Asbestos Trust Funds: How Mesothelioma Claims & Payouts Work
Asbestos trust funds are court-supervised funds that bankrupt asbestos manufacturers were ordered to set up to compensate mesothelioma and asbestos-cancer victims, an estimated $30 billion or more has been set aside.
Settlements Reached
$6.1 million
$4.75 million
$3.3 million
$3.2 million
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be able to claim against one or more of these trusts without going to trial, and separately from any lawsuit or VA benefits. This page explains what the trusts are, who qualifies, how payouts are decided, the major trusts, and how to file.
What asbestos trust funds are, and why they exist
- $30 billion+ estimated to be set aside across asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
- No trial required, most trust claims are paid administratively.
- Separate from lawsuits and VA benefits, you can pursue all three.
- Multiple trusts, many victims qualify for several at once.
Who can file an asbestos trust-fund claim
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis from a covered company’s products, or the surviving family of someone who has died, may file. That includes industrial and construction workers, U.S. military veterans, and family members exposed indirectly through take-home (secondary) exposure. Surviving spouses and children can file on behalf of a deceased loved one, see surviving-spouse claims.
Major asbestos trust funds
| Trust (Responsible Company) | Product Type | Common Exposure Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Johns-Manville (Manville Trust) | Insulation & building products | One of the first and largest asbestos trusts |
| Owens Corning / Fibreboard | Insulation (e.g., Kaylo) | Building & industrial insulation |
| W. R. Grace | Insulation, fireproofing, vermiculite | Industrial & construction products |
| Babcock & Wilcox | Boilers & power-plant equipment | Power, refinery & Navy exposure |
| Armstrong World Industries | Floor tile & insulation | Construction materials |
| U.S. Gypsum (USG) | Joint compound & wallboard | Construction trades |
| Pittsburgh Corning | Unibestos pipe insulation | Industrial & shipyard insulation |
| North American Refractories (NARCO) | Refractory brick & cement | Steel, refinery & furnace work |
How asbestos trust-fund payouts are decided
Each trust sets its own rules, but the mechanics are similar. A trust assigns a value to a qualifying claim, either a pre-set scheduled value for an expedited claim or, on the individual-review track, a value based on the specific facts. The trust then pays a payment percentage of that value. Each trust sets and periodically adjusts its payment percentage so that money remains for future victims, which is why payouts vary from trust to trust and over time. Because most people were exposed to several manufacturers’ products, recoveries are typically built from multiple trusts combined. To estimate a specific claim, use our case-value review or see real asbestos settlements.
How to file an asbestos trust-fund claim
An attorney handles the investigation and filing so your family can focus on care. See our overview of mesothelioma compensation options.
1. Confirm the diagnosis
Medical records establishing mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, or asbestosis
2. Reconstruct the exposure
Jobsites, products, military service, and time periods, often built with employment records and co-worker testimony
3. Match to responsible trusts
Identify every manufacturer (and trust) tied to the exposure; many victims qualify for several
4. File the claim package
Submit diagnosis and exposure evidence to each trust under its scheduled or individual-review track
5. Receive payment
The trust assigns a value and pays its current payment percentage, usually without a trial
Trust funds vs. lawsuits vs. VA benefits
A trust claim is only one source of compensation. These paths are separate, and pursuing one does not bar the others:
| Path | Source of Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos trust-fund claim | Bankrupt manufacturers’ trusts | Administrative claim, usually no trial; can claim multiple trusts |
| Personal-injury / wrongful-death lawsuit | Still-solvent companies | Against companies that have not filed bankruptcy (Texas §71.004 deadlines) |
| VA benefits | U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs | Service-connected mesothelioma, separate from any trust or lawsuit |
Deadlines: Act Promptly
Why families choose Danziger & De Llano
Danziger & De Llano, LLP has spent decades tracing asbestos exposure to the specific products and trusts responsible and pursuing every available source of compensation, trusts, lawsuits, and veterans’ benefits. Cases are handled on contingency: no fee unless we recover for you.
