LINQ Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim Up to $3,000 Before June 29?

Ems Linq LLC — the K-12 school district software company — agreed to settle a class action lawsuit after hackers accessed its systems and exposed the personal information of school employees and students. If you received a written breach notice about a data security incident that occurred between September 12, 2023, and May 13, 2024, you may claim up to $3,000 in cash. The claim deadline is June 29, 2026.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	TBD (fund size not publicly disclosed)
Claim Deadline	June 29, 2026
Who Qualifies	Anyone who received written notification of the Ems Linq data security incident (Sept. 12, 2023 – May 13, 2024)
Payout Per Person	Up to $500 (ordinary losses), up to $2,500 (extraordinary losses), or ~$50 flat cash payment
Proof Required	Yes — for loss reimbursement tiers; No — for the $50 flat payment
Settlement Status	Open for Claims
Administrator	Simpluris — (844) 341-1254
Official Website	linqdataincident.com

Where Things Stand Right Now

• The settlement is open for claims. You can file online now at linqdataincident.com using the Unique ID and PIN from your breach notice.
• The opt-out and objection deadlines fall on May 29, 2026 — you must act before that date if you want to preserve your right to sue LINQ independently.
• The Final Fairness Hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026, via Zoom. Payments go out within 30 days of claim approval, or within 60 days after the court resolves any appeals — whichever comes later.

What Is the LINQ Data Breach Lawsuit About?

LINQ — formally known as Ems Linq LLC — is a technology company that has provided software to K-12 school districts for more than 30 years. Its platform handles sensitive operational data including payroll, human resources, nutrition management, student registration, and digital payments for school districts across the country.

Between September 12, 2023, and May 13, 2024, an unauthorized user gained access to LINQ’s systems. The breach exposed the personal information of employees and students tied to LINQ’s school district clients, including names, home addresses, dates of birth, bank account information, and Social Security numbers — some of the most sensitive data a person can have stolen.

A class action lawsuit, Connor Law v. EMS LINQ, LLC (Case No. 1:24-cv-01533, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division), alleged that LINQ failed to implement adequate security measures to protect this information. LINQ denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the cost and disruption of continued litigation. As part of the deal, LINQ also committed to making information security improvements going forward.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

• You may qualify if you received a written notification from Ems Linq LLC stating that unauthorized access potentially exposed your personal information during the data security incident that occurred between September 12, 2023, and May 13, 2024.
• You may qualify if you are a current or former employee of a school district that used LINQ’s platform and your data was part of the incident.
• You may qualify if you are a student of a school district that used LINQ and received a breach notice during the relevant period.
• You do not qualify if you did not receive official written notification from Ems Linq LLC about this specific incident.
• You do not qualify if you are a LINQ officer or director, a judge assigned to the case, or someone found criminally responsible for the breach.

The eligibility test is straightforward: if LINQ mailed or emailed you a breach notification, you are a settlement class member.

How Much Can You Receive?

The settlement offers four separate benefit options. You can combine certain options, but you cannot stack the cash tiers on top of each other.

Option 1 — Ordinary Losses (up to $500) You can claim reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses you incurred between September 12, 2023, and the claim deadline. Eligible costs include unreimbursed bank fees, long-distance phone charges, cell phone charges billed by the minute, data charges billed by usage, postage, and local gasoline. You can also add costs for credit reports, credit monitoring products, or identity theft insurance. Documentation such as bank statements, receipts, and bills is required. The maximum reimbursement under this option is $500.

Related article: $20.93M State Farm Schwartz UIM Insurance Settlement, Are You Eligible to Claim? Claim Deadline is July 2

Option 2 — Extraordinary Losses (up to $2,500) You can claim up to $2,500 for documented monetary losses more likely than not caused by the breach — losses not already covered under Option 1. To qualify, you must show the loss was actual, documented, and unreimbursed, and that you exhausted all applicable insurance before making this claim. Documentation must be substantial and not self-prepared — receipts and account statements from third parties are required. Self-written notes alone will not qualify.

Option 3 — Alternative Flat Cash Payment (~$50) If you do not want to submit documented loss claims, you can choose a flat cash payment of approximately $50 instead. This option requires no documentation whatsoever. You cannot combine this with Option 1 or Option 2.

