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Frequently Asked Questions

Claims Management Office

What should I expect after I file my claim with TSA?

Once you file your claim, you should receive an acknowledgement letter from TSA within fourteen (14) days if you submit the claim by USPS (within 6 days if submitted by fax). This letter will include a TSA control number and instructions. Use this number to check the status of your claim online or for any other communications with the TSA Claims Management Office.

The TSA standard claims process:

  1. Once a claim has been received by the Claims Management Office (CMO), it is entered into a Claims Management System.
  2. If the claim is NOT sufficient, the claimant will be sent an insufficient letter requesting additional information. If it is sufficient, the claimant will be sent an acknowledgement letter with a control number.
  3. The claim will then be assigned to a TSA Claims Investigator.
  4. The investigator will fully examine the claim. This could include:
  5. Checking receipts, appraisals, flight information, etc.
  6. Contacting the claimant,
  7. Contacting origin-of-receipt stores, airport personnel, air carriers, etc.
  8. Interfacing with TSA airport personnel
  9. The investigator will then make a 'recommendation' on the claim. The recommendation will be to either approve the claim in full, offer a settlement, or deny the claim entirely.
  10. Once done, the claim will be forwarded to a TSA 'Delegated Authority Official' (DAO). This person has been granted the right to disperse taxpayer funds on behalf of the Federal Government to pay tort claims. They have the responsibility to accept or reject the recommendation of the investigator.
  11. If the DAO rejects the investigator's recommendation, the claim will be sent back to the investigator for further review.
  12. If the DAO accepts the recommendation of the investigator, a letter will be sent to the claimant with the final decision.
  13. If the decision is to approve the claim in full or to offer a settlement, the letter will include a form to complete. For a settlement, the letter and form will outline the offer and instruct the claimant on the payment options available. For an approval, the letter will only instruct the claimant on the payment options available.
  14. Once the form is returned to the Claims Management Office, the claim payment will be processed through the Coast Guard Finance Center (the Coast Guard Finance Center processes all payments for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS))
  15. The Coast Guard Finance Center will then process the payment through the U.S. Treasury.

This is the general automated process for all TSA tort claims. However, some claims may require further investigation by a TSA Federal Agent or local Law Enforcement. This process may take longer and include additional steps beyond the process outlined above.