If you applied for a job at Target in Washington State between January 1, 2023 and July 26, 2025, you could receive an estimated $1,711.93 from the Target Washington Job Posting Pay Transparency Settlement — but that number is not guaranteed. The actual payout depends on how many people file claims, because the settlement uses a pro rata distribution model where the net fund is split equally among all approved claimants. The total settlement fund in *Brinkman v. Target Corporation* (Case No. 24-2-25091-3 SEA) ranges between $1,463,183.85 and $2,225,000, with a scaling mechanism that increases the pot as more people file, but only up to a hard cap of $2,225,000.
That scaling structure creates a real tension for claimants. On one hand, more claims push the fund higher. On the other hand, once the fund hits its ceiling, every additional claimant dilutes everyone else’s share. So while Target’s settlement addresses legitimate violations of Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, the math behind your actual check is more complicated than the headline number suggests.
Table of Contents
- How Much Could You Get from the Target Washington Pay Transparency Settlement?
- What Is Pro Rata Risk and Why It Could Shrink Your Payment
- Who Qualifies for the Target EPOA Settlement
- How to File Your Claim Before the March 31, 2026 Deadline
- The Fund Scaling Mechanism and Its Limits
- Washington’s Pay Transparency Law Changes After the Class Period
- What Happens After Final Approval
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Could You Get from the Target Washington Pay Transparency Settlement?
The settlement guarantees a minimum payment of $1,711.93 per claimant, but only under certain claim volume conditions. Here is how the fund scales: the base settlement amount is $1,463,183.85. If more than 50 percent of eligible class members file claims, the fund grows by $1,711.93 for each additional claimant above that threshold. If the number of claims exceeds 910, the fund increases by $2,500 per additional claimant beyond that mark. The absolute maximum the fund can reach is $2,225,000.
Before any money reaches claimants, the court will deduct attorney fees, litigation costs, and administrative expenses from the total fund. The remaining net amount gets divided equally among all approved claimants. To put this in practical terms, if 500 people file valid claims and the net fund after deductions comes to roughly $1 million, each person would receive around $2,000. But if 1,200 people file and the fund maxes out at $2,225,000 with $700,000 going to fees and costs, each claimant might see closer to $1,270. The named plaintiffs — Landon Brinkman, Meghan McClendon, and Nicole Yount — brought this case in King County Superior Court before Judge Michael R. Scott, alleging that target failed to include wage scales, salary ranges, and benefits descriptions in job postings visible to Washington applicants.
What Is Pro Rata Risk and Why It Could Shrink Your Payment
Pro rata distribution means the settlement fund is divided equally among all valid claimants rather than paying a fixed amount per person. This is standard in class action settlements, but it introduces real uncertainty. The $1,711.93 figure circulating in headlines is an estimate based on a projected number of claims — it is not a locked-in payment amount. The risk is straightforward: the fund has a hard cap of $2,225,000. The scaling mechanism helps offset higher claim volumes, but it stops working once the fund hits that ceiling.
If claim volume is very high — say, several thousand applicants file — the per-person award could drop well below $1,711.93 even after the fund reaches its maximum. This is the core tradeoff of pro rata settlements. However, if claim volume is lower than projected, individual payouts could actually exceed the estimated amount. There is no way to know in advance how many people will file, which means you are making a decision with incomplete information. The important thing to understand is that filing a claim costs you nothing but a few minutes, so the downside of filing is essentially zero even if the per-person amount ends up being modest.
Who Qualifies for the Target EPOA Settlement
Eligibility is based on a single criterion: you must have applied for a Target job in Washington State during the class period of January 1, 2023 through July 26, 2025. This includes applications submitted through Target’s website, in-store kiosks, or any other channel, as long as the job posting was accessible to Washington applicants. The underlying violation involves Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, which requires employers to disclose pay ranges and benefits information in job postings.
Target allegedly failed to include this information in postings that Washington applicants could see. You do not need to have been hired, interviewed, or even contacted by Target — the act of applying during the class period is enough. For example, if you submitted an application for a seasonal cashier position at a Target store in Spokane in November 2023 and never heard back, you are still an eligible class member. The settlement administrator, Simpluris, is handling claims and can be reached at info@EPOASettlement-Jan-02-2026.com or 833-647-9003 if you have questions about your eligibility.
