Billions of Dollars Are Waiting for People Like You
You worked hard all your life. You did not know that the dust you breathed at work was slowly killing you. Now you have mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis. You are facing expensive treatments. You cannot work. Your family is worried about money.
But here is something you might not know. There is over thirty billion dollars sitting in trust funds waiting for people just like you. That money was set aside by companies that made and sold asbestos products. They knew asbestos was dangerous. They hid the truth. Now they are paying for the harm they caused.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about asbestos trust funds. You will learn what they are, who created them, how much money is available, who can file a claim, how the process works, how much you might receive, and how to find a lawyer to help you.
No complicated legal language. No confusion. Just clear, honest information to help you and your family get the money you need and deserve.
What Is an Asbestos Trust Fund?
Let us start with the simple explanation.
For decades, companies made and sold asbestos products. They put asbestos in insulation, brakes, gaskets, pipe covering, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, and hundreds of other products. They knew asbestos was dangerous. They had secret documents proving they knew. But they kept selling it anyway. They did not warn workers. They did not warn the public.
Thousands of people got sick. Thousands of people died. Those people and their families started filing lawsuits. They won. They won big. Juries awarded millions and millions of dollars to victims.
Facing more and more lawsuits, many asbestos companies went bankrupt. But here is the important part. When they went bankrupt, courts did not let them just walk away. The courts said, “You caused this harm. You must pay.”
So the courts required these companies to set aside money in special funds. Those funds are called asbestos trust funds. The money in those funds is for victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
Today, there are over sixty asbestos trust funds. Together, they hold more than thirty billion dollars. That money is sitting there right now, waiting for people like you to file a claim.
Which Companies Created Asbestos Trust Funds?
Many of the biggest industrial companies in American history created asbestos trust funds. Here are some of the most important ones.
Johns-Manville Trust Fund
Johns-Manville was one of the largest asbestos companies in the world. They made asbestos insulation, roofing, and many other products. Their own doctors warned them about the dangers in the 1930s. They hid the truth. They kept selling asbestos for decades. Their trust fund holds over two and a half billion dollars.
Owens Corning Trust Fund
Owens Corning made Fiberglas insulation, but they also made asbestos products for many years. Their trust fund holds over one and a half billion dollars.
W.R. Grace Trust Fund
W.R. Grace mined asbestos in Libby, Montana. The people of Libby suffered one of the worst asbestos disasters in American history. Thousands of miners and their families got sick. Their trust fund holds over one billion dollars.
Pittsburgh Corning Trust Fund
Pittsburgh Corning made Unibestos, a popular asbestos insulation product. Their trust fund holds over two billion dollars.
Armstrong Trust Fund
Armstrong made asbestos floor tiles and ceiling tiles. Their trust fund holds over one billion dollars.
Other Major Trust Funds
- Celotex Trust Fund
- GAF Trust Fund
- National Gypsum Trust Fund
- U.S. Gypsum Trust Fund
- Keene Corporation Trust Fund
- Owens-Illinois Trust Fund
- Babcock & Wilcox Trust Fund
- Combustion Engineering Trust Fund
- AC&S (Armstrong) Trust Fund
- Halliburton Trust Fund
And there are over forty more trust funds, each with hundreds of millions or billions of dollars.
Who Can File an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim?
You can file a claim with an asbestos trust fund if:
- You have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or other cancers
- You were exposed to asbestos products made by a company that has a trust fund
- You can show that your exposure came from that company’s products
What If You Do Not Know Where You Were Exposed?
Many people do not remember every job they ever had. They do not remember every product they worked with. That is okay. A good asbestos lawyer will help you figure it out.
Your lawyer will ask you questions about your work history. Where did you work? What did you do? What did you see? What did you handle? What tools did you use? What brands do you remember?
From your answers, your lawyer can figure out which products you were likely exposed to and which companies made them. Asbestos lawyers have huge databases of information about where specific asbestos products were used. They have investigators who can find old records and witnesses.
You do not need to remember everything. Your lawyer will help.
What If You Were Exposed Through Secondhand Exposure?
Many people were exposed because a family member brought asbestos fibers home on their work clothes. Wives who washed those clothes. Children who hugged their fathers. They got mesothelioma too.
The asbestos trust funds recognize secondhand exposure. You can file a claim. You will need to show that you lived with someone who worked around asbestos. Your lawyer can help with this.
