People covered by the Bradford-Scott data-breach settlement can request an expected $100 cash payment without submitting receipts or proving a specific loss. The amount is an estimate, not a guarantee, because it will be divided from the money remaining after other costs and claims. An online or mailed claim must reach the administrator by October 7, 2026.
The No-Document Option Is a Pro Rata Payment
The official settlement administrator says class members may choose a one-time share of the residual settlement fund. The administrator expects that payment to be about $100, but it may be higher or lower depending on how much money remains and how many valid claims are filed. No proof or explanation of a financial loss is required for this option. That makes it simpler than reimbursement, while also making the final amount less predictable.
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A Separate Option Covers Up to $5,000 in Losses
Class members who incurred documented expenses because of the 2023 data incident can seek reimbursement up to $5,000 instead. Covered items may include unreimbursed fraud losses, identity-document replacement, credit reports, monitoring, freezes and postage used to contact financial institutions. Third-party records such as statements or receipts are required; notes created by the claimant can supplement other proof but cannot establish the loss alone. A person cannot collect reimbursement for an expense another source already repaid.
Three Years of Monitoring Are Also Available
The settlement includes three years of a financial monitoring product with $1 million in fraud insurance for class members who enroll. The service watches for identity theft, unauthorized financial transactions and personal information associated with high-risk activity. It is a separate settlement benefit from the cash alternatives. The class generally includes people affected by the July 2023 Bradford-Scott incident, including those sent a notice that files containing Social Security numbers, birth dates or financial-account information may have been accessed.
The $2.39 Million Fund Pays More Than Claims
Bradford-Scott agreed to establish a fund of $2,393,888.25. Before cash reaches class members, the fund will pay court-approved legal fees, administration costs and service awards. Documented-loss claims and other benefits also reduce the amount left for pro rata payments. That order of operations explains why the administrator uses the word “expected” before $100. The settlement creates a defined pool, but the final payment depends on expenses and participation that cannot be known until the claim period closes.
Distribution Waits for Final Approval
The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for October 15. If the agreement is approved, appeals may still delay distribution. Filing by October 7 preserves a class member’s request but does not produce an immediate check. The online form must be submitted by the deadline, while a paper claim must be completed, signed and postmarked by that date. The settlement resolves disputed allegations without a ruling that either side was correct.
The Cash Choices Cannot Be Stacked
The settlement presents the pro rata payment and documented-loss reimbursement as alternatives. A class member choosing the simpler expected $100 option is not also claiming up to $5,000 for expenses. That design lets people without receipts seek a residual share while reserving larger reimbursements for losses supported by records. The monitoring benefit is described separately and may be selected alongside the applicable settlement process under the administrator’s instructions. Reading the election carefully matters because checking inconsistent boxes can delay review or require correction. The strongest submission matches one payment route to the evidence available and preserves copies of the completed form and confirmation.
The class definition reaches people affected by the incident, including those sent notice, but the administrator makes the final validity decision. A notice is evidence of possible inclusion rather than a promise of payment. Claimants uncertain about their status can use the contact details on the official site rather than submitting personal data through an unrelated settlement listing.
The October 7 deadline applies to both online submissions and mailed forms, though mailed claims use the postmark. Saving a confirmation page or postal receipt creates evidence of timeliness if processing records later show a gap. That documentation is especially important when the payment option itself requires no proof of loss. The administrator’s final calculation may differ.
The Other Forms That Unlock a Payment
Bradford-Scott’s no-document option still requires a timely claim form. The same active step governs state unclaimed-property searches and other open settlements, where a matching record does not trigger an automatic payment.
The Benefits Checklist is a 69-page guide to 11 programs and comes with a printable tracker plus an open-settlements insert refreshed weekly.
Open the claim-organizing resources in The Benefits Checklist.
AI tools assisted in researching and drafting this article, which was reviewed prior to publication.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
