Do you remember the massive 2017 Equifax data breach? The settlement required you to file a claim by January 22, 2020 to receive any benefits. You had a choice of a cash payout or free credit monitoring services.

Well, quite a bit of time has passed since the January 22, 2020 deadline and I haven’t heard a word about it. So I got an update on the Equifax Data Breach Settlement today. And I found out the reason why no benefits have been paid out or received is because the decision hasn’t been finalized yet.

While the court initially approved the Equifax Data Breach Settlement, it was appealed. So it’s sitting in appeals court right now. And no benefits will be paid out or received until the Equifax Data Breach Settlement has been finalized in the court system.

I called the Settlement Administrator earlier at 1-833-759-2982 and here’s what I learned:

Equifax Data Breach Settlement Status Update

On Jan 13, 2020, the district court gave final approval to the 2017 Equifax Data Breach Settlement. But some individuals who were affected by the data breach have now appealed that decision. The appeals court will hear oral arguments on the case in April 2021 and will make a decision on the settlement after that.

We don’t know when the appeals court will make its decision and until then the settlement is not final. Benefits cannot be distributed and settlement payments cannot be made until the appeals court makes its decision. The settlement website at EquifaxBreachSettlement.com will have updates once more info is available.

Extended Claims Period

The Jan 22, 2020 initial deadline to file claim has been extended. If you’ve experienced any fraud, time spent or out-of-pocket losses as a result of the Equifax data breach period between January 23, 2020 and January 22, 2024, you may be eligible to file a claim. Call the Equifax Settlement Helpline at 1-833-759-2982 to check your eligibility.

To file your claim, visit EquifaxBreachSettlement.com.

According to the FTC you may file a claim:

After January 22, 2020, you can still file a claim(link is external) for expenses you incur between January 23, 2020, and January 22, 2024, as a result of identity theft or fraud related to the breach, such as:

  • Losses from unauthorized charges to your accounts
  • Fees you paid to professionals, like accountants or attorneys, to help you recover from identity theft
  • Other expenses you incurred while recovering from identity theft, like notary fees, document shipping fees, postage, mileage, and phone charges.

You also can file a claim for the time you spent recovering from identity theft or fraud between January 23, 2020, and January 22, 2024. You can be compensated up to $25 per hour up to 20 hours. There are limited funds available so your claim may be reduced.

11th Circuit Asked to Toss Out Massive US Data Breach Settlement