If you’re among the 82,000+ survivors who filed claims in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy settlement, understanding what you’re entitled to—and when you’ll receive it—can feel overwhelming.
The settlement’s complex structure, with its six-tier matrix system, multiple scaling factors, and ongoing evaluation process, has left many survivors searching for clarity about their potential compensation.
Understanding the Settlement Structure: What You’re Entitled To
The Boy Scouts settlement uses a complex matrix system to determine claim values based on the severity and circumstances of abuse.
The Six-Tier Matrix System
The claims matrix categorizes abuse into six tiers based on severity, with base and maximum values adjusted by scaling factors that account for aggravating circumstances (such as multiple perpetrators, up to a 2.0 increase) and mitigating factors (such as statute of limitations, down to 0).
The system aims to reflect fair compensation comparable to what survivors might receive in the tort system. The tiers range from most severe to least severe:
- Tier 1 (most severe): Anal or vaginal penetration by adult perpetrator – $600,000 base value, up to $2.7 million maximum
- Tier 2: Oral copulation by adult perpetrator or digital penetration
- Tier 3: Other sexual touching by an adult perpetrator
- Tier 4: Sexual abuse by a non-adult perpetrator
- Tier 5: Non-contact sexual abuse (exposure, voyeurism)
- Tier 6 (least severe): Sexual abuse with no touching – $3,500 base value, up to $8,500 maximum
Scaling Factors That Affect Your Award
Your base tier value is adjusted by multiple factors:
Aggravating factors increase awards:
- Multiple perpetrators
- Numerous incidents over extended time periods
- Abuse at younger ages
- Abuse by someone in a position of authority
- Physical injury requiring medical treatment
- Documented psychological harm
Mitigating factors decrease awards:
- Statute of limitations issues
- Lack of corroborating evidence
- Weaker connection to Scouting programs
- Geographic location (some states had stricter limitations)
Expedited vs. Direct Abuse Claims
Expedited Claims: 7,000 “quick pay” claimants opted for $3,500, with payments beginning in September 2023. After attorney fees of 33-40%, these survivors received approximately $2,100-$2,450.
This option offered speed and certainty—no detailed evaluation, no waiting for determination, just a quick $3,500 payment. But it meant giving up potentially much larger awards through the Direct Abuse Claims process.
Direct Abuse Claims: Most survivors filed Direct Abuse Claims, which undergo a detailed evaluation considering:
- Severity and type of abuse (which tier)
- Duration and frequency of abuse
- Age when abuse occurred
- Multiple perpetrators or incidents
- Connection to Scouting programs (membership records, photos, memorabilia)
- Geographic location and applicable laws
- Statute of limitations status
- Documented physical or psychological harm
Survivors who filed Direct Abuse Claims prior to August 26, 2024, are eligible to have their claim processed and evaluated through the Trust.
The evaluation process is thorough but slow. Trust administrators must review documentation, verify connections to Scouting, apply the matrix system, and calculate final values. With over 82,000 claims filed and only a fraction evaluated after two years, the process continues to drag.
Current Distribution Status and Payment Structure
As of January 2025, over 25% of the 58,000 matrix claims had been determined, with the Trust having determined nearly 21,547 claims as of February 1, 2025.
That means roughly 75% of claims—approximately 43,500 claims—still await final determination. Tens of thousands of survivors are still awaiting information on their approved claim values.
Most survivors will receive an initial partial payment representing a portion of their total award, with the remaining portion held back until the Trust finalizes all claims and ensures enough funding to cover all eligible survivors.
This is why survivors who received determinations months ago have been paid less than 2% of their claim values. The Trust is distributing small initial payments while holding the bulk of awards until all claims are evaluated and total liabilities are known.
The Trust also must liquidate illiquid assets it received, oil and gas properties, art collections, and notes receivable, converting these to cash for distribution. This process takes time.
Get the Financial Support You Deserve During This Extended Wait
If you’re a Boy Scouts of America abuse survivor with a filed claim and you’re facing financial pressure while waiting for full payment distribution, Direct Legal Funding can help with a Boy Scout abuse lawsuit cash advance.
The complexity of this settlement, with appeals, escrow holds, insurance litigation, uncertain timelines, and the likelihood of reduced payments, creates significant risk.
We accept that risk as the cost of doing business. You remain protected.
The process is straightforward and fast. Most survivors receive approval decisions within 24-48 hours, with funds arriving in their bank accounts within several business days after approval.
We understand urgency. We know that many survivors are elderly and don’t have years to wait. We know that financial crises don’t wait for convenient timing. We move quickly to help when you need it.
Use the money however you need. Pay for therapy costs. Cover medical bills and medications. Pay rent or mortgage. Buy groceries. Cover utilities. Pay down high-interest debt. Handle family emergencies. Help with transportation costs. Pay for anything that helps you survive and maintain stability while waiting for your settlement.
There are no restrictions. There’s no monitoring of how you spend it.
You’ve already waited five years. Don’t spend the next one or two years in financial crisis.
Let us help you maintain financial stability while you wait for that payment to actually arrive. The settlement is meant to help you heal and rebuild. Pre-settlement funding ensures you can start that process now, not years from now after you’ve accumulated massive debt and suffered through preventable financial hardship.
Contact Direct Legal Funding Now
Call us at 866-941-5588
Representatives are available to discuss your situation confidentially. There’s no pressure, no obligation, and no cost for the initial consultation.
We’ll answer your questions honestly. We’ll explain exactly how funding works. We’ll help you understand whether pre-settlement funding makes sense for your specific circumstances, your claim value, your timeline, and your financial needs.
If funding isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you. If it makes sense, we’ll move quickly to help.
Our secure online application takes just minutes to complete. Provide basic information about your Boy Scouts settlement claim: what type of claim you filed, whether you’ve received a determination, your expected payment amount if known.
You deserve justice. And justice delayed for years is justice diminished.
Contact the Direct Legal Funding team today. Get the stability you need while you wait for the justice you’ve earned.
Direct Legal Funding Disclaimer
Direct Legal Funding is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice regarding Boy Scouts of America settlements or any legal matter. We provide pre-settlement funding to survivors with filed claims who are awaiting settlement payment distribution.
Pre-settlement funding is subject to approval based on claim verification and evaluation. Terms, conditions, and availability vary by situation and jurisdiction. All funding is structured as a non-recourse advance, meaning you owe nothing if settlement payments are not received for any reason, and repayment obligations are adjusted proportionally if you receive less than your full approved claim value.
The information on this page does not constitute legal or financial advice. You should consult with your attorney before making any financial decisions related to your settlement claim. You should also consult with a qualified tax advisor regarding any tax implications of settlement payments or pre-settlement funding.
Direct Legal Funding respects your privacy and maintains strict confidentiality regarding all applications and funding arrangements. We are not affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, Scouting America, the Scouting Settlement Trust, settlement administrators, Judge Barbara J. Houser, or any attorneys involved in the bankruptcy proceedings.
Settlement payment timelines, claim values, and Trust distributions described on this page are based on publicly available information and may change. Actual payment amounts and timing may differ from projections. We make no guarantees about settlement payment amounts, timing, or Trust distributions.
