careful review of every job, including short ones and military service, can uncover trusts that would otherwise be missed.

Much of the same evidence supports several claims. One pathology report proves the diagnosis for every trust. A detailed work history and sworn statement can describe multiple products at once. Still, each trust checks its own criteria, so the evidence has to show exposure to that specific company's products. A statement that lists brands and job sites clearly is more useful than a general one. Keeping one organized file with all the source documents makes it easier to prepare each claim accurately and to answer follow-up questions from different trusts.

With several claims open, it is easy to lose track of which trust has asked for what. Each claim has its own number, timeline and correspondence. Attorneys who handle trust work usually manage this through a single system and can report the status of every claim. If you are organizing things yourself, a simple spreadsheet or notebook with the trust name, claim number, date filed and any requests received can prevent missed deadlines. Payments will arrive separately, so tracking each one also helps you confirm that nothing has been overlooked.

1. 1

   List every job, including brief or part-time work, and every ship or base from military service.

2. 2

   Write down any product names, brands or materials you remember seeing at each site.

3. 3

   Ask which trusts were reviewed and why any were ruled out for your history.

4. 4

   Keep one master record of every claim number, filing date and trust request you receive.