A federal judge has granted final approval to AT&T’s $177 million settlement over two data breaches disclosed in 2024. The breaches exposed personal information belonging to millions of current and former customers, with some of that data dating all the way back to 2019. If you filed a claim, you’re now one step closer to seeing a payment.
Here’s the part worth managing expectations on. The settlement allows for up to $5,000 for the first breach and up to $2,500 for the second, but those figures only apply to customers who can document specific losses, like fraud or identity theft linked to the breach. For most eligible claimants, the payout is expected to fall somewhere between $6.50 and $40.
So when does the money arrive? Payments will be distributed after the appeals period expires, within 60 days of the settlement’s effective date. If you filed a claim, keep your contact and banking information current with the settlement administrator. And whether or not you filed, a data breach is a good prompt to freeze your credit and review your accounts, especially with so many of us on the Suncoast watching every dollar.
Did you file a claim in this settlement, and were you surprised by the expected payout amounts? Let us know in the comments.
