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Amazon is sending more money to eligible Prime customers under an expanded $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, and the pool of people who can receive payments has grown. The settlement requires Amazon to provide up to $1.5 billion in consumer refunds after the FTC alleged that the company enrolled millions of people in Prime without their consent and made cancellation difficult, allegations Amazon has denied. As of September 2026, more than $845 million had already been distributed, and a new payment phase began October 1.
The Refund Program Has Expanded
The latest change comes from a revised settlement order approved by a federal court after the FTC and Amazon agreed to accelerate the remaining consumer payments. The original refund program focused on a narrower group of Prime customers, but the revised order expands eligibility to additional consumers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits during a qualifying 12-month period. The maximum total payment has also increased from $51 to $200 for eligible customers.
Who Can Qualify for a Refund
To qualify under the revised order, a consumer must be a U.S. Amazon Prime customer and must have enrolled through one of the Prime enrollment processes challenged by the FTC or tried to cancel through Amazon’s online cancellation process but was unable to do so between June 23, 2019, and June 23, 2025. The consumer also must have used no more than 20 Prime benefits during any 12-month period following enrollment. Eligible Prime benefits can include services such as Prime Video and Prime Music.
Millions More Customers Are Now Included
The new phase specifically adds consumers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits during a one-year period and were not included in earlier payment phases. Amazon began issuing these additional automatic payments October 1, 2026, meaning people who previously did not qualify for the earlier distribution may now be included. The expansion does not mean every Prime subscriber will receive money, because the settlement still requires customers to meet the specific enrollment, cancellation and usage conditions.
You Do Not Need to File Another Claim
One of the biggest changes is that eligible customers in the expanded payment group do not need to submit a new claim or complete additional paperwork. Amazon is responsible for distributing the payments automatically through electronic payment methods such as PayPal or Venmo, or by mailed check. The FTC says eligible consumers should receive their refund by April 2027, although payments are being distributed in stages rather than all at once.
The Maximum Payment Is Now $200
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The headline figure is now $200, but that does not mean every eligible Prime customer will receive that amount. Earlier payments were capped at $51, and customers who already received a payment can potentially receive up to another $149 if the conditions for the supplemental distribution are met, bringing their total to $200. The actual amount depends on the customer’s eligibility and the payment rules under the settlement.
Amazon Has Already Paid More Than $845 Million
The latest round is part of a much larger consumer-redress program that has already sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Prime customers. The FTC said Amazon had issued more than $845 million in consumer payments as of September 2026, out of the $1.5 billion designated for refunds under the settlement. The company is also required to pay a separate $1 billion civil penalty to the government.
Payments Can Expire
Getting a refund notification does not necessarily mean the money can sit untouched indefinitely. The FTC says electronic payments and mailed checks have a 60-day acceptance period, so eligible consumers should pay attention when a payment arrives and follow the instructions provided with it. The federal court order also specifies deadlines for accepting payments in the expanded distribution, making it important not to ignore a legitimate payment once it is received.
Watch Out for Amazon Refund Scams
The size of the settlement also makes it an attractive target for scammers pretending to offer access to the money. The FTC says it is not contacting consumers about Amazon refunds, and neither the FTC nor Amazon will ask people to pay a fee to receive their money. Consumers should be especially cautious about unexpected calls, texts or emails requesting payment, passwords, banking information or other sensitive details in exchange for a guaranteed refund.
What Prime Customers Should Know Now
The expanded Amazon refund program gives more consumers a chance to receive money without filing another claim, but eligibility still depends on the specific circumstances of their Prime enrollment, cancellation attempt and benefit usage. Payments of up to $200 are possible under the revised settlement, with automatic distributions continuing into 2027, while Amazon has already paid more than $845 million to eligible consumers. For anyone expecting a payment, the safest approach is to monitor legitimate payment channels, accept a valid refund within the required window and remember that no legitimate representative will demand money in exchange for receiving it.