Class Action Lawsuits to Apply For: Filing, Payouts, and Deadlines

A handful of large consumer class action lawsuits are open to apply for right now, and most only require a short online form on the official settlement website. The biggest currently accepting claims is the $2.5 billion Amazon Prime settlement with the FTC, followed by data breach funds from Comcast Xfinity and Fidelity, a Google Assistant privacy case, and product cases involving Hyundai and Kia airbags, Tinder subscriptions, and several mattresses and personal-care products. Deadlines run from mid-2026 into 2027, and missing one usually means you get nothing.

Open Settlements Accepting Claims Now

The Amazon Prime FTC settlement covers people who signed up for Prime between June 2019 and June 2025 through certain enrollment flows and either tried unsuccessfully to cancel or barely used the membership. Amazon is sending notices directly to eligible customers. Claims close July 23, 2026, and individual payouts max out at about $51, calculated from what a person paid in membership fees.¹²

Comcast agreed to pay $117.5 million to resolve claims tied to an October 2023 Xfinity breach. People who received a breach notification around December 18, 2023 can file by September 14, 2026. Documented out-of-pocket losses can be reimbursed up to roughly $10,000; those without documentation can claim a flat payment of about $50.¹³

The Google Assistant privacy settlement puts $68 million into a fund for people who purchased qualifying Google devices (Google Home, Home Mini, Home Max, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, or Pixel smartphones) or whose conversations were recorded by Google Assistant without the wake word, between May 2016 and March 2026. Device purchasers with proof of purchase stand to receive an estimated $18 to $56 per device; privacy-only class members may get $2 to $10. Claims are due August 27, 2026, with final approval set for October 1, 2026.⁴⁵

Other settlements currently open:

Tinder age-based pricing ($60.5 million). California residents who bought Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold while over 29 (starting March 2015) or over 28 (starting March 2016). Payments track what each person spent on subscriptions. Deadline to select a payment method: August 18, 2026.⁶
Hyundai and Kia defective airbags ($62.1 million). Owners or lessees of qualifying vehicles in the U.S. as of April 14, 2025. Benefits include expense reimbursement and a separate payment. Claims open through March 29, 2027.⁷
Fiberglass mattress settlement ($9 million). Ashley, Nectar, DreamCloud, and Siena mattress purchasers. Compensation comes as vouchers. Deadline: July 17, 2026.¹
Sprouts Farmers Market receipt printing ($5 million). A FACTA violation case with estimated payouts of $67.50 to $405 per person. Deadline: August 5, 2026.¹
Shimano defective cranksets. Certain Hollowtech II cranksets manufactured before 2019. Benefits include an extended warranty, inspections, or reimbursement for replacement costs. Deadline: August 4, 2026.⁷
Fidelity Investments data breach ($2.5 million). Up to $100 without documentation. Deadline: July 27, 2026.⁸

One boundary worth naming. Cases involving defective drugs, medical devices, or environmental exposure (Camp Lejeune water contamination, PFAS litigation) are usually mass torts, not class actions. Each person files their own case, and you would need to consult an attorney rather than submit a form online.⁹¹⁰

Claims You Can File Without a Receipt

Several open settlements let you file without digging up a receipt or bank statement. Payouts are smaller for undocumented claims, but the option exists.

Comcast Xfinity data breach: up to $50 without documentation; up to $10,000 with proof of losses. Deadline September 14, 2026.⁸
Tom’s of Maine toothpaste ($2.9 million): without proof, claimants receive the average retail price for one product. Deadline July 6, 2026.⁸
Differin benzene contamination ($990,000): $9 to $27 without proof; unlimited with proof. Deadline May 19, 2026.¹¹
GlaxoSmithKline Boostrix: $10 without proof of vaccination; $50 with proof. Deadline June 8, 2026.¹¹
Fidelity Investments data breach: up to $100 without documentation. Deadline July 27, 2026.⁸

Data breach settlements especially tend to have a no-documentation tier that pays a flat amount (commonly $40 to $100) alongside a higher tier for people who can show they spent money dealing with the breach. Capital Health, Panda Restaurant Group, ALN Medical Management, and Community First Medical Center all follow that pattern, with deadlines from April to June 2026.¹¹

How To File a Claim

The process is simpler than most people expect. In most class actions you’re automatically included in the class unless you specifically ask to be excluded, so there is nothing to “join” while the case is being litigated. Action is needed only after a settlement is reached and a claims period opens.⁹

When that happens, eligible class members are usually notified by email or regular mail. The notice describes who qualifies, what the settlement offers, and how to file. Most claims can be submitted through an online form on the official settlement website; some can be mailed in. The form asks for basic information: your name, address, contact details, and sometimes a description of the product you bought or the harm you experienced.⁹