Option 4 — Credit Monitoring (free, available to all) Every class member can claim one year of free credit monitoring services, regardless of which cash option they choose. This benefit is available even if you select the flat $50 payment.

How to File Your Claim

Step 1 — Visit the official claim portal at linqdataincident.com/form/claim or download the PDF claim form at linqdataincident.com/documents/.

Step 2 — Enter the Unique ID and PIN printed on the breach notification you received. If you misplaced your notice, call the settlement administrator at (844) 341-1254 or email [email protected] to request your information.

Step 3 — Select your benefit option: ordinary losses, extraordinary losses, the $50 flat payment, or credit monitoring — or a combination as described above.

Step 4 — Upload your supporting documentation if you claim ordinary or extraordinary losses. Bank statements, receipts, and third-party invoices work. Self-prepared notes do not.

Step 5 — Choose your payment method. Online filers can select PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. Paper filers receive a check by mail. Credit monitoring activation codes arrive separately by mail or email.

Step 6 — Submit before June 29, 2026, either online or by mailing your form postmarked by that date to: LINQ Data Security Incident Settlement c/o Settlement Administrator P.O. Box 25226 Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958

Estimated time to complete: 5–10 minutes for the flat payment option; 15–20 minutes for documented loss claims.

Key Dates to Know

Milestone	Date
Breach Period Start	September 12, 2023
Breach Period End	May 13, 2024
Claims Period Opens	Open Now
Opt-Out Deadline	May 29, 2026
Objection Deadline	May 29, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	June 29, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	June 23, 2026 (via Zoom)
Expected Payment Date	Within 30 days of claim approval, or 60 days after final court approval and resolution of any appeals — whichever is later

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a LINQ data breach settlement claim? 

No. You file directly at no cost through the official claim portal. Class counsel already represents all settlement class members. Hiring an attorney is not required and will not increase your payment. Visit linqdataincident.com and complete the form yourself in minutes.

Is the LINQ data breach settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The case — Connor Law v. EMS LINQ, LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-01533 — is a real federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Simpluris, a professional settlement administrator, manages the claims process. Verify everything at the official site: linqdataincident.com.

When will I receive my payment? 

The administrator sends payments within 30 days of approving your individual claim, or within 60 days after the court grants final approval and resolves any appeals — whichever comes later. The Final Fairness Hearing is June 23, 2026. Factor in additional time if anyone files an appeal after that date.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 Missing the June 29, 2026 deadline means you will not receive any cash or credit monitoring benefit from the settlement. You will still be bound by the release of claims unless you opted out by May 29, 2026. Submit your form as early as possible to avoid this outcome.

Will this payment affect my taxes? 

Reimbursements for documented out-of-pocket losses are generally treated as a return of money you lost — not as taxable income. The flat $50 cash alternative may be handled differently depending on your situation. A qualified tax professional can give you guidance specific to your return.

What if I never received a breach notice from LINQ?

 Eligibility requires receiving written notification from LINQ. If you believe you were affected but never got a notice, contact the settlement administrator at (844) 341-1254 or [email protected]. They can check LINQ’s records and help you determine whether you appear as a class member.

What data did the LINQ breach expose? 

The unauthorized access exposed names, home addresses, dates of birth, bank account information, and Social Security numbers of school employees and students whose districts used LINQ’s software platform. The exposure occurred between September 12, 2023, and May 13, 2024.

Can I claim both the $50 flat payment and credit monitoring? 

Yes. You can combine the $50 alternative cash payment with the free one-year credit monitoring benefit — select both on the claim form. You cannot combine the $50 flat option with the ordinary or extraordinary loss reimbursement tiers. Those cash options are mutually exclusive.

Sources & References

1. Official Settlement Website: linqdataincident.com
2. Official FAQ: linqdataincident.com/faq
3. Court Case: Connor Law v. EMS LINQ, LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-01533, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division

If you received a breach notice from another company that handles your personal data, our coverage of the Lakeview Loan Servicing $26M data breach settlement walks through a similar claims process with comparable payout tiers. You can also check our full list of open class action settlements you can claim in April 2026 to find other active cases you may qualify for.

Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.