Asbestos trust fund payouts are payments made by bankruptcy trusts set up after companies entered Chapter 11 protection because of asbestos-related liabilities. These trusts were created to provide compensation to people injured by exposure to asbestos-containing products made by those companies.
Knowing how asbestos trust fund payouts are calculated helps show how compensation amounts are set and why the figures can differ from one claim to another.
Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts at a Glance
Since they were established, asbestos bankruptcy trusts have received more than $30 billion in funding, with over $17 billion still available for present and future claimants.
More than 60 asbestos trust funds remain active and continue to pay eligible claimants.
Single-claim payouts from asbestos trust funds can range from $13,000 to $283,000, depending on the trust, diagnosis, exposure history, and payment percentage.
Most asbestos trust fund claims are handled within six months, and some are paid in as little as 90 days depending on the trust and claim type.
People diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may be able to receive payments from multiple asbestos trust funds.
What Affects Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts
An asbestos trust fund payout is the compensation awarded after a claim is approved by a bankruptcy trust. These payments are designed to help cover the physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma.
Each asbestos bankruptcy trust applies its own standards when reviewing claims. Medical records and exposure evidence are weighed to determine the final value of the payout.
Once a claim is filed, the trust reviews the supporting documents, decides whether the claim qualifies for mesothelioma compensation, and assigns a value under its own criteria.
Asbestos trust compensation may differ based on factors such as:
Current payment percentage
Diagnosis and disease severity
Exposure history
Claimant’s age and life expectancy
Economic loss
Jurisdiction
Law firm’s prior settlement history
These factors help explain why asbestos trust payments vary between claimants and across different trusts.
More than 60 asbestos trust funds are active and continue to compensate eligible mesothelioma claimants. Depending on exposure history, some individuals may be eligible to file claims with several trusts. In many cases, total payouts from multiple trust funds have exceeded $300,000.
Payment Percentages
An asbestos trust fund payment percentage is the share applied to the value assigned to a claim. Trusts use these percentages to preserve money for both current and future claims, so claimants usually receive only part of the full claim value. These percentages are reviewed periodically and adjusted based on available assets and expected future claim volume.
Review Type
Claims are evaluated under the review process selected, and that choice can affect the size of the payout. An experienced asbestos lawyer will review the claimant’s information to determine the most suitable process and help maximize compensation.
Diagnosis and Disease Type
The type of disease a claimant has plays a major role in the value of an asbestos trust fund claim. Most trusts set payment values according to the seriousness of the asbestos-related illness, and mesothelioma generally receives the highest scheduled value.
Payout values are generally based on the claimant’s asbestos-related disease:
mesothelioma
Asbestosis
Pleural disease
Other cancers
Exposure History
Trusts also examine a claimant’s asbestos exposure history when deciding compensation. That review may include work history, contact with asbestos products, and other exposure-related details.
Exposure factors that may influence the payout include:
Claimant’s occupation at the time of exposure
Industry in which the claimant worked during the exposure period
Length of asbestos exposure
Number and types of asbestos-containing products involved
Active Asbestos Trust Fund Payment Percentages
The trusts below remain active and accept claims from people diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses. Mesothelioma compensation depends on the specific scheduled values and payment percentages tied to each trust.
Asbestos Trust Payment Percentages
ABB Lummus Global Inc. 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust — 9.5%
A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust — 18%
ACandS Asbestos Settlement Trust — 2.89%
APG Asbestos Trust — 6%
Artra 524(g) Asbestos Trust — 0.7%
Avon Liquidating Trust — N/A
Brauer 524(g) Asbestos Trust — 9.5%
Burns & Roe Personal Injury Settlement Trust — 36.87%
C.E. Thurston & Sons Asbestos Trust — 50%
Celotex Asbestos Settlement Trust — 7%
Christy Refractories Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 55%
Congoleum Plan Trust — 8.67%
Durabla Manufacturing Company and Durabla Canada Ltd. Asbestos Trust — N/A
Duro Dyne Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 20%
Fairbanks Trust — 10%
Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust:
Ferodo — 2.9%
Flexitallic — 2.9%
FMP — 12.2%
G-I Holdings Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust — 5%
Geo. V Hamilton, Inc. Asbestos Trust — 7%
H.K. Porter Company Inc. Asbestos Settlement Trust — 3%
Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. Asbestos Settlement Trust — 2%
Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust — 10.6%
Kaiser Gypsum Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 55.2%
Keene Creditors Trust — 1.05%
Leslie Controls Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 6.25%
Maremont Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 34%
MLC Asbestos PI Trust — 10.3%
NMBFiL, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Trust (Bondo) — 8.1%
Old Revco Talc Personal Injury Liquidating Trust — 60%
Plant Asbestos Settlement Trust — 20%
Plibrico 524(g) Asbestos Trust — 0.94%
Porter Hayden Bodily Injury Trust — 4%
Presperse Asbestos Trust — TBD
Quigley Company, Inc. Asbestos Personal Injury Trust:
Non-Releasing — 13.3%
Releasing — 3.3%
Rapid-American Asbestos Personal Injury Liquidating Trust — 28.26%
Raytech Trust — 1.35%
Sepco Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 10%
Swan Asbestos and Silica Settlement Trust — 14.2%
SWC Asbestos Trust — N/A
T H Agriculture & Nutrition, L.L.C. Asbestos Personal Injury Trust — 16.3%
Thorpe Insulation Settlement Trust — 58.6%
U.S. Mineral Products Company Asbestos PI Settlement Trust — 32%
Western Asbestos Settlement Trust — 51.1%
*Payment percentages may be under review and may change.
Remaining Assets in Larger Asbestos Trust Funds
More than 60 active asbestos trust funds continue to compensate eligible asbestos victims. Of the roughly $30 billion originally set aside to fund these trusts, more than $17 billion remains available.
The chart below shows the 10 active asbestos bankruptcy trust funds with the largest remaining assets:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all asbestos trust funds pay the same amount?
No. Each trust sets its own scheduled values, payment percentages, and claim review procedures. Because of that, payouts can vary widely from one trust to another.
How are asbestos trust fund payouts calculated?
Payouts are calculated by first assigning a value to a claim based on the review process used and the claimant’s diagnosis and disease level. That amount is then multiplied by the trust’s payment percentage. Some claims may qualify for individual review, which can raise or lower the assigned value.
What is the average payout for asbestos trust funds?
Average payouts can range from $10,000 to more than $100,000, depending on factors such as disease severity, exposure type, the claimant’s age, and the payment percentage set by the trust.
Who is eligible for payouts from mesothelioma trust funds?
People diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer after exposure to asbestos company products may qualify for trust fund payments. Family members with secondary asbestos exposure who were diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer may also be able to file claims.
What is an asbestos trust fund payment percentage?
A payment percentage is the portion of an approved claim’s value that a trust actually pays. Trusts use these percentages to preserve assets so current and future asbestos victims can be compensated.
Can payment percentages change?
Yes. Trusts periodically review their finances and may raise or lower payment percentages based on available assets, expected future claims, and other considerations. When a percentage increases, eligible claimants may receive supplemental payments tied to the updated rate.
Do asbestos trust funds pay a lump sum or installments?
In most cases, approved claims are paid in a single lump sum. Some claims can be processed and paid within 90 days. The amount received depends on the trust’s payment percentage.
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