Is the Yahoo data breach settlement still open?

No. The U.S. $117.5 million Yahoo data breach settlement claims period has ended and payments have been distributed to valid claimants. New claims can no longer be submitted.

How much was the Yahoo data breach settlement?

Yahoo Inc. and its subsidiary Aabaco Small Business LLC agreed to a $117,500,000 settlement fund to resolve claims arising from data breaches affecting Yahoo users between 2012 and 2016.

How much could class members receive?

Class members could elect at least two years of credit monitoring, or a cash payment of $100 (up to a higher amount depending on participation) if they already had credit monitoring. Documented out-of-pocket losses and lost time could be reimbursed up to $25,000, and paid Yahoo Mail or Aabaco Small Business users could seek reimbursement of a portion of those costs.

Who qualified for the Yahoo data breach settlement?

U.S. and Israel residents who had a Yahoo account at any time between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016, or who received a notice about the breaches, qualified as Settlement Class Members.

$117.5M Yahoo Data Breach Settlement (Closed)

By Steve Levine

$117.5 Million Yahoo data breach class action settlement

Updated: June 4, 2026

Status Payments Distributing claims period ended · initial distribution complete · residual distribution began June 4, 2026

Settlement Fund $117,500,000

Estimated Payout $100 Cash or 2 Years Credit Monitoring plus up to $25,000 for documented out-of-pocket losses and lost time

Proof Required No (basic) · Yes (documented losses) documentation required for out-of-pocket loss, paid-user, and small-business claims

Payment Update — June 2026

Update: According to the official settlement website, the initial distribution for this settlement has completed, and a residual distribution began on June 4, 2026. The residual distribution only includes valid claimants who selected the Alternative Compensation option. Some class members have reported payments of around $8. For more, see our news update: Yahoo data breach settlement payments going out.

What Was the Yahoo Data Breach Settlement About?

A $117.5 million class action settlement resolved claims arising from a series of data breaches and security intrusions that affected Yahoo users' sensitive and personally identifiable information between 2012 and 2016. The breaches affected Yahoo Inc. and its subsidiary, Aabaco Small Business LLC. According to a widely cited list of data breaches, the Yahoo incidents are among the largest recorded breaches in history, impacting billions of records.

The breaches allowed malicious actors to gain unauthorized access and potentially compromise personal data. The settlement provided compensation and improved security measures for affected individuals. A separate $20 million Canadian Yahoo data breach settlement resolved related claims for Canadian residents.

Who Qualified for a Payout?

To be eligible as a Settlement Class Member, you had to meet the following criteria:

• You received a notice about the data breaches, or had a Yahoo account between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016.
• You were a resident of either the United States or Israel.

How Much Could Class Members Get?

The $117,500,000 fund was distributed among eligible class members, with the exact amount per participant depending on the losses claimed and the total number of participants. Compensation options included:

• Credit Monitoring Services: at least two years of credit monitoring to help safeguard personal information.
• Cash Compensation: claimants who already had credit monitoring and could verify continued use for at least one year could opt for a cash payment (a $100 base amount, which could vary based on participation).
• Out-of-Pocket Losses: reimbursement of up to $25,000 for documented losses and lost time (up to fifteen hours at $25/hour with documentation, or up to five hours without).
• Paid User and Small Business Costs: reimbursement of a portion of fees paid for premium or ad-free Yahoo Mail or Aabaco Small Business services.

Was Proof Required to File a Claim?

For the basic credit-monitoring or cash-alternative benefit, no documentation of loss was required. For out-of-pocket loss, paid-user, and small-business claims, claimants had to provide supporting documentation showing the costs incurred.