What If Your Loved One Already Passed Away?
Yes. You can still file claims on their behalf. This is called a wrongful death claim. The money goes to the spouse, children, or other family members.
Do not wait. There are deadlines for filing these claims. Call a lawyer as soon as possible.
The Asbestos Trust Fund Claim Process
The process for filing an asbestos claim with a trust fund is usually simpler and faster than a lawsuit. Here is how it works.
Step One: Identify Which Trust Funds Apply to You
Your lawyer will take a detailed work history. They will ask about every job you ever had. Your military service. Any time you might have been around asbestos.
Your lawyer will use this information to identify which companies likely exposed you to asbestos. Then they will determine which of those companies have trust funds.
Step Two: Gather Evidence
Your lawyer will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes:
- Medical records showing your diagnosis
- Work history records
- Pay stubs, union records, or military records
- Witness statements from coworkers who remember the products used
- Product identification evidence showing that specific asbestos products were used where you worked
Your lawyer does most of this work. You focus on your health.
Step Three: File the Claim
Your lawyer files the claim with each trust fund. Each trust fund has its own forms and its own requirements. Some require extensive documentation. Others have simpler processes.
Your lawyer handles all of that.
Step Four: Trust Fund Reviews the Claim
The trust fund reviews your claim. They check the evidence. They make sure you qualify. They may ask for more information. This is called a “supplemental request.”
Your lawyer handles all communication with the trust fund.
Step Five: You Receive Payment
If your claim is approved, the trust fund sends a check. The money can be paid as a lump sum all at once or as periodic payments over time.
Your lawyer takes their agreed percentage. The rest goes to you.
How Much Money Can You Get from Asbestos Trust Funds?
This is the question everyone wants answered. The honest answer is that every trust fund is different. Each trust fund has its own rules and its own payment schedule.
How Trust Funds Determine Payouts
Most trust funds use a system called a “TDP” or Trust Distribution Procedure. The TDP assigns a certain dollar amount to each type of disease.
For example, a trust fund might have a schedule that says:
- Mesothelioma: $200,000
- Lung cancer with asbestosis: $50,000
- Lung cancer without asbestosis: $25,000
- Asbestosis: $15,000
- Pleural plaques: $5,000
These are just examples. Every trust fund is different. Some pay more. Some pay less.
The Percentage Reduction
Here is the important thing to understand. Most trust funds do not pay 100 percent of the scheduled amount. They pay a percentage. This is because there is more money claimed than money in the trust fund.
The payment percentage varies by trust fund. Some pay 100 percent of the scheduled amount. Others pay as little as 10 percent.
For example, if a trust fund has a scheduled amount of 200,000formesotheliomaandispayingat50percent,youwouldreceive100,000 from that trust fund.
You Can File Claims with Multiple Trust Funds
Here is the best news. You can file claims with multiple trust funds. If you were exposed to products from ten different companies, you can file claims with all ten trust funds. Your total compensation can be the sum of all of them.
Many mesothelioma victims receive between 300,000and1 million from trust funds alone. Some receive even more.
Realistic Expectations for Mesothelioma Claims
- Typical total compensation from trust funds: 300,000to1 million
- Typical compensation for a single trust fund: 50,000to200,000
- Typical compensation if you qualify for many trust funds: 500,000to1 million
Realistic Expectations for Lung Cancer Claims
- Typical total compensation from trust funds: 100,000to500,000
- Typical compensation for a single trust fund: 10,000to75,000
Realistic Expectations for Asbestosis Claims
- Typical total compensation from trust funds: 30,000to150,000
How Long Does the Process Take?
This depends on the trust fund. Some trust funds process claims in a few months. Others take a year or more.
Some trust funds are very well funded and can pay quickly. Others have less money and have to stretch payments over time.
Your lawyer can give you an estimate based on which trust funds you are filing with.
Do You Need a Lawyer to File an Asbestos Trust Fund Claim?
Technically, you are allowed to file a claim yourself without a lawyer. But this is almost always a bad idea. Here is why.
The trust funds have complicated rules and deadlines. If you miss a deadline or fill out a form incorrectly, your claim can be denied. Even if it is eventually approved, mistakes can delay your payment by months or years.