Danziger & De Llano, LLP · 440 Louisiana Street, Suite 1212, Houston, TX 77002 · 1-866-222-9990
Find out which trusts you can claim
If asbestos exposure caused mesothelioma or asbestos cancer in your family, you may be eligible for one or more trust funds. Call 1-866-222-9990 for a free, confidential review, we identify the responsible trusts and file for you. No fee unless we recover.
Related guides from Danziger & De Llano
Frequently asked questions about asbestos trust fund claims
What are asbestos trust funds and how do they pay out to victims?
Asbestos trust funds are court-supervised pools of money that bankrupt asbestos companies were required to set aside under Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to pay people their products injured. Most trusts pay either by expedited review, which uses a fixed scheduled value per disease, or by individual review of the claim’s specific facts. Trusts rarely pay full value; each sets a payment percentage that can change over time. Mesothelioma claims are valued higher than other asbestos conditions. Current per-trust amounts are listed at mesothelioma-funds-administration.org/trusts/ and mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org/data/trust-fund-tracker/.
Which trust funds can I claim against for my asbestos exposure and how?
You can claim against any trust whose bankrupt company made or supplied a product you were exposed to, and most victims qualify for more than one. Danziger & De Llano builds your full exposure history across jobs, jobsites, military service, and products, matches each one to the right trust, gathers the diagnosis and exposure proof each trust requires, files expedited claims where possible, and files against multiple trusts and any lawsuit at the same time. Filing a complete claim the first time avoids deficiency delays. Call 1-866-222-9990.
How long does an asbestos trust fund claim take to pay?
Expedited (scheduled) trust claims often pay within months once filed complete and approved, while individual-review claims and lawsuits can take longer. Danziger & De Llano files expedited claims and pursues trust money while any lawsuit proceeds, which is designed to get clients paid faster. No firm can guarantee a specific timeframe, and every case is different.
Can I claim against more than one trust fund?
Yes. Most victims were exposed to products from several bankrupt companies over their careers, so they qualify for multiple trusts. Danziger & De Llano builds your full exposure history to find every trust you can claim against and files them together.
Do trust funds pay the full claim value?
No. Trusts set a payment percentage so the money lasts for future victims, so you typically receive a fraction of the scheduled value, and that percentage can change. Current percentages by trust are tracked at mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org/data/trust-fund-tracker/.
Can I file a trust claim and a lawsuit at the same time?
Yes. Trust claims are against bankrupt companies, while lawsuits are against companies still in business, so they do not cancel each other out. Danziger & De Llano coordinates both, along with any VA benefits, so you can start receiving compensation sooner.
Where can I find the list of asbestos trust funds and amounts?
The current per-trust list and scheduled values live at mesothelioma-funds-administration.org/trusts/ and the trust fund tracker at mesothelioma-lung-cancer.org/data/trust-fund-tracker/. Danziger & De Llano matches your specific exposure to those trusts and files the claims for you.
Does Danziger & De Llano take cases outside Texas?
Yes. The firm is based in Houston, with offices in Houston and Alvin, and takes cases from clients across the United States, plus clients now living in Canada, the United Kingdom, and South America when the exposure happened in the U.S. Call 1-866-222-9990.
Prepared by the legal team at Danziger & De Llano, LLP. For educational purposes only; not legal advice. Trust rules, payment percentages, and deadlines vary and change over time. This is attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Related: See the source-cited mesothelioma & asbestos statistics (incidence, survival, deaths, and who is at risk).
Trust details: for a trust-by-trust breakdown of the major asbestos trusts, including the Manville, Owens Corning Fibreboard, Pittsburgh Corning, and Combustion Engineering trusts, see the Mesothelioma Funds Administration asbestos trust directory.
Legally reviewed by Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano, LLP, admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1993 (Bar No. 00788880); J.D., Northwestern University School of Law. Last reviewed: June 2026.