Settlement Award Update

The Claims Administrator mailed out the SSA class action settlement distribution checks on July 15, 2025. If you have not yet received your check, you should contact the Claims Administrator at info@SSAHQclassactionclaim.com or (844) 804-3406.

We are grateful to the work put in by many class members over the years. The attorneys at Kator, Parks, Weiser & Wright are proud of the success that was achieved in this case. Under the Settlement Agreement, SSA has agreed to monitor and examine the awards given out at SSA Headquarters to provide transparency going forward.

Award distributions were delivered to about 1600 class members. Each Damages Point was valued at about $90, meaning that class members received about $900 for each year during which they were subject to the discriminatory awards system.

As a reminder, there may be taxes associated with settlement award payments. The distribution check mailing contained a tax form to help you or a tax advisor determine the taxes that you may owe the federal, state, and/or local governments based on your award. Neither Class Counsel nor the Claims Administrator offers any opinion as to any tax liability you may incur with this payment.

Thank you again for your patience throughout the litigation and settlement process.

July 2025 Update – Settlement Award Checks Mailed on July 15, 2025

The Claims Administrator reports that the SSA class action settlement distribution checks were mailed out on July 15, 2025.

All award check mailings are being sent by Certified Mail. You will not need to sign anything with USPS to receive the check mailing. You should receive your mailing by July 25, 2025. If you do not receive your check by July 25, you should contact the Claims Administrator.

Your settlement check must be deposited or cashed by January 11, 2026.

The distribution check will contain a tax form to help you or a tax advisor determine the taxes that you may owe the federal, state, and/or local governments based on your award. Neither Class Counsel nor the Claims Administrator offers any opinion as to any tax liability you may incur with this payment.

We sincerely thank each of you for your patience throughout this process. We have worked diligently with the Claims Administrator and SSA to ensure that each class member receives the correct settlement award under the distribution formula. However, we understand and share your frustration with the length of this process.

May 2025 Update – Corrections Decisions Issued

The Claims Administrator reports that all corrections requests have been reviewed and decided. The Claims Administrator has mailed a notice to all claimants who submitted corrections requests. If you submitted a request for a correction, you should receive a notice from the Claims Administrator by June 3, 2025.

The Claims Administrator next will turn to determining the monetary value of each claimant’s award. The award values will be calculated, reviewed, audited, and finalized, Once the values of the awards are finalized, then the Claims Administrator will issue award checks.

We do not yet know when the Claims Administrator will be in a position to issue the settlement award payments.

We do not know the monetary value of your award or the monetary value of a point at this time.

Please continue to periodically monitor this website for status updates. We will post an update on this website when the Claims Administrator sends out the settlement award payments.

Thank you for your patience through this settlement process.

April 2025 Update – Corrections Requests Have Been Received

The Claims Administrator reports that requests for corrections have been received, and the deadline for submission of corrections requests has passed. The Claims Administrator will review and make final determinations on the corrections requests that were received. After the corrections process has been completed, the Claims Administrator can determine the monetary value of points, and then determine the final settlement award payments to be issued to each Class Member claimant.

Please periodically check this website for updates on the settlement award process. When the Claims Administrator has information regarding the timing of mailing out the settlement awards, we will post an update on this website.

March 2025 Update – Point Allocation Notices Sent Out

On March 7, 2025, the Claims Administrator sent out written notices by email and mail to all claimants. The notices provide the Claims Administrator’s initial computation of settlement award points assigned to each claimant along with additional information.

Please note that the Claims Administrator did not send an email requesting bank information or personal information. If you receive such an email, you should disregard it. The Claims Administrator will make final award payments by check.

The points were determined by the Claims Administrator using the information available and applying the Distribution Formula. To see the full Distribution Formula, you can click here.

If the points on your notice appear correct, you do not have to take any action at this time. Your award will be based on the points included in your notice.

If the points on your notice include any errors (or if there are any other errors in your notice), you must submit a request for correction to the Claims Administrator by April 21, 2025. Details regarding the corrections process are included in the notice and in the Distribution Formula. You should include with your request for correction documents or evidence supporting your request.

If you did not receive a notice by March 14, 2025, but you submitted a Claim Form, you should promptly contact the Claims Administrator at info@SSAHQclassactionclaim.com or (844) 804-3406.

We do not know the monetary value of your award or the monetary value of a point at this time. Only after the corrections process is completed will the Claims Administrator be able to determine the value of points under the Distribution Formula. Please continue to periodically monitor this website for status updates. The Claims Administrator is working to complete the process and issue settlement award payments as quickly as possible.

February 2025 Update
SSA Provides Revised HR Data to the Claims Administrator

SSA produced a revised HR dataset on February 14, 2025. This verified dataset should allow the Claims Administrator to resume the processing of the settlement claims. We will update this website to provide information when the Claims Administrator is ready to mail out Point Allocation notices to the Claimants. Please periodically check this website for updates.

December 2024 Update
Claims Administrator Reports Minor Delay in Settlement Process

The Claims Administrator informed us today (12/18/2024) that there will be a short but unavoidable delay in the settlement processing. We expect this to delay the process by a few weeks.

The delay is the result of HR data that SSA provided to the Claims Administrator. The Claims Administrator uses SSA HR data to verify who worked at SSA HQ and for what time period. This type of verification is common with settlement claims processes.