The trust funds have experienced lawyers working for them. They know how to spot problems with claims. You want an experienced lawyer on your side who knows how to present your claim in the best possible way.
Also, a lawyer can file claims with multiple trust funds for you. Doing that yourself would be overwhelming, especially when you are sick and dealing with treatment.
Most importantly, asbestos lawyers work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. They only get paid if you get paid. You have nothing to lose and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars to gain.
How to Find a Good Asbestos Lawyer
You need a lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases. Do not hire a general personal injury lawyer. Asbestos trust fund claims are complicated. You need someone who does this work every day.
The best asbestos lawyer will:
- Give you a free consultation
- Work on contingency (you pay nothing upfront)
- Have handled hundreds or thousands of asbestos trust fund claims
- Know which trust funds are paying and how much
- Be willing to travel to you
Do not worry about finding a lawyer in your city. Asbestos lawyers work with clients all over the country. They can handle everything by phone, mail, and email.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer
- How many asbestos trust fund claims have you filed?
- How much money have you recovered for clients from trust funds?
- Do you also handle lawsuits against companies that are still in business?
- Will you come to me, or do I need to travel to you?
- What percentage do you take as your fee?
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
Nothing upfront. Asbestos lawyers work on contingency. That means they take a percentage of the money they win for you. Typical contingency fees for trust fund claims are 25 to 40 percent of the amount you receive.
If your lawyer does not win any money for you, you pay nothing. That is the deal.
Trust Funds vs. Lawsuits: Which Is Better?
Most people want to know whether they should file trust fund claims or file a lawsuit. The answer is usually both.
Trust funds: You file claims with bankrupt companies that had to set aside money. Trust funds pay faster, often in six to twelve months. The payouts are usually smaller than lawsuit verdicts, but they are more certain. Claimants almost never get turned down if they have a valid claim.
Lawsuits: You sue companies that are still in business and have not gone bankrupt. Lawsuits can result in larger payouts, sometimes several million dollars. But lawsuits take longer, sometimes two to four years, and there is a risk you could lose at trial.
The best strategy: Do both. File trust fund claims to get money quickly. At the same time, file lawsuits against companies that are still solvent. Your lawyer will handle everything.
What If You Already Filed a Lawsuit?
You can still file trust fund claims. Many people do both. The money from trust funds is in addition to any money you get from lawsuits.
However, there is an important rule. If you win a lawsuit against a company, you cannot also file a claim with that company’s trust fund. The trust fund is only for people who are not suing that specific company.
Your lawyer will make sure you do not double dip. They will help you get money from every source you are eligible for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can I get from asbestos trust funds?
Most mesothelioma victims receive between 300,000and1 million from trust funds. Most lung cancer victims receive between 100,000and500,000. Most asbestosis victims receive between 30,000and150,000.
How long does it take to get paid?
Some trust funds pay in a few months. Others take a year or more. Your lawyer can give you an estimate.
Will my claim affect my VA benefits?
No. VA benefits are separate. You can receive money from trust funds and VA disability payments at the same time.
Will trust fund payments affect my Social Security or Medicaid?
Maybe. Trust fund payments are considered income. They could affect your eligibility for needs-based programs like Medicaid or SSI. Talk to your lawyer and a benefits specialist.
What if the company that exposed me is still in business?
If the company is still in business and has not gone bankrupt, you will file a lawsuit, not a trust fund claim. Your lawyer can help with both.
What if I already filed a claim years ago and was denied?
You may be able to file again. The rules have changed over time. What was denied years ago might be approved now. Talk to a lawyer.
Hope and Action
You have been through so much already. A terrifying diagnosis. Painful treatments. Worry about your family and your finances. You did not ask for any of this.
But here is the truth. There is over thirty billion dollars sitting in asbestos trust funds right now. That money was set aside for people just like you. It is your money. You deserve to get it.
Do not wait. Do not let fear or confusion stop you. Call a lawyer today. The call is free. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless you win.
You can get money to pay your medical bills. You can get money to replace your lost income. You can get money to support your family.
Do it for yourself. Do it for your family. Take the first step today.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about asbestos trust funds and filing claims. It does not constitute legal advice or financial advice. Every case is different. Trust fund rules vary. Always consult with a qualified asbestos attorney about your specific situation. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, speak with a doctor immediately and contact a qualified asbestos lawyer to understand your legal rights.