Mesothelioma and Asbestos Trust Funds

What Are Asbestos Trust Funds?

Mesothelioma trust funds are accounts with money set aside by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

Roughly $30 billion is available in trusts as of 2026. If you or a U.S. veteran you love has mesothelioma, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing trust fund claims.

Play Asbestos Trust Funds for Veterans With Mesothelioma Video

Video Summary: Veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for compensation from more than $30 billion in asbestos trust funds. Bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-containing products funded these trusts to compensate victims.

Key Facts About Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

• Asbestos trust funds typically award $300,000 to $400,000
• If you’re a veteran, you can pursue trust fund claims and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits simultaneously
• Our partner lawyers can build and file trust fund claims at no out-of-pocket cost to you
• There are more than 60 trust funds currently active
• You may start to get mesothelioma fund payouts in 90 days or less

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  “We're able to get U.S. veterans into asbestos trust funds that have been set aside for people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.”

  – Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center’s legal partners can help you file asbestos trust fund claims quickly if you’re eligible. Get started right now.

Access Asbestos Trusts

• Over $30 Billion Available
• Get Money in 90 Days or Less
• Financial Security

Access Trust Funds

How Does the Asbestos Trust Fund Work?

U.S. courts required asbestos companies to establish trust funds after they filed for bankruptcy. A bankrupt company can’t be sued, but with a trust fund in place, patients can still potentially get compensation.

Here’s how trust funds award compensation:

1. Eligibility: If you or someone you love has mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, you may qualify.
2. Proof: You will need evidence showing that you were exposed to products listed in a company’s trust and that this caused you to get sick. An asbestos attorney can determine this on your behalf.
3. Claim filing: You can potentially file claims with multiple trusts depending on which products you were exposed to.
4. Payout: Once your asbestos trust fund claims are processed and approved, you can start to get compensation.

The trust funds process is much easier with the help of an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. They can build and file trust fund claims for you so there’s minimal extra stress for your family. You also don’t have to go to court to get trust fund payouts.

How Much Are Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts Worth?

Patients usually receive $300,000 to $400,000 on average in total mesothelioma compensation, depending on which asbestos trust funds they qualify for.

However, asbestos trust fund payouts vary by case. Each trust has a different amount of money, and patients may qualify to file claims with several trusts.

Here’s what to know about asbestos trust fund payouts:

• For a single trust fund claim, the payment can range from $7,000 to $1.2 million, according to RAND Corporation data.
• The median trust fund payout is about $180,000 for mesothelioma, per RAND data.
• In some cases, patients have received payouts worth $1 million or more from trust funds by working with our team.

See examples of how much money specific trusts may pay out for mesothelioma below.

Trust Fund Payment Percentages & Compensation Amounts

Many asbestos trust funds have payment percentages. These allow trusts to pay only a fraction of a claim’s full value so there’ll be enough money left over for future claimants.

For example, if a trust pays out $150,000 for mesothelioma but has a payment percentage of 8%, you’d receive only $12,000.

Even with payment percentages, you can still receive significant payouts from trusts when you work with an attorney. Mesothelioma lawyers will pursue the highest amount of compensation from as many trust funds as you qualify for.

Asbestos Trust Fund List

Over 60 companies have active mesothelioma trust funds. Explore our mesothelioma trust fund list.

You may still be able to file a claim even if you don’t see a specific company in the list of asbestos trust funds above. Find out your eligibility now.

Who Is Eligible to File Asbestos Trust Fund Claims?

Mesothelioma patients, family members of a patient who died, or anyone who represents the patient’s estate could qualify to file trust fund claims.

Eligibility requirements for trust fund claims include:

• A diagnosis of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos disease
• Proof of asbestos exposure, such as work records or military documents linking the diagnosis to products listed under the trusts

Many who served in the military or who worked in blue-collar jobs came in contact with multiple asbestos products. In these cases, it may be possible to file claims with dozens of trusts depending on which materials were involved and who made them.

U.S. veterans with mesothelioma are encouraged to file trust claims even if they’re getting monthly payouts from their VA benefits.

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  “Accessing asbestos settlement fund claims won’t affect your VA benefits, giving families like yours one less thing to worry about.”

  – Ricky LeBlanc, VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyer

When Should I File an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim?

It’s often in your best interest to file claims for mesothelioma funds 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 asbestos trusts, you only have 2 to 3 years to file from the date of your mesothelioma diagnosis or a loved one’s death.

