What the Massachusetts settlement covers

In 2023, Massachusetts reached a settlement with Uber and Lyft over how the companies classified drivers and what they owed them. The settlement required both companies to pay money into a fund for Massachusetts drivers who worked during specific periods, and to change some of their practices going forward. The fund was not automatic — drivers had to submit a claim form to receive a payment.

The settlement applied to drivers who worked for either company in Massachusetts between January 1, 2014 and the date the settlement was approved. It did not change driver classification (drivers remained independent contractors), but it did require the companies to pay for certain costs and to provide new protections around deactivation and pay transparency.

Key Takeaways

  • Drivers who worked for Uber or Lyft in Massachusetts during the settlement period had to submit a claim form by a specific deadline to receive payment from the settlement fund.
  • The settlement required both companies to reimburse drivers for certain expenses and to provide written notice before deactivating a driver's account.
  • The amount each driver received depended on how many trips they completed during the covered period, not on a flat payment to all drivers.
  • Drivers who missed the claim deadline were generally not able to recover payment after the deadline passed.

How the payment calculation worked

The settlement fund was divided among drivers based on the number of trips each driver completed during the covered time period. A driver who completed 100 trips received a different share than a driver who completed 1,000 trips. The total fund amount was fixed, so the more drivers who submitted valid claims, the smaller each individual payment became.

Payments were calculated by dividing the total settlement amount by the total number of trips completed by all drivers who submitted claims, then multiplying that per-trip amount by each driver's individual trip count. This meant the exact dollar amount per trip was not known until the claim period closed and all claims were counted.

Who could claim and the deadline

Any driver who had an active Uber or Lyft account in Massachusetts at any point between January 1, 2014 and the settlement approval date could submit a claim. Drivers did not have to be currently active — former drivers who had stopped driving were also able to claim.

The claim deadline was a specific date set by the court, and it has now passed. Drivers who did not submit a claim by that date were not able to recover payment from the settlement fund. If you did not submit a claim and the deadline has passed, you cannot file a late claim.

What documents drivers needed to claim

To submit a claim, drivers had to provide proof that they worked for Uber or Lyft in Massachusetts during the covered period. This typically meant providing account information, a driver's license or ID, and documentation of trips completed. Drivers could usually retrieve trip history from their Uber or Lyft app or account dashboard.

The claim form itself asked for basic information: name, address, phone number, email, driver's license number, and the dates the driver worked. Drivers had to certify that the information was true. Some drivers were asked to provide additional documentation if their account information was unclear or if the settlement administrator needed to verify their identity.

What changed in company practices

Beyond the payment fund, the settlement required Uber and Lyft to make specific changes to how they operate in Massachusetts. Both companies had to provide written notice to drivers before deactivating their accounts, explaining the reason for deactivation. Previously, drivers could be deactivated without warning or explanation.

The companies also had to provide drivers with access to their own trip data and earnings records, and to be more transparent about how pay is calculated. These changes applied to all drivers going forward, not just those who submitted settlement claims.

If you did not receive your payment

If you submitted a claim and did not receive payment after a reasonable time, you could contact the settlement administrator directly. The administrator's contact information was provided in the claim materials and on the settlement website. Common reasons for non-payment included a claim form that was incomplete, an account that could not be verified, or a claim submitted after the deadline.

If your claim was rejected, the settlement administrator was supposed to send you a written explanation of why. If you believed the rejection was wrong, you could dispute it through the process outlined in the settlement documents. However, if the deadline for claims has passed, disputing a rejection does not reopen the deadline for new claims.

Other Massachusetts driver settlements and lawsuits

This settlement was one of several legal actions involving Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts. Other cases have addressed different issues — such as workers' compensation coverage, unemployment insurance, and wage and hour violations. Some of those cases are still ongoing, while others have been settled or dismissed.

If you were involved in a different case or lawsuit against either company, that settlement would have its own claim process and deadline. Settling one case does not prevent you from claiming in another, but each settlement is separate and has its own rules and deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still claim if I missed the deadline?

No. Settlement claim deadlines are set by the court and are firm. Once the deadline passes, the settlement administrator stops accepting claims. If you missed the deadline, you cannot recover payment from this settlement fund.

How do I know if my claim was received?

The settlement administrator typically sends a confirmation email or letter when a claim is received. If you submitted a claim and did not receive confirmation within a few days, contact the administrator using the contact information provided in the settlement materials to verify your claim was processed.

What if I worked for both Uber and Lyft during the settlement period?

You could submit separate claims for each company, since the settlement covered both Uber and Lyft drivers. Each claim would be based on the trips you completed for that specific company. You would need to submit a claim form for each company to receive payment from both settlement funds.

Does this settlement mean I was an employee, not a contractor?

No. The settlement did not change driver classification. Drivers remained independent contractors under Massachusetts law. The settlement required the companies to pay money and change certain practices, but it did not reclassify drivers as employees.

What if I have questions about the settlement that are not answered here?

The official settlement website and claim materials contain detailed information about the terms of the settlement. You can also contact the settlement administrator directly using the contact information provided in those materials. An attorney who handled the case may also have information available on their website.