Following data breaches that exposed millions of Social Security numbers, AT&T will pay $177 million. This Is Who Gets Paid and What

What took place?

The first breach occurred in 2019, when hackers gained access to AT&T's system and stole the data of an astounding 65.4 million former customers as well as about 7.6 million current users. However, the company did not start a thorough investigation until 2024, when someone found customer data floating around the dark web like a digital ghost ship.

However, that was not all.

A second hack shook the telecom behemoth in April 2024. This time, hackers gained access to Snowflake, AT&T's cloud storage provider, and stole call and text metadata belonging to around 109 million American consumers. Although AT&T claims that no names were linked to the stolen data in this instance, the industry was rocked by the scope of the hack.

How is AT&T handling the situation?

A federal judge has tentatively accepted AT&T's proposal to make amends with impacted consumers after the fallout sparked many class action lawsuits.

As per the settlement:

You could be eligible for up to $5,000 if your personal information was compromised in 2019.

You are eligible to receive up to $2,500 if you were impacted by the 2024 breach.

You can still get a lesser settlement even if you are unable to demonstrate direct harm.

The caveat is that in order to receive the larger compensation, you will have to show that the breaches caused you to suffer losses. This could include time spent cleaning up the damage, false charges, or identity theft reports.

How and when do you submit a claim?

On August 4, 2025, AT&T will formally commence the claims process and start sending out emails or physical mail to eligible individuals.

The claim submission date is November 18, 2025.

The settlement will be approved at a final court hearing on December 3, 2025.

It is anticipated that payouts would start in early 2026.

Once all higher-value claims have been handled, you will still receive a portion of the settlement money if you are qualified but lack proof of damages.

What this implies to you

This case is a rare instance of responsibility and a wake-up message for corporations in a digital world where data breaches seem all but inevitable. AT&T is making amends, regardless of whether your information was shared covertly or you were directly impacted.

Your social security number may have already been circulated on the dark web, so if you have ever had an AT&T account, it is worth checking your mailbox.