How to Claim Your Equifax Data Breach Settlement Payment
What the Equifax settlement covers and who can claim it
The Equifax data breach settlement pays people whose personal information was exposed in a 2017 hack that affected roughly 147 million individuals. The settlement created a fund to compensate people for the breach itself, identity theft monitoring costs, and time spent dealing with the aftermath. You do not need to prove you were harmed — the settlement assumes harm occurred simply because your data was exposed.
The settlement is administered by a claims administrator, not by Equifax directly. You submit your claim through the official settlement website, which verifies your identity and processes your payment. Payments come as direct deposit, check, or prepaid card, depending on what you choose during the claim process.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim a cash payment if your Social Security number, driver's license number, or passport number was exposed in the breach, even if you never experienced identity theft.
- The amount you receive depends on how many people claim and how much of the fund remains after credit monitoring and other costs are paid.
- You must submit your claim through the official settlement website using your name, date of birth, and last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity.
- Claims submitted after the deadline are rejected, so check the current deadline on the settlement website before you file.
- You can claim for free — legitimate settlement claims never charge a fee, and scammers often pose as settlement administrators.
How much money you can receive
The total settlement fund is divided among all valid claims. The amount per person is not fixed in advance — it depends on how many people claim and what portion of the fund goes to administrative costs and credit monitoring services. Early estimates suggested payments could range from $25 to $425 per person, but the actual amount shifts as claims are processed.
If you paid out of pocket for credit monitoring, identity theft insurance, or time spent addressing identity theft after the breach, you can submit a claim for reimbursement with receipts. These claims are handled separately and may result in higher individual payments than the standard claim.
How to find and access the official settlement website
Search for "Equifax settlement" and look for the official claims website URL. The legitimate site is run by the settlement administrator, not by Equifax. The URL should contain the administrator's name or "equifaxsettlement" — verify this before entering any personal information.
You can also find the official website through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, which maintains a list of active settlements and links to legitimate claim portals. If you are unsure whether a website is real, call the FTC's consumer hotline at 1-877-438-4338 to confirm the correct URL.
What information you need to submit a claim
To file a claim, you will need your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The settlement administrator uses this information to verify that you were in the breach and to prevent duplicate claims. You do not need to provide your full Social Security number, driver's license number, or any other sensitive information beyond what is requested on the official form.
If you are claiming reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs, gather receipts or invoices showing what you paid and when. Keep these documents organized before you start the claim process so you can upload them quickly.
Deadlines and what happens if you miss them
The settlement has a firm deadline for submitting claims. Once that date passes, the claims portal closes and no new claims are accepted. Check the official settlement website immediately to see the current deadline — it may have already passed, or it may be weeks or months away depending on when you are reading this.
If the deadline has passed, you cannot claim through this settlement. However, you may still have other options: check whether you were affected by other data breaches that have their own settlements, or contact the FTC to learn about other consumer protection resources.
How to verify you are using the real settlement website
Scammers create fake settlement websites that look nearly identical to the real one. They collect personal information and charge fees for claims that should be free. Before you enter any information, confirm these details: the website should not ask you to pay any fee; it should not ask for your full Social Security number; and it should clearly state it is the official settlement administrator's site.
If a website, email, or phone call claims to represent the settlement and asks you to pay money upfront, it is a scam. The legitimate settlement never charges claimants. Report suspicious sites to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
What happens after you submit your claim
Once you submit your claim, the administrator verifies your identity and checks that you were in the breach. This process typically takes several weeks. You will receive a confirmation number when you file — save this number so you can check your claim status later.
After your claim is approved, you choose how to receive your payment: direct deposit to a bank account, a mailed check, or a prepaid card. Direct deposit is usually the fastest option. The payment arrives within the timeframe stated on the settlement website, which varies depending on how many claims are being processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to prove I was harmed by the breach to get paid?
No. The settlement assumes harm occurred simply because your personal information was exposed. You do not need to show that you experienced identity theft, paid for monitoring, or spent time dealing with the breach. A standard claim requires only your name, date of birth, and last four digits of your Social Security number.
What if I do not remember whether I had an Equifax account?
You do not need to have had an Equifax account to be in the breach. Equifax collected data on millions of people who never signed up for their services. If your Social Security number, driver's license, or passport number was exposed, you can claim. The administrator will verify whether you were in the breach when you submit your claim.
Can I claim if someone stole my identity after the breach?
Yes. If you experienced identity theft after the breach and paid for credit monitoring, fraud resolution, or other services to address it, you can submit a claim for reimbursement with receipts. These claims are reviewed separately and may result in a higher payment than the standard claim.
What if the settlement website says the deadline has passed?
If the deadline has closed, you cannot claim through this settlement. Check the FTC website to see whether other data breach settlements are still open, or contact the FTC to learn what other resources may be available to you.
Is there a fee to claim my settlement payment?
No. The legitimate settlement never charges claimants any fee. If a website, email, or phone call asks you to pay money to claim your settlement, it is a scam. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.