The suit has been pending since shortly after OPM revealed those breaches in mid-2015. Image: wk1003mike/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA federal district court has approved a settlement in a class action suit over the breaches of OPM databases on current and former federal employees, with a December 23 deadline for filing claims.
Nearly 20,000 persons already have filed for reimbursement in a suit based on two separate breaches that together involved more than 20 million people. One database was of federal personnel records and the other of persons on whom security checks had been run for gaining access to federal facilities. Both contained personally identifying information and in some cases highly personal information such as financial and legal records and fingerprints.
In a suit that has been pending since shortly after OPM revealed those breaches in mid-2015, the federal district court in the District of Columbia granted final approval of a settlement creating a $63 million fund, from which claimants stand to receive receive the greater of $700 or the actual amount of their loss, up to $10,000. The court earlier had granted conditional approval but last week granted final approval after considering objections some had filed to the payments as inadequate.
However, to receive a payment an individual must join the suit by the deadline (by following procedures at https://www.opmdatabreach.com/) and establish that their information was compromised and that they suffered an out of pocket expense or lost compensable time to purchase a product or service to identify or remediate the data breaches; to access, freeze or unfreeze a credit report with a credit reporting agency; or as a result of an identity theft incident or to mitigate an identity theft incident.
The incidents triggered the resignation of the then-OPM director and Congress later provided for free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services for victims which is ongoing.
These Federal Workforce Proposals May Catch Ride on Defense Bill
Watch for ‘Significant’ FEHB Plan Changes, OPM Says
Enrollee Share of FEHB Premiums to Rise 8.7 Percent on Average for 2023
OPM Addresses Drivers of Premium Hikes, Upcoming Coverage Changes in FEHB
January Retirement COLA Set: 8.7 Percent for CSRS, 7.7 Percent for FERS
Leave Scheduling: Time to Use it or Lose it
Decisions on Federal Workplace Issues Remain Before Congress
See also,
Windfall Elimination Provision Getting Attention in Congress
Why Federal Employees Quit: It’s Not All about Pay
Employees Value TSP, Annuity, FEHB Most Highly, Survey Finds
FERS Retirement Planning Bundle: 2022 FERS Guide & TSP Handbook
