Federal Bureau of Prisons $7.9M Disabled Veteran Settlement

U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons

Veterans with a 30% or higher service-connected disability rating whom the Federal Bureau of Prisons terminated employment or withdrew a conditional job offer between Aug. 20, 2018, and June 17, 2025, may qualify to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

The U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons agreed to pay $7.9 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging it denied employment opportunities to certain veterans by failing to properly consider current medical documentation and removing applicants from consideration based on requests for medical information or Veterans Affairs disability ratings.

Who are the class members?

The class includes all disabled veterans with a 30% or higher service-connected disability rating for whom the Federal Bureau of Prisons, during the period from Aug. 20, 2018, through June 17, 2025, either:

Terminated their employment or withdrew their conditional job offer because the BOP did not rely on current medical documentation to determine if they were medically qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without an accommodation OR
Removed from consideration as an applicant for employment because they did not provide requested information about their medical condition, medical history and/or Veterans Affairs disability rating

If an individual received a notice by email or mail from the Angeion Group, the Federal Bureau of Prisons' records show they are a class member.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $7.9 million. The amount each class member receives depends on several factors, including the number of valid claims, the severity of harm they suffered and the details they provided on the claim form.

First, the settlement administrator will deduct attorneys’ fees and costs, settlement administration costs and required training costs from the total fund.

Then, it will distribute the remaining funds to class members who submit valid claims using a points-based formula that considers:

Whether the claimant was qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation
Whether Federal Bureau of Prisons later employed the claimant
Whether the claimant is still interested and qualified for employment
The extent of harm the claimant suffered (lost income, emotional or physical pain, out-of-pocket expenses, etc.)
Level of participation in the case (such as serving as a class agent)

How to claim a Federal Bureau of Prisons payment

Class members can file a claim online or download, print, complete and mail the PDF claim form to the settlement administrator. The claim deadline is Nov. 7, 2025.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Bamford Class Action Claims Administrator c/o Angeion Group, Attn: Claim Forms, 1650 Arch St. Suite 2210 Philadelphia, PA 19103

Is proof or documentation necessary to submit a claim?

Yes. Claimants must provide detailed information on the claim form, including:

Proof of veteran status and 30% or higher disability rating, such as service branch, dates of service and disability rating details
Details about applications to the Bureau of Prisons, including dates, positions applied for and outcomes
Information about the harm suffered, such as lost income, emotional distress or out-of-pocket expenses

If an an individual applied to the Bureau of Prisons multiple times, they should detail each application on the claim form.

Payout options

Paper check
Electronic funds transfer

Claimants will receive their award in two or three installments, depending on the status of employment evaluations and late claims. The first payment will be 90% of the calculated award with the remainder distributed after the settlement administrator completes employment evaluations and processes claims.

$7.9 million settlement fund breakdown

The $7,900,000 settlement fund incudes:

Settlement administration costs: To be determined
Attorneys' fees and expenses: Up to $2,633,333.33
Training costs for bureau employees: Up to $10,000
Payments to eligible class members: Remaining funds

Important dates

Objection deadline: Nov. 7, 2025
Deadline to file a claim: Nov. 7, 2025

When is the Bamford v. Bondi payout date?

Class members should receive their first payment approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval and resolves any appeals.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit alleged the Federal Bureau of Prisons had a policy or practice of denying employment to veterans with a 30% or higher disability rating. The lawsuit claimed the bureau failed to conduct individualized assessments using current medical documentation and removed applicants from consideration for not providing requested medical or Veterans Affairs disability information.

The settlement resolves these claims, provides compensation to affected veterans and requires the BOP to change its policies and practices regarding the evaluation of veterans’ medical qualifications.