Asbestos bankruptcy trust funds were established through the bankruptcy process to compensate people harmed by asbestos exposure. Under Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, certain companies facing asbestos-related liabilities may establish trusts to compensate current and future claimants.

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Each trust has its own eligibility requirements, claim procedures, and payment criteria. To qualify, a claimant generally must provide evidence of an asbestos-related disease and show exposure to products or worksites associated with the company that established the trust.

Compensation varies significantly from trust to trust and depends on factors such as the diagnosed disease, the claimant’s exposure history, the trust’s payment schedule, the applicable payment percentage, and the type of claim review selected. Some people may qualify to file claims with more than one asbestos trust if their exposure involved products or companies associated with multiple trusts.

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Asbestos trusts have collectively held billions of dollars in assets to compensate current and future claimants. Because trust procedures and payment levels can change over time, the value of an individual claim depends on the facts of the case and the rules of the specific trust.

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Filing a trust claim generally requires documentation of the claimant’s diagnosis, work or military history, and asbestos exposure. The amount and type of evidence required can vary by trust.