Many Americans can now claim money from a legal settlement that involves Facebook and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). This payment comes from a lawsuit over how user data was shared. The settlement fund totals $12.5 million, and people could receive between $47 and $237 each.
The only thing applicants need to prove their eligibility is a Facebook profile. Americans have until the end of 2025 to claim their share, but payments will not be sent out until 2026. Here’s what’s happening and how it works. So, let’s learn more about it.
What the Facebook-related settlement is about
The lawsuit claims that the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) violated video privacy laws by sharing members’ data with Facebook. According to the lawsuit, AARP allegedly sent information about users to Facebook, allowing the social media platform’s parent company, Meta, to use that data to show targeted ads.
AARP executives have denied that they did anything wrong. However, to resolve the case and avoid the high costs of continuing the legal fight, the organization has agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle the lawsuit.
This money will be shared among eligible people who were AARP members or users during a certain period. The case is part of a class action lawsuit, which means it represents a large group of people who were affected in the same way.
Who qualifies to receive money
To qualify for the payment, Americans must meet a few specific requirements:
- They must have been members or users of AARP between September 27, 2020, and September 12, 2025.
- They must provide a link to their Facebook profile as proof.
- They must submit their claim before December 31, 2025.
People who meet these criteria can expect to receive a payment ranging from $47 to $237, according to Top Class Actions. The exact amount will depend on how many people file a claim.
However, if someone decides not to take part in the settlement, they can “opt out” by the same December 31 deadline.
How to file your claim step by step
To get your share of the settlement, you need to complete a claim form. Here’s how to do it:
- Log into your Facebook account.
- Click your profile picture to go to your profile page.
- Copy the URL link from your browser — this is your Facebook profile link.
- Paste that link into the section of the claim form that asks for it.
This link helps verify that your data may have been involved in the issue. The claim form can be submitted online. If you do not submit the form, you will not receive any payment, even if you are eligible.
When payments will be made
Although the deadline to submit claims is December 31, 2025, the payments will not be sent until after the court gives final approval. An approval hearing is scheduled for February 2026. Once the court approves the settlement, payments will begin. If there are appeals or delays, the timeline could be extended.
Those who filed valid claims will receive their payments once the process is finalized. However, people who choose to opt out will not receive money, but they will keep their right to take separate legal action if they wish.
What class action lawsuits mean
This case is an example of a class action lawsuit, which happens when many people are affected by the same issue and join together to file one legal case. Instead of each person filing their own lawsuit, one or a few individuals represent the whole group. Everyone included in the group is called a class member.
When companies settle class action lawsuits, they often agree to pay money to class members. By accepting the payment, class members usually give up the right to sue the company again for the same issue. It’s also common for companies to deny wrongdoing even when they settle. They often settle simply to avoid expensive and time-consuming trials.
Class action lawsuits can involve different topics, including pollution, discrimination, false advertising, and data privacy violations, like this case involving Facebook and AARP.
Other settlements available this year
The Facebook-related AARP case isn’t the only one offering payments this year. According to The U.S. Sun, there are several other active settlements that Americans can claim before the year ends:
- A $2.5 million Panera Bread settlement, with payments of up to $6,500.
- A settlement that gives up to $360 to people who used credit or debit cards at vending machines.
Each case has its own rules and deadlines, but all are examples of how class action lawsuits can help people recover money after privacy or data issues.