Payments in AT&T settlement could total $7,500 per person. Here’s who’s eligible

A massive AT&T settlement could net you up to $7,500 because of the company’s 2024 data breaches. Here’s what you need to know.

With the deadline to make a claim approaching, a $177 million settlement that AT&T will begin paying customers in 2026 is making headlines again.

The nearly $200 million in funding is a settlement in a class action lawsuit that alleged AT&T customer data was breached multiple times last year. Some deadlines for filing have changed, and the final court date has been rescheduled for early next year.

Here’s what to know about the suit, which could result in some customers receiving payments of up to $7,500, including details on when the payments will be made, who is eligible to receive them, and more.

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What are the AT&T lawsuits about?

The AT&T settlement centers on incidents in which customer data was compromised. In one incident dated March 30, 2024, vulnerable data, including addresses, social security numbers, birthdates, passcodes, billing numbers, and phone numbers, were released on the dark web, according to a news release by Kroll Settlement Administration.

Another incident occurred on July 12, 2024, involving the alleged illegal downloading of limited data. Some breached information included customers and other users associated with the account, as well as the numbers with which they interacted.

Federal lawsuits regarding both instances were settled together earlier this year. AT&T did not admit liability or wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

How do I know if I’m part of the AT&T settlement? Who is eligible for the AT&T settlement?

There are two classes that are eligible for a settlement:

• AT&T 1 Settlement Class – Customers who had data in the breach announced in March 2024. According to the settlement site, their data could include a combination of “names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, account passcodes, billing account numbers, and Social Security numbers.”
• AT&T 2 Settlement Class – Customers who had data in the breach announced in July 2024. Data could include the telephone numbers of current and former account customers or users, as well as their call data, such as the numbers they interacted with, the frequency of interactions, and the number of calls made in a day or month. The settlement site noted that “for a small subset of individuals, one or more cell site identification numbers associated with the interactions” might have been in the data incident.

Someone could have had data in both incidents.

How much will each customer get from AT&T settlement? How much can I expect if I get an AT&T settlement payment?

A customer involved in both settlement classes could receive up to $7,500 in payments, depending on the number of people who file claims, as funding will decrease for each customer as more people file. Here’s how the payments work.

AT&T 1 Settlement Class could get up to $5,000. They can either request a Documented Loss cash Payment or receive one of two tiers of cash payments.

“A Tier Cash Payment is a pro rata share of the AT&T 1 Net Settlement Fund cash (the funds left after payment of Settlement Administration Costs, Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Service Awards),” the settlement site notes. The amounts won’t be determined until those costs are paid.

Payment levels for the first group are:

• Documented Loss Cash Payment: Submit a claim for documented losses of up to $5,000. Must have paperwork for traceable losses that happened after 2019.
• Tier 1 Cash Payment: If your Social Security Number was taken, that makes you eligible for five times a Tier 2 payment.
• Tier 2 Cash Payment: If your data, but not your SSN, was included, you could get a Tier 2 payment.

AT&T 2 Settlement Class could get up to $2,500. Some individuals will receive a Documented Cash Loss Payment, while others will be eligible for a tiered cash payment.

Payment types for the second group are:

• Documented Loss Cash Payment: Submit a claim for documented losses of up to $2,500. Must have paperwork for traceable losses that happened on or after April 14, 2024.
• Tier 1 Cash Payment: This is a pro rata share of the remaining funds after certain costs and fees are deducted. The amount has not yet been determined.

When is the AT&T settlement claim deadline? Can I still file a claim in the AT&T settlement?

The deadline for eligible people to submit claims is Thursday, Dec. 18, a date that has been moved since earlier USA TODAY NETWORK stories on the settlement. Claims can be submitted online via the AT&T Data Incident Settlement Claim Form or mailed. Mailed claims must be received or postmarked by the deadline date.

Anyone eligible for both settlement classes must provide unique documentation for each claim, meaning that those involved in both classes must file separate paperwork.

When will AT&T settlement payments arrive?

The settlement site did not say when the money would be released.

The federal judge must give final approval for the settlement before any funds are disbursed. The court date for final approval was initially set for December but has been rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

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Reporting by Iris Seaton, Taylor Ardrey and Bonnie Bolden, Asheville Citizen Times / Asheville Citizen Times

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