What Are Asbestos Trust Funds?
Asbestos trust funds are special accounts set up by companies that used or made asbestos products. These funds are meant to compensate people who got sick from asbestos exposure.
The first trusts were established in the 1980s by asbestos companies that declared bankruptcy after facing thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits. Many of these companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to stay in business but avoid being held accountable for their actions (as bankrupt companies can’t be sued).
However, bankruptcy courts forced these companies to set up mesothelioma trust funds to pay current and future victims — and there are still billions of dollars available in them today.
You could get hundreds of thousands of dollars or more by filing claims with multiple trusts without ever setting foot in court. Many of the people we’ve helped received their first asbestos trust payouts in 90 days or less.
Qualifications for Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trusts hold billions of dollars meant solely to help people with mesothelioma and other serious asbestos-related illnesses.
You may be able to file claims with an asbestos trust fund if:
- You were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease.
OR - Someone in your family was diagnosed with or passed away from an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma.
Even if you don’t know how you or your loved one was exposed to asbestos, our team can determine if you’re owed money from a mesothelioma trust.
“I don’t think people quite understand how those trust funds are put together. The money is there. It has been put there to meet the needs of mesothelioma families and to pay them. Don’t feel guilty about it.”
– Sheryl, daughter of mesothelioma patient Burlene
Find out if you qualify for asbestos trust fund compensation right now.
Get Money from Asbestos Trusts
Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts in 2025
Mesothelioma compensation fund payouts can help you afford medical expenses and other costs that follow a cancer diagnosis. Asbestos payout timelines may vary, but most claims start paying out compensation in 90 days or less.
The average total payout for mesothelioma trust funds is $300,000 to $400,000.
You may also secure $1 million or more by filing asbestos lawsuits in addition to mesothelioma trust fund claims with our help.
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Factors Affecting Trust Fund Compensation
The amount of compensation you can get from asbestos trust funds depends on a few factors, including:
- How many trusts you qualify for: Different trusts pay different amounts, so your total compensation depends on how many trusts you can file claims with. Most mesothelioma patients are eligible to file claims with multiple trust funds.
- Payment percentages: Each asbestos settlement trust fund pays a part of a claim’s full value based on a set payment percentage. These percentages range from 1% to 100% and are used to make sure there’s enough money left to compensate future mesothelioma victims. The higher the payment percentage, the higher your payout.
- Your diagnosis: Which asbestos-related disease you have also affects your compensation. Mesothelioma patients usually receive higher payouts since their treatments are more expensive and more intensive than those for asbestosis or lung cancer.
An asbestos lawyer, like those at our partner law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, can carefully consider these details to secure the highest possible payouts for you.
Asbestos Trust Fund List
More than 100 companies have established asbestos bankruptcy trusts since the early 1980s. Over 60 of these trusts are still active as of 2025.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have been exposed to products made by asbestos companies in the mesothelioma trust fund list below — and you may qualify for a payout.
Here is a list of asbestos trust funds:
- A-Best Products
- ABB Lummus Global
- AC&S
- A.P. Green
- API, Inc.
- Armstrong World Industries
- ARTRA Group, Inc.
- ASARCO, LLC
- Babcock & Wilcox Co.
- Bondex International/Special Products Holding Corp.
- Brauer Supply Co.
- Burns & Roe Construction Group
- Burns & Roe Enterprises, Inc.
- C.E. Thurston
- Celotex Corp.
- The Christy Refractories Co. LLC
- Combustion Engineering
- Congoleum Corp.
- DuroDyne National Corp.
- Eagle Picher Industries
- Fairbanks International Inc.
- Federal Mogul (T&N, Flexitallic, Ferodo)
- Flintkote Co./Flintkote Mines
- Fuller-Austin
- G-I Holdings, Inc.
- Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC (Anchor Packing Company and Garrison)
- General Motors Corp.
- George V. Hamilton, Inc.
- G-I Holdings, Inc.
- Global Industrial Technologies (Harbison-Walker)
- Hercules Chemical Co.
- H.K. Porter Co.
- Johns Manville Corp.
- J.T. Thorpe Co.
- J.T. Thorpe Inc.
- Kaiser Aluminum
- Keene Corp.
- Kentile Floors
- Leslie Controls, Inc.
