Who is eligible for a class action settlement? The 6 requirements
Who is eligible for a class action settlement? The 6 requirements — class definition, class period, geography, use, opt-out status and proof — with examples.
You're eligible for a class action settlement if you fit the class definition: you used the product or service (or were affected by the conduct) during the class period, in the covered geography, you didn't opt out, and you can meet the settlement's proof standard — often just a sworn statement on the form. That's the short answer to who is eligible for a class action settlement; the settlement administrator makes the final call when it reviews your claim. Below are the six requirements one by one, with worked examples from open settlements like TikTok, Instagram and DoorDash.
Who is eligible for a class action settlement? The 6 requirements at a glance
Every settlement spells out eligibility in its class definition and claim form, and every definition can be broken into the same six parts. Fail any one and the claim is rejected; pass all six and you're owed a share. Here's the checklist, with where to find each answer and the mistake that trips people up most often.
| Requirement | What it means | Where to find it | Common trip-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Class definition | You're in the group the settlement covers (users, purchasers, account holders, breach victims…) | "Who is included" on the settlement site; the long-form notice | Assuming you're out because you didn't get a notice |
| 2. Class period | You used the product or were affected between two dates | Same section; often in the claim form questions | Account opened a month after the period ended |
| 3. Geography | You lived or bought in the covered place — nationwide, one state, or a subclass | Class definition; state-law settlements name the state | Illinois-only biometric classes claimed from other states |
| 4. Product or service use / exposure | You actually did the thing — ordered, subscribed, owned the device, had data exposed | Claim form questions; any notice letter | Family member used it, not you (file under their name instead) |
| 5. Not excluded | You didn't opt out, and you aren't an excluded person (defendant's employees, the judge, counsel) | Exclusion list in the settlement agreement | Opting out "to be safe" — which forfeits the payment |
| 6. Proof standard | You can satisfy the evidence level: none, sworn statement, "some" (an email or order number), or documents | Claim form; "What do I need to submit" FAQ | Skipping a claim because proof seems hard when a sworn statement is all that's required |
Requirements 1–2: the class definition and the class period
The class definition is one long sentence that answers who, what, where and when. Read it literally. "All persons in the United States who placed an order through the DoorDash app or website between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2026" means exactly that: one order, anywhere in the U.S., inside those dates. It doesn't require that you were overcharged on that order, that you still have the app, or that you received a notice — the settlement's theory is that everyone who ordered was exposed to the fees, so everyone who ordered is in. Watch for "and" versus "or": a definition covering people who "used the app or its predecessor" is broader than one that requires both.
The class period is the most common reason legitimate-looking claims are rejected. Administrators check claims against the defendant's records where they can, so if your account was created after the period closed, or your last purchase was before it opened, the claim fails even though you're a genuine customer. If you're unsure of your dates, check account settings, order history or statements before filing — our guide on how to check if you're part of a class action shows where to look. Note that in many settlements the class period runs right up to the opt-out deadline, so recent users qualify too.
Requirement 3: geography and residency
Most consumer settlements are nationwide, covering anyone in the United States. But some of the richest are tied to a single state's law — above all Illinois, whose Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) provides statutory damages of $1,000–$5,000 per violation and has driven settlements like the $650 million Facebook case, which paid about $397 per Illinois claimant. That's why the Instagram biometric settlement defines its main class as Illinois residents, and why the TikTok privacy settlement gives Illinois video creators a separate, larger share. Residency usually means where you lived at the time you used the product, not where you live today; some settlements ask how long you lived there.
If you've moved, don't guess — the claim form will ask, and administrators can cross-check addresses. If you were never in the covered state, claim the nationwide tier if there is one and skip the rest. More on how state law changes payouts in biometric privacy (BIPA) settlements.
Requirement 4: did you actually use it (or were you exposed)?
The fourth test is the one you answer from memory or records: did you order, subscribe, own the device, hold the account, or have your data exposed? A few patterns worth knowing:
- Account holders (social apps, banks, wearables): you qualify by having had the account in the period, whether or not you still do. Closed accounts count.
- Purchasers (delivery, tickets, products): one qualifying purchase is enough; multiple purchases may raise a documented tier.
- Breach victims: eligibility is usually tied to the defendant's own list — if you got the breach letter, you're in; if you didn't, you generally aren't, as in the Bank of America data breach settlement.
- Parents and minors: in purchase-by-minor cases (Fortnite, Roblox) and kids' privacy cases, the parent or guardian files on the child's behalf, usually from the account that paid.
- Owners and lessees (vehicle defects like the Hyundai/Kia anti-theft settlements): eligibility follows the vehicle and the VIN, and usually requires proof.
