ORLANDO, Fla. – OneOrlando Fund claim forms were made available to Pulse nightclub shooting victims and their families on Friday evening.
SUBMIT A CLAIM: OneOrlando's website
Claim forms are available at OneOrlando's website, where you can download, complete and print the required forms. Once the forms are complete, you must have the form notarized, then mail the printed claim form and required documents to National Compassion Fund: OneOrlando Fund c/o National Center for Victims of Crime, 2000 M Street NW, Suite 480, Washington, DC 20036.
All forms must be postmarked by Sept. 12 to qualify. Assistance is available 855-4-VICTIM or by email at OneOrlando@ncvc.org.
Officials also said on Friday that the OneOrlando Fund Board approved the final protocol for the distribution of the funds. The claims process was supposed to start at noon Friday, but did not.
Officials said in a release that the timeline is:
- Friday, Aug. 12, 2016: Claim Forms and other required documentation available on OneOrlando.org
- Sept. 12, 2016: Deadline for submission of Claim Forms and other required documentation
- Sept. 12 – Sept. 25, 2016: All personal meetings requested with the Fund Administrators completed
- Sept. 12 – Sept. 26, 2016: All claims reviewed by the Fund Administrators and recommendations for payments to eligible claimants submitted to the OneOrlando Fund Board for independent review and approval
- Sept. 27, 2016: Payment Distribution to approved eligible claimants begins on a rolling basis
- After Oct. 15, 2016: Independent Audit begins
Angelique Caro was shot in the forearm and the bullet shattered her wrist, another bullet punctured her lung and is still lodged under her collarbone.
She said what is helping her through is the love and support from the public.
"We need all that love and support because that is with us forever now and its something we're trying to get adjusted to. Its a process," Caro said.
That love has manifested into $23 million worth of donations in the OneOrlando Fund.
There are new changes to how victims can qualify. The draft protocol, for those with physical injury claims who were treated on an out-patient basis originally required victims to be treated within 24 hours of June 12.
That has now been extended to the end of the day on June 14 after some victims reported they ran from the club that night, went home -- and didn't go to the doctor immediately.
Edwin Rivera said he was one of them.
"I went to the hospital two days after that, I had a panic attack and an anxiety attack, and almost a heart attack," he said.
The final protocol will also not put a time limit on when the victims reported to law enforcement, as long as law enforcement can confirm they were in the club when the shootings happened.
The plan is for the most money to go to the families of the 49 people who were killed.
The next largest amount would to those who were injured based on the length of their hospital stays.
The least amount would go to those who were inside the club but not injured.
Actual amounts have not been determined yet, since donations are still being accepted.
"The way they have it set up, I think its reasonable and its honest," Caro said. "Just to see all that love and support and everyone just being there is great," she said.