Comcast offering payouts in $117.5M settlement. Are you eligible?

Comcast has agreed to pay $117.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from a cybersecurity breach that occurred in October 2023 and exposed the personal information of millions of Xfinity customers.

The lawsuit alleges that Comcast “failed to appropriately protect personal information” and had “inadequate data security.” The communications company denied any wrongdoing. Comcast did give customers a notice He said personal information included in the data breach included usernames, passwords, contact information, dates of birth and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

according to Comcast placement websiteThe deal is now open to claims, and current or former customers who received a breach notice from Comcast in December 2023 may be eligible to receive payment.

Here’s what you need to know about settlement payments, including who is eligible, how much the payments are expected to be, and when payments are due.

Who is eligible for a Comcast settlement payment?

Not every Comcast customer is eligible to request automatic payment.

The money is earmarked for individuals whose personal information was accessed during the 2023 data breach, according to the settlement’s website. Consumers notified of the breach in December 2023 are part of the settlement class.

How much are Comcast settlement payments?

Those who qualify may request payment up to a maximum of $10,000 for reimbursement of documented out-of-pocket expenses or time lost due to the violation.

This number is affected by the total pool of settlement money and the number of affected customers making claims. Valid claims for out-of-pocket losses must be made by August 14.

Affected consumers who choose not to go through the process of proving out-of-pocket losses or lost time may opt for an alternative cash payment of $50, although this amount may also vary depending on the total number of claimants.

The deadline to request alternative cash payment is also August 14.

When will swap payments be made?

The final approval hearing is scheduled for July 7, and payments will be made after that.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Comcast agrees to $117.5 million settlement tied to Xfinity data breach