If you or a U.S. veteran you love has mesothelioma, you may be able to file asbestos trust fund claims for compensation. There’s an estimated $30 billion available in mesothelioma trusts and you can receive this money without going to court. We may be able to help you access asbestos trust funds and VA benefits at the same time.
Ready to file your trust fund claim?
Connect with our veterans advocates to start the process now.
What Are Asbestos Trust Funds?
Asbestos trust funds are sums of money set aside for people who develop asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Victims of asbestos exposure may be able to file trust fund claims to access a portion of this money.
Roughly $30 billion is estimated to be available in mesothelioma trust funds as of 2024.
Many asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy to avoid mesothelioma lawsuits over their dangerous products. In response to the bankruptcy filings, U.S. courts forced these companies to set up trust funds in order to stay in business.
“A lot of companies have used the bankruptcy courts in the United States to set their asbestos liabilities aside, take a pot of money, and leave it for future claimants.”
— Daniel P. Blouin, mesothelioma attorney
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you file asbestos trust fund claims quickly if you qualify. Find out your eligibility right now.
Key Facts About Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts
- Asbestos trust funds typically award a total of $300,000-$400,000 per person
- Our partner lawyers can handle all the work for you, so there’s no extra stress
- If you’re a veteran, you may be able to file trust fund claims in addition to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims
- You may start to get trust fund payouts in as few as 90 days
How Much Are Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts Worth?
Mesothelioma patients receive an average of $300,000-$400,000 total from all asbestos trust fund payouts.
How much you’ll receive depends on the specifics of your case. Each trust has a different amount of money in it, and you may qualify to file claims with multiple trusts.
You may get $1 million or more from asbestos trust fund settlements and other forms of mesothelioma compensation by working with our team.
See examples of how much specific asbestos trust funds pay out for mesothelioma.
Who Can File Asbestos Trust Fund Claims?
You may qualify to file asbestos trust fund claims if:
- You have an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma or lung cancer
- You’re a family member of someone who died from an asbestos-related illness
- You represent a victim’s estate
U.S. veterans with mesothelioma are encouraged to file trust claims even if they’re receiving compensation from their VA benefits.
Trust fund claims can provide veterans with significantly more compensation to cover treatment costs and protect their family’s finances. In addition, you can still file for VA benefits even if you’ve filed trust fund claims.
Those with other asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer or asbestosis could qualify to file claims, too.
Mesothelioma Trust Fund List
Over 60 companies have active asbestos trust funds. You may be able to file claims with multiple mesothelioma trust funds, depending on which asbestos-containing products you were exposed to and the companies that made them.
Explore our asbestos trust fund list in the database below.
- Armstrong World Industries
- ASARCO LLC
- Babcock & Wilcox Company
- Celotex
- Combustion Engineering
- Congoleum Corporation
- DII Industries, LLC
- Eagle-Picher Industries
- Federal Mogul U.S. T&N Subfund
- Federal Mogul U.S., FMP Subfund
- Kaiser Aluminum
- Johns-Manville
- National Gypsum Company (NGC)
- Owens Corning
- Owens Corning, Fibreboard Subfund
- Pittsburgh Corning Corporation
- Porter Hayden Company
- Quigley Co. Inc.
- Raytech Corporation
- United States Gypsum
- Western Asbestos
- W.R. Grace
- Other
Initial Funding $2.06 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $830 million
Established in 2009
Initial Funding $1.84 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $1.25 billion
Established in 1997
Initial Funding $1.24 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $270 million
Established in 2010
Initial Funding $2.51 billion
Established in 2005
Initial Funding $730 million
Established in 1996
Initial Funding $635 million
Established in 2007
Initial Funding $55 million
Established in 2007
Initial Funding $1.22 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $2.5 billion
Established in 1988
Initial Funding $446 million
Established in 1993
Initial Funding $3.42 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $1.56 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $825 million
Established in 2013
Initial Funding $40 million
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $569 million
Established in 2013
Initial Funding $52 million
Established in 2000
Initial Funding $3.96 billion
Established in 2006
Initial Funding $2 billion
Established in 2004
Initial Funding $3 billion
Established in 2014
You or your loved one may qualify for this asbestos trust fund.
