The deadline to file a claim in the AT&T data breach settlement has been extended to December 18, 2025, giving eligible customers extra time to seek a payout of up to 7,500 dollars depending on their losses. Millions of current and former AT&T users may qualify if their personal information was exposed in the company’s recent data breaches.
Why the deadline was extended
AT&T agreed to a 177 million dollar class action settlement after two major cyber incidents exposed customer data, including Social Security numbers, account details and call or text records. The original claim deadline in November 2025 was pushed back by about one month to December 18, 2025, to give affected people more time to check their status and submit forms.
The extended window applies both to online claims and to forms sent by mail, as long as mailed claims are postmarked by December 18. A final court hearing on the settlement is currently scheduled for January 15, 2026, and payments will follow after the settlement receives final approval.
Who is covered by the settlement
The settlement divides customers into two main classes, based on which breach affected their data. The first class includes people whose information from AT&T accounts between 2019 and 2024 appeared in a data set later linked to the dark web, while the second class covers customers whose call and text records were exposed in a separate incident disclosed in 2024.
In total, more than seven million current customers and roughly 65 million former customers are believed to fall within one of these groups. To help people confirm their status, a settlement website and dedicated phone line have been set up so potential class members can check whether their data is linked to either breach.
Snapshot of key settlement terms
| Item | Details (approximate) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total settlement fund | 177 million dollars | AT&T class settlement |
| AT&T 1 fund (earlier breach) | 149 million dollars | For 2019–2024 data leak |
| AT&T 2 fund (later breach) | 28 million dollars | For 2024 call/text data |
| Maximum individual payout | Up to 7,500 dollars for losses across both breaches | Combined documented losses |
| Claim deadline | December 18, 2025 (online or postmarked) | Extended from November 2025 |
How much you could receive
Eligible customers can pursue two broad types of payments: documented loss claims and flat cash payments that do not require proof of specific financial harm. People who can show clear out-of-pocket losses tied to the incidents may qualify for up to 5,000 dollars for the first breach and up to 2,500 dollars for the second breach, for a combined maximum of 7,500 dollars.
Those who do not have detailed proof can instead seek a tiered cash payment from the remaining settlement funds, with the exact amount depending on whether sensitive identifiers such as Social Security numbers were part of the exposed data and on how many people file claims overall. Because the settlement fund is fixed, final payments may be adjusted after all claims are processed and administrative costs are deducted.
How to check if you are eligible
Most people who fall within the settlement classes should receive, or may already have received, a notice with a unique Class Member ID, usually by email or mail. This ID allows direct access to the online claim form, where basic identity details and any evidence of financial losses can be submitted.
If no notice arrived but you believe your AT&T account was active during the relevant years or that your data was part of the leaks, you can use the official settlement website or call the settlement administrator to review your status. Support staff can confirm whether your records appear in the affected data sets and explain which settlement class you belong to if you qualify.
Steps to file your claim
To file online, you visit the official telecom data settlement site, enter your Class Member ID or use the lookup tools, and then complete the required sections about your contact information and desired type of payment. For documented loss claims, you should upload items such as bank statements, receipts, credit monitoring invoices or other records that show costs linked to identity theft, fraud or preventive services following the breaches.
If you choose the no-proof cash option, you simply answer eligibility questions and submit the form without attaching financial documents, though you must still certify that you were affected as described. Claim forms are also available to print and mail for those who prefer paper filings, but the envelope must be postmarked by December 18, 2025, to count.
What happens after you submit
After the claims window closes, the settlement administrator will review submissions, verify documentation where applicable and calculate each person’s share of the settlement fund. A federal court in Texas will then decide whether to grant final approval to the agreement at a hearing currently set for mid-January 2026.
If the settlement receives final approval and any appeals are resolved, payments will be issued by check or electronic transfer using the method you selected on your form, though the distribution process could continue into 2026 because of the volume of claims and verification work. Until then, claimants are advised to keep copies of any documents submitted and monitor the settlement website for updates.
Why acting before the new deadline matters
Data breach settlements often represent one of the few chances for affected consumers to recover at least part of their losses without bringing individual lawsuits. Missing the extended December 18 deadline means giving up access to this pool of money, even if your information was part of the compromised data.
With identity theft and account takeover risks continuing long after a breach, filing a claim can also encourage companies to invest more heavily in security and incident response in the future, since large settlements are closely watched by regulators and courts. For anyone who had an AT&T account in the covered years, taking a few minutes to check eligibility now can help convert a security failure into at least some financial relief.
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FAQs
Q1. What is the new deadline for AT&T settlement claims?
The claims deadline is now December 18, 2025, for both online and mailed forms.
Q2. What is the maximum payout I can receive?
Customers who can document losses from both breaches may be eligible for up to 7,500 dollars in total compensation.
Q3. Where do I submit my claim?
Claims must be submitted through the official telecom data settlement website or by mailing a completed form to the settlement administrator’s address listed there.
