When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When it gives you a class action lawsuit, agree to a settlement. Class action lawsuits are legal processes where one or more individuals, known as plaintiffs, sue on behalf of a larger group of people who have been similarly harmed or affected by the same issue. This enables multiple claimants to pursue a case collectively, rather than individually, saving time and resources. One particular lawsuit has reached a settlement agreement, and its deadline to claim is in eight days.
A new settlement could earn you $12,500
A nonprofit organization named National Student Clearinghouse assists students, schools, and employees access educational data. In 2023, the organization made the news after a data breach, which thereafter was known as the 2023 MOVEit data breach. During the data breach, hackers reportedly obtained access to the MOVEit file transfer software used by the organization, which compromised sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers.
Plaintiffs in the data breach class action lawsuit claimed that National Student Clearinghouse could have averted the breach if it had reasonable cybersecurity measures in place. National Student Clearinghouse has denied any wrongdoing but agreed to a $9.95 million class action settlement to resolve the claims that it failed to shield users from the 2023 MOVEit data breach.
Only these people qualify for the payouts
Just like various other class action lawsuit settlements, only qualifying individuals can claim from this settlement. Only individuals whose Social Security numbers were included in the compromised files of the MOVEit data breach between May 28, 2023, and May 31, 2023, will benefit from the National Student Clearinghouse settlement.
Affected individuals received an official notice from National Student Clearinghouse, informing them that their personal identifying information was potentially breached in the 2023 MOVEit Security Incident and that they, as class members, could receive reimbursement for ordinary and extraordinary losses resulting from the data breach.
Ordinary loss
- These include bank fees, communication fees, credit monitoring costs, and lost time.
- Reimbursement up to $2,500.
- Reimbursement up to four hours at $25 per hour lost.
Extraordinary losses
- These include larger losses such as monetary losses, fraud damages, professional fees, and credit repair costs.
- Reimbursement up to $10,000.
Class members who do not want to claim reimbursement can receive a $100 cash payment, which is subject to pro rata reduction or increase depending on the total claim submission.
But wait, there’s more! Thanks to the settlement, all class members qualify for two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. The services include three-bureau monitoring, real-time alerts, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance.
The deadline to claim is approaching
The final approval hearing for the National Student Clearinghouse data breach settlement was held on May 12, 2025. The deadline for exclusion and objection was April 25, 2025. Luckily, class members still have time to claim the benefits, but they must hurry. The deadline to file a claim is in 8 days.
Class members will only receive a cash payment and/or credit monitoring services if they complete and submit a Claim Form on time. Claim Forms are contingent upon the approval of the Settlement Administrator. To receive the benefits, Claim Forms must be postmarked or submitted online by May 26, 2025.
Class members will need proof of purchase to claim, which includes documentation of losses such as bank statements, invoices, receipts, or phone records.
Do not miss out on the chance to claim $12,500. Make sure you file your claim today! If you remain uncertain or need any additional information regarding the National Student Clearinghouse data breach settlement, you are advised to contact the Claims Administrator by using this number: 888-366-9156. You may also visit the official NSC Settlement website for the latest news.
