For the Target wage transparency settlement (Brinkman v. Target Corporation), online submission is the fastest and most reliable way to file your claim, but only if you have your Notice ID and PIN from the mailed settlement notice. If you have lost that notice or never received one, mailing or emailing a PDF claim form is your best alternative since those methods do not require the ID and PIN login credentials.
The official claim deadline is March 31, 2026, and the settlement fund totals $2.225 million, with a maximum individual payout of $1,711.93 depending on how many valid claims are filed. We will also cover a separate active Target-related settlement you may qualify for, and flag common mistakes that could get your claim rejected.
Table of Contents
- Should You Submit the Target Settlement Form by Mail or Online?
- What the Target Wage Transparency Settlement Covers and Who Qualifies
- How the Online Claim Process Works Step by Step
- Filing by Mail or Email — When It Makes Sense and What to Watch For
- Common Mistakes That Can Delay or Invalidate Your Claim
- Other Active Target Settlements You Should Know About
- What Happens After You File Your Target Settlement Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions
Should You Submit the Target Settlement Form by Mail or Online?
The answer depends on one thing: whether you still have the settlement notice that was mailed to you. The online claim portal at epoasettlement-jan-02-2026.com/form/claim requires a unique Notice ID and PIN printed on that physical notice. If you have those credentials, filing online takes a few minutes, and you get instant confirmation that your claim was received. That confirmation matters. It removes any ambiguity about whether your submission made it in before the March 31, 2026 deadline. If you do not have your Notice ID and PIN, the online portal will not let you proceed. In that case, you have two alternatives.
You can download the PDF claim form from the settlement website, fill it out, and either email it to info@EPOASettlement-Jan-02-2026.com or print it and mail it to Brinkman v. Target Corp., c/o Simpluris, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799. Neither the email nor the mail option requires the ID and PIN. The tradeoff is that you will not receive the same instant digital confirmation that the online portal provides. For most people who still have their notice in hand, online is the clear winner. It is faster, provides a receipt, and eliminates the risk of postal delays. But the mail and email options exist specifically as a safety net for those who cannot access the online system, and they are equally valid methods of filing.
What the Target Wage Transparency Settlement Covers and Who Qualifies
This settlement resolves a class action lawsuit alleging that Target omitted pay ranges and salary information from job postings in Washington State, violating the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. If you applied for a job at Target in Washington State between January 1, 2023 and July 26, 2025, you are likely an eligible class member. It does not matter whether you were hired, rejected, or never heard back. The claim is about the application process itself, not the employment outcome. The $2.225 million fund will be divided among all valid claimants, so the actual payout depends on participation. The maximum possible payment is $1,711.93 per person, but if a large number of eligible applicants file claims, individual payments will be smaller.
This is standard for class action settlements of this type. There is no minimum guaranteed amount, and the final per-person figure will not be known until after the claims deadline passes and the administrator tallies valid submissions. However, if you applied for Target jobs outside of Washington State during that period, this settlement does not apply to you. The EPOA is a Washington State law, and the class is defined strictly by applications submitted for positions in that state. Even if you lived in Washington but applied for a remote role based in another state, your eligibility may be questionable. When in doubt, contact the settlement administrator at 833-647-9003.
How the Online Claim Process Works Step by Step
Filing online starts with visiting the official settlement website at epoasettlement-jan-02-2026.com/form/claim. you will be prompted to enter your Notice ID and PIN, both of which are printed on the physical settlement notice mailed to eligible class members. Once logged in, the form asks for basic identifying information to verify your claim. The process is straightforward and should take no more than a few minutes for most people. After submitting, you should receive an on-screen confirmation and potentially an email receipt depending on the system. Save or screenshot this confirmation immediately.
It is your proof that you filed before the March 31, 2026 deadline, and if any dispute arises later about whether your claim was timely, that digital record is far more useful than a postal receipt or nothing at all. One real limitation: the online system is tied to that Notice ID and PIN. If you enter the wrong credentials, the system will not let you file. If you lost your notice, do not guess at your ID number or try random combinations. Call the administrator directly at 833-647-9003 to request your credentials. They can look you up in the system and either reissue your notice information or advise you to use the PDF form instead.