- Mallinckrodt
- Maremont Corporation
- Mid-Valley Inc. (Halliburton)
- National Gypsum
- North American Refractories Company (NARCO)
- Owens Corning Corp.
- Owens Corning Fibreboard
- Owens-Illinois
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Plant Insulation Co.
- Plibrico Co.
- Porter-Hayden Co.
- Quigley Co.
- Raymark Corp./Raytech Corp.
- SEPCO
- Shook and Fletcher
- State Insulations Corp.
- Swan Transportation Co.
- T.H. Agriculture and Nutrition, LLC
- Thorpe Insulation Co.
- United Gilsonite Laboratories
- United States Mineral Products
- United States Gypsum Company (USG)
- Utex Industries
- W.R. Grace
- Western MacArthur/Western Asbestos
- Yarway Corporation
Not sure which asbestos trust funds you might qualify for? Our team can help you determine whether you are owed money from any of these trusts and start filing claims. Contact us for help getting trust fund compensation.
How Asbestos Trust Fund Claims Compare to Other Mesothelioma Claims
If you’re seeking compensation for mesothelioma, there are three main sources: asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, and veterans benefits.
- Filed outside the court system.
- Victims can make claims with multiple trusts.
- Average of up to $400,000 in total payouts
- Filed in civil courts.
- Most cases end in a settlement, but some go to trial.
- Average settlement $1M - $1.4M
- Average trial verdict $5M - $11.4M
- Filed with the VA.
- Only U.S. veterans and their families are eligible.
- Married veterans get $4,044.91 per month in tax-free disability compensation
Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion for eligible mesothelioma patients and their families. By filing trust fund claims, you could receive compensation in 90 days or less without going to court. Call us at (866) 608-8933 to see if you qualify. View Transcript.
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Steps for Filing a Mesothelioma Trust Fund Claim
There is a specific process for filing claims with asbestos trust funds and getting financial compensation. Learn about each step in the process below.
1. Choose a Lawyer
The first step to filing asbestos trust fund claims is choosing the right mesothelioma lawyer to help you.
A mesothelioma lawyer can:
- See which mesothelioma trust funds you qualify for
- File claims with each one on your behalf
- Quickly secure mesothelioma trust payouts for you
- See if you can get more compensation from other sources
Our partner mesothelioma lawyers can walk you through the asbestos claims process and work to secure the most compensation possible. Get a Free Case Review to start the conversation.
“My lawyer went out of his way to make sure I understood that my health and welfare came first.”
2. Collect Asbestos Exposure Evidence
Once you choose your mesothelioma lawyer, they will ask for information about your asbestos exposure and diagnosis. This helps them determine which asbestos bankruptcy trust funds you qualify for.
You may need to provide:
- Any information you’ve gathered about your asbestos exposure
- Medical records related to your diagnosis
- Military and/or civilian work history documents
If you’re not sure how you were exposed to asbestos, the attorneys at our partner law firm can help you find out.
The firm has warehouses full of records related to the asbestos industry and worksites that used asbestos-based products.
“We have an extensive database of documents that we’ve collected over 25 years. By utilizing this database, we can get our clients the compensation they deserve.”
– Lisa Nathanson Busch, Partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy
3. File Claims With Mesothelioma Trusts
Once your lawyer has all the needed information, they can file claims on your behalf with each asbestos trust fund you qualify for.
You won’t have to file claims with mesothelioma trust funds yourself, meaning there’s no extra stress or hassle for your family.
Your lawyers may be able to file claims with multiple trusts, depending on which products you were exposed to. Many clients are eligible for asbestos trust fund payouts from many different trusts.
“I don’t know how these companies slept at night, knowing people were being exposed to asbestos, poisoning their bodies. They need to pay anyone who’s been affected by this.”
4. Have Your Claims Reviewed
Once your mesothelioma fund claims have been submitted, your lawyer can determine which review process is best for your case.
There are two ways asbestos trust fund claims are reviewed:
- Expedited review: The trust reviews your claim using predetermined guidelines. If your asbestos trust fund claim meets the criteria, you’ll get paid a set amount of money as specified by the trust.
- Individual review: The trust reviews your claim in closer detail to determine how much compensation you should receive. This takes longer than an expedited review and could award you with more or less money.
5. Receive Payouts From Asbestos Trusts
Once your asbestos trust claim has been reviewed, it will be paid out to you in a process called liquidation. How much money you’ll get depends on your diagnosis, the trust’s payment percentage, and other factors.