The sooner you file, the sooner you may get compensation. Get started right now with our help.

Access Asbestos Trusts

• Over $30 Billion Available
• Get Money in 90 Days or Less
• Financial Security

Access Trust Funds

Asbestos Claims Payout Timeline

You may start to receive asbestos trust fund compensation in 90 days or less by working with experienced lawyers. Learn about the steps to getting asbestos trust fund payouts below.

1. Find an Attorney

By working with a mesothelioma lawyer, you can get the help needed to file asbestos trust fund claims. These attorneys can do all of the legwork involved with filing your claims, saving you time and stress.

Get a free case review to find out if you qualify to work with top mesothelioma attorneys and pursue asbestos trust fund compensation.

2. Gather Evidence for a Trust Fund Claim

Once you’ve found a lawyer, they’ll collect information to see which asbestos trust funds you may qualify for.

Our partner asbestos law firm can:

1. Determine when, where, and how your asbestos exposure occurred
2. See which asbestos trust funds you’re eligible for
3. Collect military/civilian work documents and medical records to build your case

It’s okay if you don’t remember or aren’t sure how you were exposed. Our partner lawyers have databases of information to help determine your exposure based on your military and civilian job history.

3. File a Mesothelioma Compensation Fund Claim

After collecting the information, your attorneys will file claims with all mesothelioma trust funds you qualify for. You won’t have to file the claims yourself or spend any time in court.

By filing claims with multiple asbestos trust funds, your mesothelioma attorney may be able to increase the total payout you receive.

4. Go Through the Review Process

You and your legal team must choose to have your claim reviewed in one of two ways by the trust.

Asbestos trust fund claim review options include:

1. 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.
2. Individual Review: The trust takes a more detailed look at your claim to see how much money you may be entitled to. This review process takes longer and may award more or less money than an expedited review.

Your attorney can help you determine which type of review may be best for your case.

5. Receive Payment

Once your claim has been reviewed, the asbestos trust fund will liquidate it (distribute the money to you). You can then accept the compensation offered by the asbestos trust fund.

You may start to get your first asbestos trust fund payments in as few as 90 days, often through the expedited review process.

Asbestos Trust Funds vs. Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Though both award compensation, asbestos trust funds and mesothelioma lawsuits have a few significant differences. Trust funds allow you to seek mesothelioma compensation without filing a lawsuit.

You may be able to recover compensation from asbestos trust funds, lawsuit settlements, and VA benefit claims all at the same time. Doing so allows you to get the most amount of money possible.

Download VA forms for free here, or have our VA-Accredited Attorney fill them out for you!

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How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Helps With Asbestos Trust Funds

An asbestos lawyer strives to make filing trust fund claims as easy and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on your health and loved ones.

Not only do they walk you through each step in the claims process, but they can also help you navigate laws and rules that could affect your case.

These include:

• Compensation disclosure laws: When filing an asbestos lawsuit or a trust fund claim, some state laws may require you to disclose any amount of compensation you received from earlier claims. An attorney can ensure this is done.
• Payment percentages: Your mesothelioma attorney can determine how payment percentages may impact the amount you receive from a claim.
• Setoffs: Some states enforce setoffs, which reduce the amount of money you receive from a lawsuit if you already secured asbestos trust fund compensation.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to see how a lawyer can help you file asbestos trust fund claims and avoid any issues.

How Were Mesothelioma Funds Created?

Asbestos trust funds were created to hold asbestos product manufacturers accountable for the harm they caused. These companies used asbestos in materials for decades and hid the health risks from service members and the public.

When the dangers of asbestos became publicly known, thousands of victims filed lawsuits against the manufacturers. In turn, many companies filed for protection using Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to avoid lawsuits but stay in business.

However, the bankruptcy courts forced these companies to create trusts so mesothelioma victims could still get compensation. In total, there’s around $30 billion currently available across these trusts today.

Get Help Filing an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim

Asbestos trust funds allow U.S. veterans with mesothelioma to receive financial compensation that can help pay for medical treatment costs and safeguard their families’ futures.

Work with the Mesothelioma Veterans Center for help filing an asbestos trust fund claim now.

To date, our legal partners have:

• Filed thousands of asbestos trust fund claims
• Secured over $10.6 billion for veterans and families nationwide
• Retrieved first trust payouts for many patients in 90 days or less

Call (877) 450-8973 now or get help filing asbestos trust fund claims by working with our team. Our veterans advocates and legal partners stand ready to assist you.