Filing by Mail or Email — When It Makes Sense and What to Watch For
The mail and email options use a downloadable PDF claim form available on the settlement website. You fill it out, and either email it as an attachment to info@EPOASettlement-Jan-02-2026.com or print it and mail it to the Simpluris address in Santa Ana, California. The key advantage of these methods is that they do not require a Notice ID or PIN, making them accessible to anyone who lost their settlement notice or never received one. Email submission sits in a middle ground between online and mail. It is faster than postal mail and creates a digital paper trail in your sent folder, but it does not provide the same instant, system-generated confirmation that the online portal does. You are relying on the administrator to receive and process the email, and unless you get a reply confirming receipt, there is some ambiguity.
Consider sending a follow-up email if you do not hear anything within a week. Mailing a physical claim form is the slowest option and carries the most risk. The deadline is based on the postmark date, not the date the administrator receives your envelope. So if you mail your form on March 31, 2026, and it is postmarked that day, it counts as timely even if it arrives in April. But if you wait until March 30 and your local post office does not postmark it until April 1, your claim is late. Use certified mail or request a receipt at the counter to document your mailing date. Do not drop it in a blue collection box on the last day and hope for the best.
Common Mistakes That Can Delay or Invalidate Your Claim
The most frequent problem is missing the deadline entirely. March 31, 2026 is a hard cutoff. For online claims, the submission must be completed by that date. For mailed claims, the envelope must be postmarked by that date. There is no grace period, and settlement administrators are not known for making exceptions. Another common issue is incomplete forms. If you use the PDF claim form and leave required fields blank, the administrator may reject your submission or contact you for clarification, which adds delay and uncertainty.
Double-check that your name, address, and contact information are accurate and legible before submitting. If you are mailing a handwritten form, print clearly. Illegible information can lead to processing errors. A less obvious mistake is filing duplicate claims through multiple methods. If you submit online and also mail a paper form, the administrator may flag your claim for manual review, which slows things down. Pick one method and stick with it. If you are worried that your mailed claim might not arrive in time, do not also file online as a backup. Instead, switch entirely to the online or email method if you still have time.
Other Active Target Settlements You Should Know About
The Brinkman wage transparency case is not the only active settlement involving Target. A separate $17.5 million Visa/Mastercard/Discover settlement covers consumers who used these credit cards at Walmart, Target, or CVS in Illinois. The claim deadline for that case is May 19, 2026, so there is still time to file if you qualify.
The two settlements are completely unrelated and have different administrators, different eligibility requirements, and different claim forms. If you are thinking about the older Target data breach settlement from 2013, that ship has sailed. The $10 million consumer fund and the $18.5 million multistate attorney general settlement are both permanently closed. The consumer claim deadline was July 31, 2015, and there is no way to file a late claim on that case.
What Happens After You File Your Target Settlement Claim
Once the March 31, 2026 deadline passes, the settlement administrator will review all submitted claims to verify eligibility. This review process typically takes several weeks to a few months, after which the court will hold a final approval hearing. If the settlement receives final court approval and your claim is validated, payment will be issued. The exact per-person amount will depend on the total number of valid claims filed against the $2.225 million fund.
Class action settlement payouts are not instant. From the time you file to the time a check or payment arrives, expect a wait of several months at minimum. Keep your contact information current with the administrator, and do not throw away any correspondence related to the case. If you move before payments are issued, update your address by calling 833-647-9003.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum payout for the Target wage transparency settlement?
The maximum individual payment is $1,711.93, but the actual amount depends on how many valid claims are filed against the $2.225 million fund. More claimants means smaller individual payments.
Can I file a claim if I lost my settlement notice?
Yes. You can download the PDF claim form from the settlement website and submit it by email or mail without needing the Notice ID and PIN. You can also call the administrator at 833-647-9003 to request your credentials for online filing.
What is the deadline to submit a Target settlement claim?
March 31, 2026. Online and email claims must be submitted by that date. Mailed claims must be postmarked by that date.
Do I qualify if I applied for a Target job outside Washington State?
No. This settlement only covers applicants who applied for Target jobs in Washington State between January 1, 2023 and July 26, 2025. Applications for positions in other states are not eligible.
Can I file claims for both the wage transparency settlement and the Visa/Mastercard settlement?
If you meet the eligibility requirements for both, yes. They are separate settlements with different criteria. The Visa/Mastercard/Discover settlement covers credit card users at Target, Walmart, or CVS in Illinois and has a May 19, 2026 deadline.