USDA urges potential claimants to contact the Claims Administrator for information
and mail their claim packages on or before March 25, 2013.
The
process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic
or female farmer and rancher who can prove that USDA denied his or her
application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory
reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. As announced in
February 2011, the voluntary claims process will
make available at least $1.33 billion for cash awards and tax relief
payments, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief, to eligible
Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. There are no filing fees to
participate in the program.
Claimants may register for a claims package by calling the telephone number
below Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time or by downloading the forms from the website.
Website: www.farmerclaims.gov
Phone: 1-888-508-4429
Claims Period: September 24, 2012 - March 25, 2013.
Independent
legal services companies will administer the claims process and
adjudicate the claims. Although there are no filing fees to participate
and a lawyer is not required to participate in the claims process,
persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal
services provider.
USDA
is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of
discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9450, or
call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or
(866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800)
845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).
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