Mesothelioma trust fund: what each trust pays
People with mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the thin tissue around the lungs, chest wall, and abdomen, get paid by a mesothelioma trust fund. Those manufacturers that went bankrupt had to set this money aside for people their asbestos products harmed. Most patients submit claims to many trusts together, often 20 or more, with totals averaging between $300,000 and $400,000.
Values for mesothelioma claims at 39 trusts
| Trust | Mesothelioma | Share paid | Paid today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johns-Manville | $350,000 | 5.6% | $19,600 |
| ARTRA | $275,000 | 0.7% | $1,925 |
| United Gilsonite | $259,614 | 3.35% | $8,697 |
| Owens Corning / FibreboardOwens Corning claims | $215,000 | 4.3% | $9,245 |
| Owens Corning / FibreboardFibreboard claims | $135,000 | 3.5% | $4,725 |
| Quigley | $200,000 | 13.3% | $26,600 |
| Federal-Mogul | $200,000 | 2.9% | $5,800 |
| Flintkote | $184,000 | 15% | $27,600 |
| W. R. Grace | $180,000 | 30.1% | $54,180 |
| Raytech (Raymark) | $179,760 | 1.35% | $2,427 |
| Pittsburgh Corning | $175,000 | 19% | $33,250 |
| Motors Liquidation (old GM) | $175,000 | 10.3% | $18,025 |
| ASARCO | $170,000 | 35% | $59,500 |
| A. P. Green | $165,694 | 6% | $9,942 |
| USG (United States Gypsum) | $155,000 | 10% | $15,500 |
| ACandS | $150,000 | 2.89% | $4,335 |
| T H Agriculture & Nutrition | $150,000 | 16.3% | $24,450 |
| Duro Dyne | $147,141 | 20% | $29,428 |
| Congoleum | $132,103 | 8.67% | $11,453 |
| Keene | $125,000 | 1.05% | $1,313 |
| Brauer Supply | $125,000 | 9.5% | $11,875 |
| Maremont | $119,543 | 28.4% | $33,950 |
| Armstrong World Industries | $110,000 | 7.8% | $8,580 |
| Leslie Controls | $100,000 | 6.25% | $6,250 |
| Paddock (Owens-Illinois) | $100,000 | 65% | $65,000 |
| Babcock & Wilcox | $90,000 | 4.3% | $3,870 |
| Christy Refractories | $90,000 | 55% | $49,500 |
| Bondex | $80,000 | 29.5% | $23,600 |
| NARCO | $75,000 | 100% | $75,000 |
| Combustion Engineering | $75,000 | 15.3% | $11,475 |
| Kaiser Aluminum | $70,000 | 10.6% | $7,420 |
| Hercules Chemical | $70,000 | 2% | $1,400 |
| Burns and Roe | $60,000 | 36.87% | $22,122 |
| Fuller-Austin | $58,500 | 45% | $26,325 |
| Yarway | $55,000 | 27.5% | $15,125 |
| National Gypsum | $22,500 | 45% | $10,125 |
| Shook & Fletcher | $22,000 | 58% | $12,760 |
| H. K. Porter | $20,000 | 3% | $600 |
| U.S. Mineral Products | $10,000 | 32% | $3,200 |
Each trust lists its scheduled value on a claim value page or in its distribution procedures. To get "paid today," multiply that first figure by the percentage the trust pays right now.
Ask which trusts fit a mesothelioma claim.
How does a trust figure out a mesothelioma payout?
Each trust assigns a starting dollar amount, called a scheduled value, to every illness. To keep funds available, the trust applies a payment percentage that determines the share paid on each dollar now. As an example, the Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust uses a $110,000 value, paying 7.8% today for a total of $8,580.
Individual payouts differ greatly in size. Payments range from $3,870 at Babcock & Wilcox up to $75,000 at NARCO and $65,000 at the Owens-Illinois Asbestos Trust.
Today's rates and the oldest trust
The first trust, Johns-Manville, began in 1988 with $2.5 billion. An approved claim receives $19,600 today, which is 5.6% of the $350,000 value. Of 54 active trusts, 48 list their current rates, which span from 0.7% to 100%. Rates often fall as claim numbers rise, so an early filing could result in a higher payout.
How much money remains in asbestos trust funds, and how many of these funds exist?
About $30 billion is currently held by more than 60 active trusts for paying patients and their families. Between 1988 and 2011, companies created more than 60 trusts containing about $37 billion in assets. Since 2011, at least 23 additional trusts have launched, such as the Duro Dyne trust in September 2021. More than $17 billion has been paid out by these funds so far.
Who qualifies for asbestos trust funds?
If your asbestos illness is linked to a product the company sold or made, you qualify. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this cancer usually shows up 20 to 40 years after first exposure. Your claim requires medical records and work history that show:
- A confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer or mesothelioma connected to asbestos.
- Secondhand exposure from fibers on work clothes or direct exposure at work (such as in construction or shipyards) counts.
- Trusts usually set a deadline 2 to 3 years after diagnosis, so you must send your claim before then.
Children and surviving spouses can also file claims for a loved one who has died. Veterans who claim trust money will not see their VA benefits reduced.
Are payments from asbestos trust funds made as installments or a lump sum?
Once a trust finishes processing your claim, it pays the award separately. You get to pick how the trust reviews your claim:
- When you meet set rules, expedited claims (which are fast-track filings) pay a fixed amount.
- Individual reviews examine your history more closely and might pay more, but they take longer.
Processing most claims takes 3 to 6 months, while payments might begin in just 90 days. Annual treatment expenses often exceed $400,000. These payouts help families cover medical bills, lost wages, travel for treatment, and burial costs.