--- title: Here's How to File a Claim for the Equifax Data Breach Settlement description: How to file a claim for benefits through the Equifax Data Breach Settlement. image: https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/woman%20looking%20at%20laptop%20equifax%20breach.jpg --- [![MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png?width=464&name=MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png "MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2")](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - [Personal Finance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) - [Business](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/business) - [Credit Score](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-score) - [Home](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/home) - [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) - [Life Changes](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/life-changes) - [Insurance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/insurance) - 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[Pets (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/pets) - [dormant account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/dormant-account) - [inactive account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/inactive-account) # Here's How to File a Claim for the Equifax Data Breach Settlement ** [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/author/hanscom-federal-credit-union) ** Jul 26, 2019 ![woman looking at laptop equifax breach](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/woman%20looking%20at%20laptop%20equifax%20breach.jpg) Earlier this week [Equifax settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)](https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories, agreeing to pay out up to $425 million to consumers whose personal information was exposed during their data breach. [Approximately 147 million people were affected by this breach](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/top-precautions-to-take-following-the-equifax-hack), so if you were one of them, here's what to do: First, you'll want to make absolutely sure your personal information was breached. You can do this by visiting [Equifax's Claim Eligibility page](https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility), which will require you inputting your last name and the last six digits of your social security number. Once you submit your info, you'll find out immediately if you are eligible to receive a settlement. If you're eligible, you can then go to [Equifax's settlement claim site ](https://www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/)and begin your claim. You'll have a few decisions to make. You can: 1. Decide between free credit monitoring through Experian for at least four years that will monitor all three credit bureaus (Experian/Equifax/Transunion) *or*, if you already have credit monitoring services that will continue for another six months, choose a cash payment of $125. 2. File a claim for other cash payments to cover the time you spent remedying fraud, ID theft, or other misuse of information because of the ID theft, up to a total of 20 hours at $25 an hour. You can also make claims for out-of-pocket losses resulting from the data breach, and up to 25% of the cost of Equifax credit or ID monitoring products you paid for in the year before the data breach was announced. You will also be eligible for at least seven years of free assisted identity restoration services to help in case you've become the target of ID theft and fraud. You can read more about the settlement on [the FTC's website](https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement), or go directly to [Equifax's website to start the process of filing a claim](https://www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/). **It's important to keep in mind that a federal court still needs to approve the settlement offer and that no benefits will be distributed or made available until that settlement is finally approved.** Since I was impacted by the breach, I filed a claim this morning. I had originally planned to take the $125 cash payment, but instead decided to take the free credit monitoring and file a separate claim for the five hours I spent freezing my credit with the credit bureaus and filing a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission when I learned [my social security number had been compromised.](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/7-steps-to-take-when-id-theft-happens-with-your-social-security-number) If you decide to file a separate claim for time spent and/or out-of-pocket losses, you will need to provide documentation if you claim more than ten hours. There are also limits to what you can claim, which are detailed [here](https://www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/faq#q-7).  There are several deadlines you'll need to keep in mind, all of which are detailed on [the settlement page](https://www.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/), but the most important one is January 22, 2020 if you've experienced a loss or if you want to take advantage of the credit monitoring services. You can also exclude yourself from the settlement if you are filing a separate suit against Equifax; that deadline is November 19, 2019.  [![Get a free Credit Score Review](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118438/b13728df-1cb3-4aea-a79e-dfdfc42dfb2a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118438/b13728df-1cb3-4aea-a79e-dfdfc42dfb2a) *Others are reading:* - *[6 Tips for Better Password Protection](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/6-tips-for-better-password-protection)* - *[Scam Alert: Beware the Pet Adoption Scam](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/scam-alert-beware-the-pet-adoption-scam)* - *[Multiple Ways ID Theft Targets Seniors](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/multiple-ways-id-theft-targets-seniors)* - *[How to Spot an Apple Scam Email](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-spot-a-scam-email-from-apple)* - *[29 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/security)* ** [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security), [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) [** Why the Better Than a Lease Loan is a Smart Option ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/is-a-better-than-a-lease-loan-for-you) [** What to Do When You Lose Your Wallet ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-to-do-when-you-lose-your-wallet) ### About Author ![Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/HFCU-Profile-1000x1000.jpg) Hanscom Federal Credit Union Hanscom Federal Credit Union, a purpose-driven $1.9 billion organization based in Littleton, MA, empowers its members to achieve financial wellness. Hanscom FCU serves over 95,000 members across the country and overseas through 16 branches, over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, 5,000 contact centers, and a web-based branch. 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The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. 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Please consult the privacy disclosures on those linked sites for further information. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" }, "dateModified" : "February 18, 2020, 2:51:58 PM", "datePublished" : "2019-07-26 17:09:09", "description" : "How to file a claim for benefits through the Equifax Data Breach Settlement.", "headline" : "Here's How to File a Claim for the Equifax Data Breach Settlement", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/118438/woman%20looking%20at%20laptop%20equifax%20breach.jpg" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://go.hfcu.org/blog/heres-how-to-file-a-claim-for-the-equifax-data-breach-settlement", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/118438/Logo%202.jpg" }, "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" } } ```