WASHINGTON — A settlement of $177 million may soon provide financial relief to millions of present and past AT&T customers affected by two significant data breaches.

In 2019, hackers gained access to sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, birthdates, and account details of more than 51 million customers. AT&T acknowledged this breach in March 2024, resulting in lawsuits alleging the company failed to secure users’ personal information.

A subsequent incident in April 2024 involved unauthorized access to call and text records for nearly all AT&T customers between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022. The data breach occurred through AT&T’s use of a third-party cloud service, according to the company’s findings.

AT&T has denied any wrongdoing related to either hack, but has agreed to a settlement to address the cases. The settlement includes $149 million in relief tied to the 2019 breach and $28 million for the 2024 hack.

A federal judge in Texas has granted preliminary approval for the class-action settlement, meaning that the ball will soon start rolling on filing claims.  

According to court documents, the official claims process will begin on Aug. 4, with payouts scheduled to be distributed in early 2026 if final approval is granted. A final approval hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.

It is currently unknown how much each eligible customer will receive. 

The amount will vary based on how many people submit claims and the extent of data compromised in each case. Users who can provide proof of losses tied to the breaches may qualify for additional compensation, equal to up to $5,000 for the 2019 incident and up to $2,500 for the 2024 hack.