Whether you need proof of purchase depends entirely on the settlement. Some require receipts or bank statements for any payout. Others let you file without documentation but pay less. A few require nothing at all. The notice and the official website for each case spell out what’s needed.⁹

Filing costs nothing. Attorneys’ fees come out of the settlement fund, not your pocket, subject to court approval.⁹

One structural note if you’re weighing whether to participate. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3), courts must notify class members of their right to opt out, typically giving 45 to 60 days.¹² Opting out only makes sense if your individual losses are large enough to justify your own lawsuit, since it means giving up any share of the class settlement. Wage and hour claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act are the reverse: those use an opt-in model, so you have to take affirmative steps to be part of the case.⁹

When the Money Actually Arrives

This is where patience gets tested. According to the National Consumer Law Center, payments typically arrive six to nine months after a settlement agreement is submitted for preliminary approval. In practice it often takes longer. The settlement must clear a final approval hearing where the court reviews objections, and either side can appeal. An appeal alone can add a year or more.¹³

Administrative steps add more time. Settlement funds are not distributed until a court grants final approval. After that the claims administrator processes valid claims, resolves disputes, and then cuts checks or sends electronic payments. If you have moved or changed your email address without updating the administrator, your payment can be lost entirely. Keeping your contact information current with the administrator is one of the most important things to do after filing.¹³

If You Miss the Deadline

Courts set firm deadlines, and missing one generally means you’re out. The Visa/Mastercard payment card settlement, for example, explicitly states that late claims cannot be guaranteed consideration and are not eligible for the initial distribution.¹⁴

Extensions do happen but are the exception. A Multnomah County foreclosure settlement had its claims deadline pushed to March 13, 2026.¹⁵ In the Michael Kors outlet settlement, the parties agreed to push the deadline from March 6 to March 20, 2026.¹⁶ Extensions tend to happen when there are problems with how class members were notified, not because individuals ask for more time.

Watching for Scams

Fraudsters know real settlement notices look unfamiliar and confusing, which makes them easy to imitate. The reliable red flags are simple. A legitimate settlement will never ask for an upfront fee, a Social Security number, or bank account details to process your claim.¹⁷

If a notice arrives by email or mail, don’t click through right away. Search independently for the case name along with the word “settlement” and verify through the official settlement website or a trusted aggregator like ClassAction.org or Top Class Actions. Cross-check the case number on the notice against what appears on the official site. If you need to reach the claims administrator or law firm, look up the phone number independently rather than calling one printed on a notice you haven’t verified.¹⁷¹⁸

Taxes on What You Receive

Whether your settlement check is taxable depends on what the underlying lawsuit was about. Under IRS rules, compensation for personal physical injuries or physical sickness is generally not taxable. Almost everything else is. Payments tied to data breaches, false advertising, overcharges, or privacy violations, which is where most consumer class actions fall, are typically treated as taxable income.¹⁹

Punitive damages are always taxable, even in personal injury cases. Lost wages recovered through a settlement are taxable as wages and subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Interest earned on settlement funds is taxable as interest income. The IRS publishes Publication 4345 to help people figure out how class action awards are taxed.²⁰

If you receive a settlement payment, the defendant or claims administrator will generally issue a Form 1099 unless the payment falls under a specific tax exception. Recipients who expect to owe $1,000 or more in additional tax may need to make estimated tax payments to avoid penalties.²⁰

1
USA Today. Open Settlement Claims
2
The Courier Journal. Amazon FTC Settlement How To File Claim Who Eligible
3
Comcast Breach Settlement. Hasson v. Comcast Cable Communications LLC Settlement
4
Top Class Actions. $68M Google Assistant Privacy Class Action Settlement
5
Fox 16. Who Qualifies for $68 Million Settlement Over Google Assistant
6
ClassAction.org. Candelore v. Tinder Inc. Notice
7
Consumer Action. Open Lawsuits
8
The Hill. Are You Owed Money Check These 11 Settlements
9
ClassAction.org. How To Join a Class Action
10
U.S. Department of Justice. Camp Lejeune Justice Act Claims
11
Top Class Actions. Open Lawsuit Settlements
12
Cornell Law Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 23
13
Balanced Bridge. How Long Does It Take To Get a Settlement Check From a Class Action Lawsuit
14
Payment Card Settlement. FAQ
15
Multnomah Tax Foreclosure Settlement. Martin Lynch et al. v. Multnomah County et al.
16
Michael Kors Outlet Settlement. McCall et al. v. Michael Kors Settlement
17
AARP. Class Action Settlement Notice
18
Washington University Information Security. Scam of the Month Class Action Lawsuits
19
IRS. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments
20
IRS. Publication 4345 – Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments