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Customers affected by the T-Mobile data breach can anticipate receiving settlement payments starting next month. These payments are part of the $350 million class-action settlement reached in 2022, resolving claims stemming from the 2021 cyberattack that exposed the personal data of 76 million U.S. customers. The data breach, which included names, addresses, and social security numbers, led to a class-action lawsuit alleging negligence against the wireless carrier. This T-Mobile settlement is the second largest of its kind in U.S. history, surpassed only by the $700 million Equifax settlement in 2019.
Settlement Payments Timeline
Individuals eligible for the T-Mobile data breach settlement, who previously filed claims, should expect to see payments initiated next month. It is no longer possible to file a claim to participate in this settlement; distributions are the remaining step in the process. T-Mobile has allocated $350 million to a settlement fund designed for several purposes:
- Compensating valid claims for documented out-of-pocket expenses.
- Reimbursing claimants for lost time due to the data breach.
- Funding identity-defense and credit restoration services for affected customers.
- Covering notification and administration costs associated with the settlement.
- Remunerating class representatives for initiating the legal action.
- Addressing attorney fees and other legal expenditures.
Estimated Individual Payouts
Reports indicate that some individual payouts may be under $25, according to The Hill, as priority in compensation will be given to those with substantiated claims of direct financial losses. Claimants who elected for identity-defense services will receive instructions on how to activate these benefits. Distribution of monetary compensation will align with the preference selected by each claimant during the claim filing process. This may involve either a physical check sent via mail or an electronic deposit. Further details regarding the data breach settlement and lawsuit documentation are publicly accessible online.