Your mesothelioma law firm will notify you how much your trust fund claim will pay and when you can expect to receive compensation. Many people receive their first payouts in 90 days or less.
“One check showed up, and then another check showed up, and then another, and they’re still coming in now. It’s been very satisfying, and what I know is that my wife will be taken care of for the rest of her life after I’m gone.”
Call (866) 608-8933 now to learn how much you could get from mesothelioma trust funds and start the claims process.
Why You Need a Lawyer to File Mesothelioma Trust Fund Claims
A mesothelioma lawyer handles all of the work related to filing trust fund claims and getting compensation, making the process simple for you and your family.
It can be difficult to get money from mesothelioma trust funds without a lawyer’s help.
Asbestos lawyers can help you navigate:
- Eligibility: An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you determine which trust funds you are owed money from and prepare all the documentation needed to ensure claims are filed correctly.
- Payment percentages: Your attorney can explain which trusts operate under payment percentages and how much they are, which can impact your final payout. Percentages may fluctuate over time based on how much money is in the trust when the claim is made.
- Trust fund deadlines: Different from statutes of limitations for lawsuits, asbestos trust funds set their own deadlines to file a claim. These are usually 2-3 years after a mesothelioma diagnosis or the death of a loved one. Asbestos lawyers can make sure your trust fund claims are filed in time.
“We do all of the work for you — the only thing we ask is to share your story.”
A good attorney will clearly explain how they’ll secure mesothelioma trust fund compensation for you and answer any questions you have. Get connected with top lawyers now during a Free Case Review.
See if You’re Eligible for Asbestos Trust Compensation
You and your family deserve to get financial support to help you navigate your mesothelioma diagnosis. Negligent companies hid the risks of asbestos for decades, and thousands of innocent people every year develop asbestos-related diseases as a result.
More than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust fund compensation for victims and their families. Trust fund claims allow you to access some of this money.
Mesothelioma Hope and our team of legal experts can:
- Determine if you’re eligible for trust fund payouts
- File asbestos trust fund claims on your behalf
- Help you understand all of your financial compensation options
See if you can file asbestos trust fund claims or call (866) 608-8933 now to speak to someone who can help.
Mesothelioma Trust Fund FAQs
Is there a mesothelioma trust fund?
Yes. There are funds for asbestos victims called asbestos trust funds. These funds were established by bankrupt companies that made, sold, or distributed asbestos products.
These trusts were created during bankruptcy proceedings to avoid liabilities and compensate people with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer.
To access these funds, asbestos victims work with a lawyer to file a claim proving their illness was caused by exposure to the company’s products.
What is the average payout for asbestos trust funds?
The average payout for asbestos trust funds is $300,000 to $400,000. This is typically the total amount patients or their families receive from all the trusts they’re eligible for.
Your potential payout will vary based on which trusts you can access, the asbestos-related illness you have, and other factors.
An asbestos attorney can help you find out how much money could be available in your case.
How much money is left in the asbestos trust fund?
More than $30 billion is still sitting in mesothelioma trust funds as of 2025. Multiple trust funds exist because many companies tried to avoid responsibility for lawsuits once the dangers of asbestos became clear.
These bankrupt asbestos companies were forced to establish trust funds to compensate people who got sick from their products.
You and your family members can access some of this money if you’re eligible to file claims with asbestos trust funds. Contact us to get started.
How does the asbestos trust fund work?
Asbestos trust funds hold money set aside to provide compensation for people affected by asbestos-caused illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Asbestos victims can file claims with these trust funds to receive a portion of the money that was set aside. If you were diagnosed with or lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for trust fund payouts.
Your legal team will file claims with the trusts of companies that manufactured the products that hurt you or your loved one. The trustees of the funds will then review your case and offer you a payout.
You can file asbestos trust fund claims without ever stepping foot in court, and many people start receiving compensation in 90 days or less.
How many asbestos trust funds are there?
As of 2025, there are over 60 active asbestos trust funds. You may qualify for compensation from multiple trusts, depending on which asbestos-containing products you were exposed to. See if you’re eligible for asbestos trust fund compensation right now.
Are asbestos trust funds taxable?
No, payouts from mesothelioma trust funds are generally not taxable, but an asbestos lawyer can help determine if any taxes may apply in your case.
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