Equifax exposed 147 million Americans' personal information in 2017. The settlement is still paying out. If you didn't claim before — or if your free credit monitoring expired — you may be eligible for additional cash.
The Equifax 2017 breach exposed Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses of 147 million Americans. The settlement fund initially capped cash payments at $125; documented out-of-pocket losses can claim up to $20,000. The administrator continues to process delayed claims and reimburse identity-theft costs through 2029.
In 2017, attackers exploited an unpatched Apache Struts vulnerability at Equifax, exposing Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some cases driver's-license and credit-card numbers of about 147 million Americans. The Federal Trade Commission, the CFPB, all 50 state attorneys general, and a consolidated class action reached a single combined $700 million settlement in July 2019.
The settlement offered free credit monitoring (four years with Experian, plus six more years of free Equifax monitoring), reimbursement up to $20,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses, and a small cash alternative (originally $125, sharply reduced because of high claim volume). The cash and documented-loss claim windows have closed, but free identity restoration services remain available to all affected consumers through Jan 22, 2029.
What was exposed, what was settled, and what's still available:
The cash and documented-loss windows have closed, but free identity restoration services remain available through Jan 2029. The eligibility check above tells you what applies to you.
The $700M settlement broke into several claim categories with different windows and amounts. The status as of today:
| Diagnosis or claim type | Projected payout range | What drives the tier |
|---|---|---|
| Cash alternative payment | $125 (pro-rated lower) | Window closed. The original $125 payment was reduced substantially because of high claim volume. |
| Documented out-of-pocket loss reimbursement | Up to $20,000 | Window closed Jan 2024. Reimbursed identity-theft costs, fraud-related fees, and credit-freeze costs with documentation. |
| Time-spent reimbursement | $25 per hour (up to 20 hours) | Window closed. Compensated time spent dealing with identity theft, with self-certification for the first 10 hours. |
| Free credit monitoring (Experian) | Up to 4 years | Enrollment window closed Jan 2022. Active enrollees continue to receive coverage for the duration. |
| Free Equifax credit monitoring (post-Experian) | Up to 6 additional years | Layered on top of the Experian period. Active enrollees continue coverage. |
| Identity restoration assistance | Free, through Jan 22, 2029 | Still available. All affected consumers can access restoration help via the official settlement site regardless of prior claim status. |
All figures are as published by the official settlement administrator. Pro-rated payments reflect the high claim volume the fund received.
The official settlement administrator (JND Legal Administration) provides a free lookup tool: enter your last name and last six digits of your Social Security number to confirm your data was in the breach.
Under 5 minutes.If you filed in the 2020 or Extended Claims Period windows, you can check the status of that claim at the same site. If you never filed, the cash and documented-loss windows are closed but identity restoration remains.
Same site, same lookup.Through Jan 22, 2029, any verified-affected consumer can access identity restoration assistance from Experian via the settlement site. This includes help recovering from identity theft, dispute assistance, and credit-report walk-throughs.
Available any time through Jan 2029.If you experience new identity theft or fraud you believe stems from the 2017 breach after the documented-loss window has closed, save the records. Future relief is not guaranteed, but if a window reopens or new litigation emerges, documentation will matter.
Ongoing.Several claim windows have closed; one remains open. Understanding which is which determines what is actually available to you now.
Most claim windows are closed. The eligibility check above routes you to the still-open identity restoration services and helps verify any prior-filed claim status.
claimscout is not a law firm or the settlement administrator. We route you to the official sources and help you understand what is still available.
equifaxbreachsettlement.com.claimscout is not affiliated with Equifax, JND Legal Administration, Experian, the FTC, the CFPB, or any state attorney general's office. We provide informational matching only.
If you got the Equifax letter in 2017 and either threw it away or only got the $125, you may have more coming — particularly if you've had any identity-theft costs since.
No. The cash alternative window closed in 2020, and the $125 figure was reduced substantially because of high claim volume. Most claimants in that window received far less than $125.
No. The Extended Claims Period closed in January 2024. Documented-loss reimbursement is no longer accepting new filings.
Free identity restoration services from Experian, through January 22, 2029. Any affected consumer can access them at the official settlement site even if they never filed a claim.
Use the lookup tool at equifaxbreachsettlement.com. Enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number. The tool tells you instantly whether your data was in the breach.
Only if you enrolled before the enrollment window closed in January 2022. If you enrolled, you keep coverage for the program's full duration (about 10 years of layered Experian + Equifax monitoring).
Not through the original settlement (the documented-loss window closed Jan 2024). You can still access free identity restoration through Jan 2029, and you may have state-law remedies depending on your state and the specifics of the harm.
Up to $425M for consumer claims (cash, documented loss, monitoring, restoration), plus $175M to state attorneys general, $100M in CFPB penalties, and additional FTC penalties and security commitments.
Equifax executives were investigated for insider trading (selling stock between the breach detection and the public disclosure). One executive was convicted. The breach itself has been attributed publicly to Chinese state-affiliated actors per a 2020 DOJ indictment of four PLA officers.
Your exposed data (SSN, birth date, address) does not expire. Identity-theft risk from a 2017 breach persists for years. Activating a credit freeze, signing up for free monitoring, and using the restoration services are sensible ongoing steps.
No. The official administrator is JND Legal Administration at equifaxbreachsettlement.com. claimscout is an informational matching service that helps you understand which Equifax settlement services are still available.
Nothing. We get paid by the law firms or affiliate fees from the court-appointed administrator. You pay zero up front and zero out of any payout you receive.
Only if you check the consent box. We give you the choice. If you do not consent, your claim is captured and we route it to the administrator directly without sharing your phone number.
Yes, always. If we route your claim to a law firm, you can choose to file directly with the same firm or pick a different one. We exist because most people throw the notice letter away. We make it not happen.
No. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We are a platform that captures your claim, qualifies it, and routes it to the court-appointed administrator or a law firm of your choice.