AT&T will pay a $177 million settlement to customers: Check who can claim a $7,500 payment

The telecommunications giant, AT&T, has settled two class action lawsuits, following two extensive data breaches that occurred in 2024. The breaches were severe, with the personal information, including sensitive data, of around 180 million customers hacked.

The first hack, which occurred in March, led to sensitive data, including Social Security numbers for 7.6 million current account holders, as well as more than 65 million who had previously contracted with AT&T, appearing on the dark web. After the cyberattack, AT&T attempted to reassure those impacted that financial information and call history were not compromised.

A few months later, the company was hit by another attack, which impacted around 109 million customer accounts, encompassing AT&T’s mobile users as well as customers of mobile virtual network operators that utilize AT&T’s network. The compromised data included “nearly all” phone numbers, call durations, and specific cell site identifiers.

As a result of these attacks and the subsequent lawsuits filed, AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million, with each affected petitioner able to claim up to $7,500. However, payments will not be made until the final meeting in the case is held on December 3, 2025. In the meantime, those impacted can file claims for compensation.

Who is eligible?

There are two groups that those filing a claim can fall into, and sorting depends on which hack they were impacted by. The First Settlement Class relates to the March 2024 hack and features two tiers:

The settlement website states that those in the first tier will be eligible for payments that are five times higher than those in tier 2, because of the financial implications of having one’s SSN stolen and leaked. The text also stipulates that the totals received by the class members are “unknown at this time and will be based upon the total value of all Valid Claims received, the Settlement Administration Costs, and the amount of Court-awarded attorneys’ fees, costs, and Service Awards."

The Second Settlement Class covers those impacted by the July 2024 data breach and is also divided into two groups.

The first requirement is for those who suffered losses to provide documentation that traces them back to the incident. This group can claim up to $2,500, and allows account owners to "submit Claims for themselves and on behalf of their End or Line Users."

The second option, known as the ‘Tier 3 Cash Payment,’ does not require documentation, but still makes one eligible for “a pro rata share of the AT&T 2 Net Settlement Fund cash," which is leftover after other payments have been made and the attorneys have been compensated. No estimate has been released as to how much this payment will be worth.

What if both hacks impacted you?

If both incidents impacted you, you are considered an “Overlap Settlement Class Member” and are thus eligible to submit claims for both. However, you will need to provide documentation, which can only be used once. Find more information on the settlement website.

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