When the Claims Administrator was tabulating points for each claimant, the Claims Administrator noted possible errors in the HR data provided by SSA. SSA provided a number of rounds of HR data regarding the class members, including a more-detailed set of data for some class members as recently as early December 2024. The Claims Administrator found that the most recent set of HR data for many class members did not match the information that was included in HR datasets that SSA had previously produced. This has caused the Claims Administrator complications in determining the correct information to be used to verify claims submitted by class members. This issue, if left uncorrected, could lead to erroneous point computations from the Claims Administrator and incomplete monetary awards. Specifically, certain class members could be erroneously credited for several additional years at HQ, which could then decrease all other class members’ awards.

We contacted SSA counsel today to inform them of the issues discovered by the Claims Administrator, and to demand that SSA promptly provide the Claims Administrator with HR data that is full, complete, and correct. SSA counsel confirmed that SSA will provide a new HR dataset to address the problems discovered by the Claims Administrator. But, of course, this process will take some time.

It is our general prediction that this issue will be resolved within a matter of a few weeks, and that the settlement process will be back on track in January.

We sincerely apologize for the delay. We share your frustration with the time involved in this process as well as this unforeseen complication. Please rest assured that we as Class Counsel and the Claims Administrator are working diligently to move this process forward and get settlement award checks issued to class members as soon as possible. We wish you all and your families a wonderful holiday season. And please continue to periodically monitor this website for status updates and information as news becomes available. Thank you.

Settlement Claim Form Now Available — Due by 10/22/24

The Claims Administrator has issued the Settlement Claim Forms. Class Members will receive an e-mail and/or mailing with the Claim Form and a Unique ID number for your claim. Claim Forms are due by October 22, 2024 in order to be considered for a settlement award.

Settlement Frequently Asked Questions

What are the next steps in the process?

• The Claims Administrator is sending out Claim Forms to all potential class members. Class members have 60 days during which to fill out the Claim Form and return it to the Claims Administrator. The Claim Form can be filed electronically online, with an email to the Claims Administrator, or by U.S. mail to the Claims Administrator.
• The Claims Administrator will review the Claim Forms and compute the number of points to be awarded under the Distribution Formula. Each class member will receive a written notice stating their point computation. A copy of the Distribution Formula can be found on this website.
• After class members receive the notice of their point computation, class members have the opportunity to correct the number of points awarded to them by the Claims Administrator. The process to seek corrections will be provided in the notice about point allocations and is also described in the Distribution Formula. Class members can seek the correct number of points using the correction process with the Claims Administrator if points are not accurate.
• After the correction process is complete and all point allocations have been determined, the Claims Administrator will determine the monetary value of each point. The Claims Administrator will use the monetary value of a point to compute the individual payment amount for each class member.
• When award dollar amounts have been determined, the Claims Administrator will mail out awards to eligible class members by check. The Claims Administrator will also mail to class members tax documents related to settlement awards.

How long do I have to submit the Claim Form?

• Class members will have until October 22, 2024 to submit their Claim Form.

Who do I contact with questions about the Claim Form?

• All questions concerning the Claim Form should be directed to the Claims Administrator at: info@SSAHQclassactionclaim.com or (844) 804-3406.

Where do I need to submit the Claim Form?

• The Claim Form can be filed electronically online, with an email to the Claims Administrator, or by U.S. mail to the Claims Administrator.

How long will it take until settlement funds are distributed?

• We do not know how long it will take for settlement funds to reach individual class members. The Claims Administrator will be working diligently to ensure class members receive the correct amount of settlement funds in a timely manner.

How much is “1 point” worth?

• Class members shall be awarded 10 points for each year during the class period in which the class member fell within the class definition. Class members shall receive partial credit for a year in which the class member served for part of the year within the class definition.
• The monetary value of a point cannot be determined at this time. The Claims Administrator will calculate the value of a point after all Claim Forms have been submitted, after the corrections process has been completed, and after all points have been allocated. Please see the Distribution Formula for more information.

How much will my total settlement award be?

The value of a settlement award cannot be determined at this time. The Claims Administrator will calculate the value of a point after all Claim Forms have been submitted, after the corrections process has been completed, and after all points have been allocated. The Claims Administrator will use the calculated value of a point to determine the total settlement award for each class member based on the number of total points allocated to the class member. Please see the Distribution Formula for more information.

How will I receive settlement funds?

• Settlement funds will be distributed via U.S. mail in the form of a check. The Claims Administrator will mail settlement checks to each class member at the mailing address included on the class member’s Claim Form.

Are these settlement funds subject to taxes?

• The amount each class member receives is subject to all applicable state and federal taxes. The Claims Administrator will provide each class member who receives a settlement award with tax documentation related to the class member’s specific award.

Can I file a Claim Form on behalf of a deceased class member?

• Yes. The authorized legal representative of a deceased class member’s estate may file a Claim Form on behalf of the class member’s estate. The authorized legal representative of the estate must timely submit a Claim Form.  The legal representative of the estate will be required to submit proof of death and the representative’s status to the Claim Administrator.

Will I be compensated for money I contributed to the BMFJ?

• Yes. Under the Distribution Formula, the Claims Administrator will award $1500 for every $500 that an eligible class member contributed during the class period to BMFJ in support of this litigation.

Will I still be compensated if I began working at SSA or retired part-way through a calendar year?

• Yes. On the Claim Form, a class member should check the box of each year for which they worked any part of that calendar year. For example, if a class member retired in July 2014, that member should check the box for 2014.

Class Action Settlement Approved by EEOC

The EEOC Administrative Judge granted final approval to the Settlement Agreement on May 13, 2024. The next step in the settlement process will be the mailing of a Claim Form to be completed by Class Members. Please periodically monitor this website for status updates on the settlement process.

Click here to see the EEOC Final Approval Order. EEOC Final Approval Decision