With the clock ticking toward an April 7 deadline, USAA customers who were caught up in a 2021 data breach have a limited window to file a claim for their share of a $3.25 million settlement fund. The breach, which compromised the personal information of around 22,000 USAA members, led to a legal tussle that has finally been resolved. Notifications were sent to the affected parties through mail or email after the settlement in December 2024, NBC Chicago reports.

Individuals who do not act to file a settlement claim risk not receiving any compensation, with their right to take action against USAA on the matter voided, according to MySA. Potential claimants must visit a dedicated website and enter specific identification codes included in their notification letter to complete the claim process. These procedures are put in place to streamline the disbursement of the settlement funds and to ensure all eligible parties receive their due portion.

USAA chose settlement over the uncertainties of courtroom litigation following the breach, which became public after an unauthorized party used motor vehicle records to access and misuse personal data within the company's insurance quote systems. The issue reached a boiling point when USAA customer Vincent Dolan sued the company, asserting that someone had exploited his personal information to open an account in his name. The suit, which lingered in the courts for years, brought the breach to light and has culminated in an eventual settlement earlier last year.

"USAA takes our responsibility of protecting personal information seriously and our security measures are continuously strengthened to prevent unauthorized access and use.  This event occurred in 2021 and was part of industry-wide targeting by cyber criminals," a USAA spokesperson mentioned in a statement obtained by MySA. The company reacted to the breach by contacting affected consumers and providing complimentary identity theft detection and resolution services.

For those potentially impacted by the 2021 data breach at USAA, it is imperative to check for communication from the company regarding the settlement and to take swift action by visiting the claims website.