File Your Trust Fund ClaimYou may still be able to file a claim even if you don’t see a company in the list of asbestos trust funds above.
Our partner mesothelioma law firm can determine which products you were exposed to and file claims with all of the trusts you qualify for.
Asbestos Claims Payout Timeline
The asbestos claims payout timeline includes several quick steps, including building a claim, filing it, and receiving compensation. By working with our team, you may start to receive compensation in 90 days or less.
We can help you file trust fund claims right now, if eligible. You can also learn about the steps to getting asbestos trust fund payments below.
1. Find an Attorney
It’s in your best interest to work with a mesothelioma lawyer to file asbestos trust fund claims. The Mesothelioma Veterans Center works with a veteran-founded law firm that has skilled asbestos attorneys on staff who can make filing a claim easy and stress-free.
Connect with a mesothelioma veterans lawyer now. There are no hourly fees or out-of-pocket costs to work with our legal partners.
2. Gather Evidence for a Trust Fund Claim
Once you’ve found a lawyer to work with, they’ll collect information to see which asbestos trust funds you qualify for.
Your mesothelioma attorneys will:
- Determine when, where, and how your asbestos exposure occurred
- Find out which companies made and sold the products you were exposed to
- See if these companies have mesothelioma trust funds
It’s okay if you don’t remember or aren’t sure of how you were exposed to asbestos. Skilled mesothelioma lawyers have databases of information they can use to determine your exposure based on your military and civilian work history.
3. File a Mesothelioma Trust Fund Claim
After gathering information, your attorneys will file claims with any asbestos trust funds you qualify for.
You won’t have to file the claims yourself or spend time in court. While you focus on your heath, your lawyer will work to secure compensation from asbestos trust fund companies on your behalf.
4. Go Through the Review Process
After filing your claim, you and your legal team must choose to have it reviewed by the mesothelioma trust funds in one of two ways.
Asbestos trust fund review options include:
- Expedited review: The trust processes your claim based on pre-set guidelines, like what type of asbestos disease you have and how severe it is. If your claim meets the guidelines, you’ll get a fixed amount of money.
- Individual review: The trust reviews your claim more thoroughly to determine your potential compensation. This claims process takes longer than an expedited review and may award more or less money.
Your attorney can determine which type of review will be best for your asbestos trust fund claim.
5. Receive Payment
Once your claim has been reviewed by the asbestos trust fund, liquidation (awarding payout) will occur.
You may start to get your first mesothelioma trust fund payments in 90 days or less by working with our team to file a claim.
Asbestos Trust Funds vs. Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Though both award compensation, trust funds and mesothelioma lawsuits are not the same. Trust funds allow you to get mesothelioma compensation without filing a lawsuit.
Learn about the differences between lawsuits and asbestos trust funds below.
| Asbestos Trust Fund Claims | Mesothelioma Lawsuits |
|---|---|
| Filed with trusts set up by bankrupt asbestos companies to avoid lawsuits | Filed against asbestos companies that don’t have bankruptcy trust funds |
| Never go to court | Most cases reach out-of-court settlements, but a small percentage are tried in court |
| Must be filed within deadlines set up by each trust | Must be filed within state deadlines (statutes of limitations) |
| Award $300,000-$400,000 total on average | Award $1 million or more on average |
You may be able to file trust fund claims, asbestos lawsuits, and VA benefit claims all at the same time to get the most amount of money possible. Get help filing right now.
How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Helps With Asbestos Trust Funds
Working with a lawyer makes filing asbestos trust funds much easier. Mesothelioma lawyers file trust fund claims on your behalf and will work to secure the highest amount of compensation possible.
They can also help you avoid complications that could affect your overall payout amount.
