If you’re a current or former AT&T customer, you may be eligible for cash from a $177 million class-action settlement tied to two data breaches that exposed customer information on a massive scale. Recognizing the complexity and volume of claims, a U.S. District Court has extended the final claim deadline to December 18, 2025, giving millions of eligible people more time to submit.
This settlement covers two separate incidents—a 2019 vendor-related leak (publicly disclosed in 2024) and a 2024 breach linked to a third-party cloud environment. Payouts are available with or without proof of financial loss, and customers hit by both incidents can file two claims.
“The extension buys time for people to gather documents and file correctly. Don’t wait—claims administrators see a surge near every deadline,” says Dana Patel, class-action claims consultant.
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Contents
Wireless Giant Prepares $177 Million Payout – Overview
| Total Settlement | $177 million |
| Funds | AT&T 1 (2019 incident): $149M AT&T 2 (2024 incident): $28M |
| Who Can Claim | Current/former AT&T wireless or qualifying broadband customers impacted by either incident |
| Proof Needed? | Required for documented-loss reimbursement |
| Max Reimbursement | Up to $5,000 (2019) and $2,500 (2024) with documentation |
| Administrator | Kroll Settlement Administration LLC |
| Final Claim Deadline | December 18, 2025 (extended) |
| Payout Window | Expected to begin early 2026, pending final court approval |
What is this Settlement?
AT&T Inc., one of the world’s largest telecom carriers, agreed to a $177 million settlement to resolve negligence claims following two data incidents that collectively impacted nearly 182 million customer records. AT&T denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid the expense and uncertainty of prolonged litigation.
- AT&T 1 (2019 data incident) – Settlement Fund: $149 million
Publicly revealed in March 2024 after data appeared online. Exposed data included names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, account numbers, and—critically—Social Security numbers and account passcodes for about 73 million accounts. - AT&T 2 (2024 Snowflake incident) – Settlement Fund: $28 million
Involved call and text logs (metadata, not content) for a broader customer base—about 109 million records. Did not include SSNs or DOBs, according to case filings.
“The nature of exposed data matters. SSNs and passcodes carry higher risk, which is why the 2019 fund includes a higher-tier payment,” notes Dr. Lionel Garrison, cybersecurity policy advisor.
Who Will Get the Payout?
- You are a current or former AT&T wireless customer, or a customer of certain AT&T broadband services,
- Your data was included in either the 2019 incident (“AT&T 1”) or the 2024 incident (“AT&T 2”), and
- You submit a valid claim by the December 18, 2025 deadline.
If you were affected by both incidents, you can file a claim for each. You don’t need to have experienced identity theft or fraud to claim a pro-rata cash payment.
“Even without a documented loss, pro-rata tiers ensure every verified class member can receive compensation,” says Marina Cole, consumer protection attorney.
Key Dates for $177 Million Payout
| Action | Original Deadline | Extended / Current |
|---|---|---|
| Claim Filing Deadline | Nov 18, 2025 | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Opt-Out / Exclusion | Nov 17, 2025 | Nov 17, 2025 |
| Objection Deadline | Nov 17, 2025 | Nov 17, 2025 |
| Final Approval Hearing | Jan 2026 | Jan 2026 (expected) |
What Class Members Could Receive?
- Documented Loss Cash Payment (Reimbursement)
- 2019 incident: Up to $5,000 with proof of loss reasonably traceable to the breach (e.g., new credit monitoring bills, identity theft resolution costs, bank fees due to fraud, time spent at reasonable hourly rates if allowed by the administrator).
- 2024 incident: Up to $2,500 with proof of loss tied to that incident.
- Pro-Rata Cash Payment (No Proof Required)
- 2019 incident: Two tiers. Tier 1 (SSN exposed) pays 5x Tier 2 (non-SSN exposure).
- 2024 incident: Single Tier 3 pro-rata amount for non-documented claims.
- Actual dollar amounts depend on the number of valid claims and deductions (fees, administration, documented-loss payouts).
“Tiering reflects risk. SSN exposure typically commands higher compensation because remediation costs and long-term risk are greater,” explains Quinn Hart, breach-response strategist.
Payment Details for $177 Million Payout
Use this table to see how payment types and proof requirements differ by incident:
| Category | 2019 Incident (AT&T 1) | 2024 Incident (AT&T 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Size | $149M | $28M |
| Data Type | PII incl. SSNs, passcodes | Call/text logs (metadata); no SSNs/DOB |
| Doc’d Loss Reimbursement | Up to $5,000 | Up to $2,500 |
| No-Proof Payment | Tiered: Tier 1 (SSN exposed) = 5× Tier 2 | Single pro-rata tier |
| File Both? | Yes, if impacted | Yes, if impacted |
Documents Required:
- Receipts for credit monitoring or identity theft protection purchased after the breach
- Bank/credit statements showing fraud-related fees or transactions
- Police reports, FTC identity theft reports, or affidavits as allowed
- Time spent remedying identity theft, if compensated under program rules
Recent Updates
- March 2024: AT&T publicly discloses legacy dataset linked to the 2019 incident after data surfaces online.
- July 2024: Snowflake-related incident disclosed, impacting 2024 data environment.
- 2025 (Q3–Q4): Court consolidates actions and moves settlement forward.
- October–November 2025: Court extends claim deadline to December 18, 2025; opt-out/objection deadlines remain November 17, 2025.
- January 2026 (Expected): Final approval hearing; payments anticipated to begin afterward, barring appeals.
“Final approval is the green light for payments. Appeals can slow things, so keep your contact info current with the administrator,” adds Patel.
How to Get Your Claim?
- Locate Your Notice
Check email and mail for a postcard or email notice with your Class Member ID. If you can’t find it, you can usually file with your name and contact details. - Decide Your Claim Type(s)
- If you have proof of financial loss: file a Documented Loss claim (and keep copies).
- If you don’t have proof: file a No-Proof (Pro-Rata) claim.
- Impacted by both incidents? File two claims.
- Gather Documents (if applicable)
Receipts, bank letters, dispute records, credit monitoring invoices, or other accepted proofs. - Complete the Online Form
Use the settlement administrator portal. Provide accurate info; mismatches may delay or reduce your payment. - Submit by the Deadline
December 18, 2025 is the final day to file. Save your confirmation number or print a receipt. - Monitor for Updates
Watch for emails about deficiency notices (if any). Respond promptly to fix issues.
Important: If you choose to opt out or object, you must do so by November 17, 2025.
Why it Matters?
- For consumers: The settlement compensates both out-of-pocket losses and time/effort (in some cases), while offering no-proof cash so that everyone affected can seek relief.
- For data governance: Tiered payments for SSN exposure highlight the higher risk of sensitive PII sprawl and the importance of vendor oversight.
- For the industry: The Snowflake-era breach underscores third-party risk. Expect tighter cloud controls, contract audits, and shared-responsibility security models.
“Breach liability increasingly follows the data—whether on-prem or in the cloud. Vendors are not a shield,” says Dr. Garrison.
FAQs
Who is Eligible to File a Claim?
Current or former AT&T wireless customers and certain AT&T broadband customers whose data was exposed in the 2019 or 2024 incidents. Many customers qualify for one or both.
Will Filing a Claim affect my AT&T service?
Filing a settlement claim does not affect your service or rates.
Can I file for both Incidents?
Yes—if you were impacted by both, you can submit two claims.
What if I Don’t have my Class Member ID?
You can typically file using your name, email, and other identifying info. The administrator can locate your record.