How to File Your Claim Before the March 31, 2026 Deadline
Claims must be filed by March 31, 2026. You can submit your claim through the official settlement website at epoasettlement-jan-02-2026.com. The final approval hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2026 before Judge Michael R. Scott in King County Superior Court. Filing early versus filing late makes no difference to your payout amount — this is not a first-come, first-served situation.
Everyone who files a valid claim by the deadline receives an equal share. However, waiting until the last day introduces risk. If you encounter technical issues with the website or need to gather information about your application history, you may not have time to resolve those problems. The safer approach is to file as soon as possible. If you were mailed a notice from Simpluris, that notice may contain a unique ID number that speeds up the filing process. If you did not receive a notice but believe you applied for a Target job in Washington during the class period, you can still file a claim through the settlement website — you may just need to provide additional information to verify your eligibility.
The Fund Scaling Mechanism and Its Limits
The tiered scaling structure in this settlement is worth understanding because it directly affects what you receive. At the base level, the fund is $1,463,183.85. The first scaling trigger activates when more than 50 percent of class members file claims, adding $1,711.93 per additional claimant. The second trigger kicks in at 910 claims, adding $2,500 per claimant beyond that number. But neither mechanism operates beyond the $2,225,000 cap.
This design creates a scenario where moderate claim volume is actually the best outcome for individual claimants. Too few claims and the fund stays at its minimum, but per-person amounts are higher. Too many claims and the fund maxes out while the denominator keeps growing. The sweet spot — where claimants get the most — is somewhere around the claim volume where the fund has scaled to its maximum but hasn’t been diluted by thousands of additional filers. The limitation here is that no individual claimant can control this outcome. You cannot game the system by waiting to see how many people file because there is no public tracker of claim volume, and the deadline is firm regardless.
Washington’s Pay Transparency Law Changes After the Class Period
On May 20, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed amendments to Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act that took effect on July 27, 2025, right after the class period in this case ended. The amendments added a grace period allowing employers to correct non-compliant job postings before facing liability, a provision that runs through July 27, 2027. These changes do not affect the Target settlement or your eligibility for it.
The class period closed on July 26, 2025 — one day before the amendments took effect. But the legislative shift is worth noting because it signals that Washington recognized its original EPOA requirements created compliance challenges for employers. Future cases involving job posting violations after July 27, 2025 will face a higher bar because employers now get a chance to fix their postings before being sued.
What Happens After Final Approval
Assuming Judge Scott grants final approval at the May 5, 2026 hearing, the settlement administrator will begin processing payments. Checks are typically mailed within 60 to 90 days after final approval, though delays can occur if there are objections or appeals. If the court does not approve the settlement, the case would revert to active litigation, and claimants would receive nothing from this particular agreement.
For Washington job applicants, this settlement represents one of the more concrete outcomes of the state’s pay transparency push. Regardless of the exact per-person amount, the case has already achieved its broader purpose: putting employers on notice that omitting salary ranges from job postings carries real financial consequences. The fact that Target agreed to a fund of up to $2.225 million rather than litigate suggests the company recognized the strength of the claims under the original EPOA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will I get from the Target Washington settlement?
The estimated payment is $1,711.93 per claimant, but the actual amount is pro rata — it depends on how many people file claims. If claim volume is very high, individual payments could drop below that estimate.
Who is eligible for the Target pay transparency settlement?
Anyone who applied for a Target job in Washington State between January 1, 2023 and July 26, 2025. You do not need to have been hired or interviewed.
When is the deadline to file a claim?
March 31, 2026. Claims can be submitted at epoasettlement-jan-02-2026.com.
Will filing a claim cost me anything?
No. Filing is free. Attorney fees and costs are paid from the settlement fund, not by individual claimants.
What if I did not receive a notice in the mail?
You can still file a claim through the settlement website. You may need to provide information about your Target job application to verify eligibility.
When will payments be sent out?
The final approval hearing is May 5, 2026. If approved, checks are typically mailed within 60 to 90 days after that date.