Requirement 5: you didn't opt out (and you aren't an excluded person)
Every damages settlement lets class members opt out — request exclusion — by a deadline that comes before the claims deadline. Opting out keeps your right to sue individually and forfeits any settlement payment; it only makes sense when your individual losses are large enough to be worth a lawyer. If you opted out, you're not eligible to claim, full stop. Objecting is different: objectors stay in the class, can still be paid, and are just telling the judge what's wrong with the deal. See what opting out means before you do anything irreversible.
Settlements also carve out a short list of excluded persons: the defendant and its officers, directors and employees, the judge and court staff, and class counsel. Occasionally people who previously released the same claims (through an earlier settlement or individual arbitration) are excluded too. If you think you might fall into one of these, the settlement agreement on the official site lists them precisely.
Requirement 6: the proof standard
The final requirement is evidence, and it ranges from nothing to a folder of documents. No proof settlements accept your sworn statement on the claim form — the TikTok, Instagram and DoorDash settlements all work this way for their basic payment. Some proof means an identifier the administrator can check: an order number, the email on the account, a screenshot. Proof required means receipts, statements or repair invoices, and it's typical for reimbursement settlements like the Hyundai and Kia anti-theft cases. Many settlements combine tiers: a flat no-proof payment for everyone, and a bigger documented tier — the Bank of America settlement pays $50 with no documents and reimburses documented losses up to $600.
Strategy: file every no-proof claim you qualify for, then spend your effort on documented tiers where you already have the records. Our comparison of no-proof vs. proof-required claims shows where the money is, and proof of purchase for class action claims lists what administrators accept.
Who decides whether you're eligible
Not you, and not any app — the court-appointed settlement administrator reviews every claim after the deadline, cross-checks it against the defendant's records where possible, flags duplicates and fraud, and sends a deficiency notice if something's missing (you usually get a few weeks to fix it). Apps like Owed match you against class definitions, pre-fill the form and track the claim, but eligibility and the amount are always the administrator's and the court's call. If you're genuinely unsure whether you qualify, file anyway: a rejected claim costs you nothing, while a skipped claim costs you the payout. This article is general information, not legal advice — for a specific case, the settlement website's FAQ and the administrator's help line are the authoritative sources.
Glossary
- Class definition
- The sentence in the settlement that says who is covered — product or service, place, date range and exclusions.
- Class period
- The date range during which the conduct happened; you must have used the product or been affected within it.
- Subclass
- A smaller group inside the class — often one state's residents — treated differently, usually with a larger share.
- Excluded persons
- People carved out of the class by the settlement: the defendant's employees and officers, the judge, class counsel, and anyone who opted out.
- Sworn statement (attestation)
- Your signed certification on the claim form that your answers are true, made under penalty of perjury.
- Deficiency notice
- A message from the administrator that your claim is missing something, with a short window to fix it.
FAQ
Anyone who fits the class definition — the right product or service, place and date range — who didn't opt out and can meet the proof standard. You don't need a notice, a lawyer or a claim ID to be eligible.
No. Notice only reaches people the defendant could identify. If you match the class definition, you're a class member and can usually file without a claim ID.
Yes, as long as you had it during the class period. Closed accounts, deleted apps and sold devices still count; you may need to show dates if asked.
For minors, a parent or guardian files on the child's behalf. For other adults, each person files their own claim — one claim per eligible person is the rule in most settlements.
Usually not: most U.S. consumer settlements cover U.S. residents or purchasers only. Some global companies run separate programs for other countries, listed on the settlement site.
Yes, if you can honestly answer the eligibility questions. The administrator will decide; a rejected claim costs nothing, a skipped one forfeits the payout.
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23 — class definition and notice (Cornell LII)
- 28 U.S.C. § 1746 — unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury (Cornell LII)
- Federal Judicial Center — Judges' Class Action Notice and Claims Process Checklist and Plain Language Guide
- ClassAction.org — open settlements list (class definitions and proof requirements)
- FTC — refunds from FTC cases
This article is based on public information as of Aug 22, 2026; features, prices and deadlines change. Owed is not a law firm and nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice. Corrections →
Keep reading
How to check if you're part of a class action lawsuitHow to check if you are part of a class action lawsuit: read the class definition, find your claim ID, search administrator sites and your inbox in 5 steps.
Class action settlements with no proof required (and 8 open now)Class action settlements no proof required: how sworn-statement claims work, payout caps and audits, plus the 8 open no-proof settlements you can file for now.
Proof of purchase for class action claims: what counts, where to lookProof of purchase for a class action claim: what counts (receipts, order emails, statements, screenshots), where to find it fast, and what to do without it.