What the Cash App settlement is and who it affects
Cash App, owned by Block Inc., reached a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2024 over how the company handled customer complaints and fraud claims. The settlement requires Cash App to pay out money to customers who experienced certain problems — primarily people who reported unauthorized transactions, money sent to the wrong recipient, or funds that disappeared without explanation and were not refunded promptly.
The settlement does not explore to everyone who uses Cash App. You are may be able to access only if you filed a complaint with Cash App support between January 2018 and the settlement date, reported one of the covered issues, and did not receive a full refund within the timeframe the company was supposed to provide. The CFPB and FTC are administering the claims process, not Cash App itself.
Block Inc. has been ordered to pay a total of $100 million into the settlement fund. The actual amount each person receives depends on how many valid claims are submitted and how much money was lost in each case. Payments are not equal across all claimants.
Key Takeaways
- The settlement covers customers who reported fraud, unauthorized transactions, or missing funds to Cash App between January 2018 and the settlement date and did not receive timely refunds.
- You do not need to do anything if Cash App already refunded your money — the settlement is only for people who were not made whole by the company.
- The CFPB and FTC manage the claims process through a settlement website, not through Cash App directly.
- Payment amounts vary based on the loss amount and the total number of claims; there is no fixed payout per person.
- Payments are typically distributed in waves starting months after the claims important date closes, not when ready after you submit a claim.
How to check your payment status
The official settlement website, managed by the claims administrator, is the only place to check whether your claim was received, approved, or paid. You can search for your case using your email address or the phone number associated with your Cash App account. The website displays the status of your claim in real time — whether it is pending review, approved, denied, or paid.
Do not rely on Cash App itself to tell you about settlement payments. Cash App will not send you a notification about the settlement or your payout. The CFPB and FTC handle all communication about claims and payments. If you receive an email or text claiming to be from Cash App about the settlement, verify the sender's address before clicking any links — scammers have already begun impersonating settlement administrators.
To access the claims portal, you will need the email address or phone number you used when you filed your original complaint with Cash App. If you do not remember which contact information you provided, try both. The system will tell you whether a claim exists under that account.
Timeline for receiving settlement payments in 2025
The claims submission period closed on a specific date set by the court. Any claim submitted after that important date was not accepted, even if you were may be able to access. If you missed the important date, you have no recourse through this settlement.
After the important date closed, the claims administrator began reviewing submitted claims to verify that each person meets the may be able to access requirements. This review process typically takes several months. During this time, your claim status will show as "under review" or "pending approval" on the settlement website.
Once claims are approved, the administrator distributes payments in batches rather than all at once. The first wave of payments usually goes out within two to four months after the review period ends. Subsequent waves continue over the following months as more claims are processed. You will receive payment through the same method you used to fund your Cash App account — typically a bank transfer, debit card refund, or direct deposit, depending on how your account was set up.
The exact timing in 2025 depends on when the court approved the settlement and when the claims important date was set. Check the official settlement website for the current schedule, as dates have shifted from earlier announcements.
What happens if your claim is denied
Claims are denied when the submitted information does not match the settlement's may be able to access requirements. Common reasons include: the complaint was filed outside the January 2018 to settlement date window, Cash App records show you were already refunded, the issue reported does not fall under the covered categories, or the documentation provided does not support the claim.
If your claim is denied, the settlement website will show a denial notice with a brief explanation. You have the right to object to the denial and request a review. The process for filing an objection is described on the settlement website and typically requires you to submit additional documentation or a written statement explaining why you believe the denial was incorrect.
Objections must be submitted within a important date set by the court — usually 30 to 60 days from the denial notice. Missing this important date means you lose the right to challenge the denial through the settlement. If your objection is also denied, you may have the option to pursue a claim in small claims court or through Cash App's internal dispute process, though the settlement is your primary remedy.
How settlement payments affect your taxes and benefits
Settlement payments for fraud or unauthorized transactions are generally not considered taxable income by the IRS, because they represent a return of your own money rather than a new payment or award. However, if the settlement covers interest or damages beyond your actual loss, that portion may be taxable. The claims administrator or the settlement website should clarify which part of your payment, if any, is subject to tax reporting.
Settlement payments do not count as income for purposes of means-tested benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid, as long as the payment is received and spent within a certain timeframe. Some programs treat settlement funds as a resource if they remain in your account after 30 or 60 days. If you receive benefits, contact your caseworker before the payment arrives to understand how it will affect your case.
You will not receive a tax form from the settlement administrator unless the payment includes taxable components. Keep your own records of the settlement payment and the reason for it in case you are audited or questioned by a benefits agency.
What to do if you do not receive your payment on time
If your claim shows as approved on the settlement website but you have not received payment within the timeframe stated for that distribution wave, first verify that the payment method on file is correct. Log into the settlement portal and check whether your bank account or card information is current. Payments can be delayed or rejected if the account information is outdated or incorrect.
If the payment method is correct and you still have not received funds after waiting the full timeframe, contact the claims administrator through the settlement website. Do not contact Cash App — they are not responsible for distributing settlement payments. The administrator can investigate whether the payment was sent, rejected by your bank, or held up for another reason.
Payment delays sometimes occur when banks take longer to process transfers or when the administrator encounters technical issues. Waiting an additional one to two weeks is normal. If more than two weeks have passed since the expected payment date and the settlement website still shows the payment as sent, escalate your complaint to the claims administrator in writing and request a status update.
Distinguishing the settlement from Cash App's regular refund process
The settlement is separate from Cash App's standard refund policy. If you currently have an open dispute with Cash App about a transaction, that dispute goes through Cash App's own process, not the settlement. Cash App typically has 10 business days to respond to a dispute and 45 days to complete an investigation.
The settlement only covers people whose disputes were not resolved by Cash App within the required timeframe or who were denied a refund entirely. If Cash App has already refunded your money since you filed your original complaint, you are not may be able to access for the settlement payout.
New complaints filed after the settlement date are not covered by this settlement. They will be handled under Cash App's current policies and any future regulatory actions. The settlement is a one-time resolution for a specific period of customer complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything to get my settlement payment?
Only if you have not already submitted a claim. If you filed a complaint with Cash App during the may be able to access period and were not refunded, you needed to submit a claim to the settlement administrator by the important date. If you already submitted a claim, you do not need to do anything except monitor your claim status on the settlement website and may support your payment information is current.
What if I do not remember whether I filed a complaint with Cash App?
Check the settlement website using your email address and phone number. The system will tell you whether a claim exists under either contact. If no claim appears, you can still submit one if the important date has not passed. If the important date has closed, you cannot join the settlement.
Can I get my settlement payment faster if I call Cash App or the CFPB?
No. Calling Cash App will not help — they do not control the settlement distribution. The CFPB can provide information about the process but cannot speed up individual payments. The only way to track your payment is through the settlement website. Payments are distributed in scheduled waves, and there is no way to move your claim ahead in the queue.
What if my bank rejected the settlement payment?
Contact the claims administrator when ready with proof of the rejection from your bank. They can resend the payment to a different account or, in some cases, issue a check instead. Provide your current bank account information or mailing address so the administrator can redeliver the funds.
Is the settlement payment the same for everyone?
No. Payments are calculated based on the amount of money you lost and the total number of approved claims. If 100,000 people submit claims and the fund is $100 million, the average payout is $1,000, but your actual payment depends on your documented loss. Someone who lost $500 will receive less than someone who lost $5,000.