Overview

• The first payments began after a court authorization in late August and will continue in batches through September and October.
• About 18 million validated claimants are set to receive money from Meta’s 2022 $725 million settlement over alleged data misuse.
• Individual awards generally range from roughly $5 to $39, averaging about $28, though some recipients report smaller amounts.
• After attorneys’ fees and administrative costs, approximately $540–$541 million is being divided among eligible U.S. users.
• Payments arrive via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or prepaid digital Mastercards after an email sent three to four days in advance, and the claims window is closed as officials warn that legitimate distributors will not request Social Security numbers, fees or text replies.