These include:
- Compensation disclosure laws: When filing a lawsuit or a new trust fund claim, some states may require you to disclose any amount of compensation you received from earlier asbestos trust fund claims.
- Payment percentages: These allow the trusts to pay only a fraction of a claim’s full value, so there’ll be enough money left over for future claims. Your attorney can help you understand if payment percentages will affect your claim.
- Setoffs: Some states allow setoffs, which reduce the amount of money you get from a lawsuit if you already received asbestos trust fund compensation.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to see how our partner lawyers can help you file trust fund claims and make the process go smoothly.
When Should I File an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim?
We recommend filing an asbestos trust fund claim as soon as possible.
Each asbestos settlement trust fund has its own time limits on how long you have to file a claim. For most trusts, you only have 2-3 years to file from the date of your mesothelioma diagnosis or a loved one’s death.
With our help, you can file a mesothelioma trust fund claim now if eligible. The sooner you do so, the faster you may receive compensation.
How Were Mesothelioma Trust Funds Created?
Mesothelioma funds were created to hold manufacturers of asbestos-based products accountable for the harm they caused. These companies used asbestos to make products for decades while hiding the health risks.
When the dangers of asbestos became fully known, thousands of victims filed lawsuits against these companies. In turn, many companies filed for protection using Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to avoid lawsuits but stay in business.
Doing so meant they could essentially walk free after poisoning millions of people.
However, the U.S. court system forced bankrupt asbestos companies to create trusts so mesothelioma victims could still get financial assistance.
Get Help Filing an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim
Asbestos trust funds allow U.S. veterans with mesothelioma to seek financial aid for medical treatment costs and safeguard their families’ futures.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you file an asbestos trust fund claim now if you’re eligible.
Our partner lawyers have filed trust fund claims for thousands of other mesothelioma and lung cancer patients, securing billions of dollars in the process.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to find out if you can file a trust fund claim with help from our veteran-founded team. Our veterans advocates are standing by to assist you.
Asbestos Trust Fund FAQs
How does the asbestos trust fund work?
Asbestos trust funds have money set aside by companies that made, sold, or distributed asbestos-containing products.
If you worked with or around a bankrupt company’s asbestos products and now have mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, you may qualify to file a claim with its trust.
You might be eligible to file multiple trust fund claims, depending on how many products you were exposed to while you worked or served in the U.S. military.
How much money is left in the mesothelioma trust fund?
Over $30 billion is estimated to be available across all active asbestos trust funds. The amount of money each trust holds varies, but many contain millions, if not billions, of dollars for victims and their families.
By filing a trust fund claim, you or your loved ones may be able to access some of this money.
What percentage does the Owens Corning asbestos trust pay?
The Owens Corning trust fund currently has a 5.9% payment rate. Mesothelioma patients will get roughly $8,000 to $12,600 per claim.
A skilled mesothelioma attorney can help determine how much money you could receive and help you file claims on time.
What is the average payout for mesothelioma victims from trusts?
Asbestos trust funds typically pay out $300,00-$400,000 for mesothelioma. This value accounts for the total amount the average person gets from the trusts they qualify for.
When you work with the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, you could potentially get over $1 million total from trust fund settlements and other legal compensation.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to learn how much your case may be worth.
How long do I have to file an asbestos trust fund claim?
You’ll typically have 2-3 years to file a mesothelioma trust fund claim, as outlined in the rules set up by each trust.
Time starts counting down from the date you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or from when a loved one died from an asbestos-related illness.
Don’t wait: Access asbestos trust fund money now with our help, if eligible.
Does filing an asbestos trust fund claim prevent me from getting VA benefits?
No. You can file for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in addition to filing trust fund claims.
Our partner mesothelioma lawyers can help you file trust fund claims and VA benefits claims at the same time.
Are mesothelioma trust fund payments taxable?
Payments from trust funds are not usually subject to taxes. An asbestos lawyer can help determine if any financial compensation you get for your cancer will be taxed.
