There is no Arise settlement claim form to fill out. The Federal Trade Commission is mailing checks automatically to 98,254 people it identified from Arise’s own records as having worked on the platform between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023.1Federal Trade Commission. Arise Settlement If you’re eligible, a check should already be on its way or in your hands. The single step that matters is cashing or depositing it within 90 days of the date printed on the check.
Why There’s No Form to File
The FTC’s Arise refund program works differently from a typical class action. Rather than asking workers to come forward, the FTC and its settlement administrator, Epiq, built the recipient list from Arise’s internal platform records and mailed checks directly.1Federal Trade Commission. Arise Settlement You don’t submit a form, register on a portal, or send documentation. The total pool is more than $6.7 million, distributed from the $7 million the FTC required Arise to pay under a July 2024 order that found the company made deceptive earnings claims in violation of the FTC Act and the Business Opportunity Rule.2Federal Trade Commission. FTC Sends More Than $6.7 Million to Consumers Impacted by Gig Work Company’s Deceptive Earnings Claims
If you’re searching for a form because you believe you’re owed money but nothing has arrived, skip ahead to the section on workers who didn’t receive a check.
If You Received a Check
Take it to your bank and cash or deposit it like any other check. Do this within 90 days of the date on the check. The payment is a real FTC refund, and no legitimate part of the process requires you to pay a fee, hand over your Social Security number, or share bank details before the check can be used.1Federal Trade Commission. Arise Settlement
If the check has already expired, call the settlement administrator at 1-888-998-8059 to ask whether funds remain available for a reissue.3Federal Trade Commission. Refund Programs: Frequently Asked Questions The same number handles reissues tied to a name change, a spelling correction, or a death in the family; those requests have to be submitted in writing by mail or email after the initial call.
If You Worked for Arise but Didn’t Get a Check
Call 1-888-998-8059. A few things could explain a missing check. Your address in Arise’s records may be out of date, the platform records connecting you to the eligible period may be incomplete, or your work may fall outside the January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023 window that the FTC used to define eligibility.1Federal Trade Commission. Arise Settlement The administrator can confirm whether you’re on the list and update your mailing address.
One boundary worth knowing: this FTC settlement isn’t the only legal action involving Arise. The U.S. Department of Labor sued the company in 2023 over allegations it misclassified more than 22,000 workers as independent contractors.4U.S. Department of Labor. US Department of Labor Sues National Customer Support Service The District of Columbia Attorney General separately reached a $3 million settlement covering DC-based agents, with its own claims administrator contacting eligible workers.5Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Attorney General Schwalb Secures $3 Million For Workers and DC in Wage Theft Enforcement Action Those are separate proceedings with separate notices. If you think one of them applies to you, work from the paperwork or agency contact tied to that specific case.
Watch Out for Claim Form Scams
Because the FTC refund doesn’t require a form, anyone contacting you with a “claim form,” “processing fee,” or “verification” request tied to Arise is almost certainly running a scam. A few rules hold across every FTC refund:
- The FTC will never ask you to pay a fee to receive your check.
- The FTC will never ask for your Social Security number or bank account information to release your payment.
- Don’t click links in emails claiming to be from the FTC, Epiq, or a payment processor. Type ftc.gov/refunds directly into your browser.
A genuine FTC payment arrives by mail with documentation explaining the case. You can verify the settlement and the correct phone number for questions at ftc.gov/refunds.3Federal Trade Commission. Refund Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
Taxes on the Payment
Expect the payment to be taxable. The IRS treats settlement money received for economic losses — lost wages, lost business income — as reportable income unless it compensates for a personal physical injury.6Internal Revenue Service. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments The Arise refund compensates for deceptive earnings claims, not injuries.
If the settlement administrator classifies the payment as nonemployee compensation and the amount is over $600, you may receive a Form 1099-NEC.7Internal Revenue Service. Am I Required to File a Form 1099 or Other Information Return? Even if no form arrives, the income is still reportable. Any interest included in the payment is taxed as interest income on line 2b of Form 1040.8Internal Revenue Service. Settlement Taxability (Publication 4345) Setting aside a portion of the check for taxes is safer than spending it all; a tax professional can tell you exactly how to report it.
Effect on Public Benefits
If you receive Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, or another means-tested program, a lump-sum settlement can temporarily affect eligibility. Those payments are generally counted as income in the month received and can push resources above program limits, particularly for disabled or elderly Medicaid recipients who face strict resource caps. Before depositing the check, contact your local benefits office or a legal aid organization to understand the rules for your specific program and whether you need to spend down or segregate the funds.