{"settlement":{"id":"federal-indian-hospitals-class-action-2025","slug":"federal-indian-hospitals-class-action-2025","title":"Federal Indian Hospitals Class Action","category":"Institutional Abuse","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Government services"],"geographic":["Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Identity verification required"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Was a patient or received treatment","Experienced abuse or harm"]},"classDefinition":"Primary Class Members are all persons who were admitted to one of the 33 listed Federal Indian Hospitals during the dates the hospital was operated by the Government of Canada (within the period January 1, 1936 to December 31, 1981) and who suffered psychological, verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse while admitted. Family Class Members are spouses, former spouses, children, grandchildren, siblings, and certain other relatives of a Primary Class Member, but they do not receive individual compensation. Only Primary Class Members are eligible for individual compensation.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you were admitted to one of the 33 Federal Indian Hospitals while it was run by the Government of Canada and you suffered abuse there, you may be eligible for a payment of $10,000 to $200,000 based on the severity of the abuse.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"$10,000 to $200,000 per claimant","filingInstructions":"Confirm you were admitted to one of the 33 listed Federal Indian Hospitals while it was operated by the Government of Canada and that you suffered an eligible abuse or harm while admitted.\nGather your government-issued ID and any supporting documents you may have, such as hospital records or proof of a name change.\nComplete the Claim Form, including your details, your hospital admission information, and a description of the abuse or harm you experienced.\nSelect the one compensation level (1 to 5) that best matches your experience.\nSign the Claim Form and complete any applicable appendices (for example, if you are applying on behalf of a deceased claimant or a person under disability, or as legal counsel).\nSubmit your completed and signed Claim Form with supporting documents online, by email, by fax, or by mail before the July 27, 2028 deadline.","caseBackground":"From 1936 to 1981, the Government of Canada operated a network of hospitals known as Federal Indian Hospitals for the treatment of Indigenous patients. Many people admitted to these hospitals reported experiencing psychological, verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse. A class action, Ann Cecile Hardy v. The Attorney General of Canada, was brought on behalf of these individuals, and the Federal Court certified it as a class proceeding on January 17, 2020.\n\nA settlement was reached and approved by the Federal Court on June 24, 2025. Under the settlement, eligible Primary Class Members who suffered abuse while admitted can receive a single payment between $10,000 and $200,000 based on the severity of the abuse. The settlement also creates a Healing Fund, a Research and Commemoration Fund, and additional health and wellness funding. Claims connected only to medical treatment (without abuse) are not covered.","administratorName":"FIH Claims Administrator","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"Claims Help Line","value":"1-888-592-9101"},{"type":"online","label":"Website","value":"https://www.ihsettlement.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"GeneralInfo@Contact.IHSettlement.ca"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"","agentContacts":[],"agentClaimFormHelp":false,"classCounselName":"","classCounselContacts":[],"classCounselFirms":[],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"Online Portal","value":"https://portal.ihsettlement.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"claims@admin.ihsettlement.ca"},{"type":"mail","label":"","value":"FIH Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 5493 STN MAIN, Newmarket, ON L3Y 0J4"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"416-966-5701"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/a3c339f87262279090f1c136-Long_Form_Settlement_Notice-EN.pdf","title":"Notice to Class Members"},{"url":"/uploads/6e133f1716cd5dfdd85904a9-Claim_Form-EN.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/65c7523efb8379005281653f-Long_Form_Settlement_Notice-EN.pdf","title":"Avis aux membres du groupe"},{"url":"/uploads/a26aa218b164253bf6dda8eb-Claim_Form-FR.pdf","title":"Formulaire de réclamation"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/e8097a674a530b441f8b3fd2-Short_Form_Settlement_Notice-EN.pdf","longFormNoticeUrl":"/uploads/a3c339f87262279090f1c136-Long_Form_Settlement_Notice-EN.pdf","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/6e133f1716cd5dfdd85904a9-Claim_Form-EN.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"d2965a45844a","url":"/uploads/6e133f1716cd5dfdd85904a9-Claim_Form-EN.pdf","name":"Claim Form","language":"en","description":""},{"id":"b6b26efe2138","url":"/uploads/a26aa218b164253bf6dda8eb-Claim_Form-FR.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation","language":"fr","description":""}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"claim-form","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"Eligible Primary Class Members can receive a single payment based on the severity of the abuse they suffered: $10,000 (Level 1), $50,000 (Level 2), $100,000 (Level 3), $150,000 (Level 4), or $200,000 (Level 5). You will receive a single payment reflecting the most severe abuse you suffered.","question":"How much money can I receive?"},{"answer":"The deadline to submit a completed Claim Form to the Claims Administrator is July 27, 2028.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"You can file online through the portal at https://portal.ihsettlement.ca, by email to claims@admin.ihsettlement.ca, by fax to 416-966-5701, or by mail to the FIH Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 5493 STN MAIN, Newmarket, ON L3Y 0J4. You can call 1-888-592-9101 for help completing the form.","question":"How do I file a claim?"},{"answer":"You must complete, sign, and submit the Claim Form. Supporting documents such as hospital records are helpful but optional given the passage of time, except that estate, person-under-disability, and legal counsel claims require specific supporting documentation. Send only copies, not original documents.","question":"Do I need to provide documents with my claim?"},{"answer":"If your claim is approved, payment is sent by direct deposit or by cheque. Payments are only issued after the Claims Administrator approves your claim.","question":"How will I be paid if my claim is approved?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"admitted-listed-hospital","text":"Were you admitted to one of the 33 listed Federal Indian Hospitals?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"The 33 hospitals and their eligible dates of operation are listed in the Settlement Agreement and on the settlement website.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"operated-by-canada","text":"Were you admitted during a period when that hospital was operated by the Government of Canada?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Each hospital has its own eligible dates of operation within the 1936 to 1981 period.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"suffered-abuse","text":"Did you suffer psychological, verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse while admitted?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"not-medical-only","text":"Was the harm you experienced something other than just medical treatment?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Claims connected only to medical treatment, with no abuse, are not covered by this settlement.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"estate-eligibility","text":"If you are claiming on behalf of someone who has passed away, did they pass away on or after January 25, 2016?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Claimants who died before January 25, 2016 are not eligible. Answer yes if this does not apply to you.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":false}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":null,"cardSummary":"If you were admitted to one of the 33 Federal Indian Hospitals between 1936 and 1981 and suffered abuse there, you may be able to claim compensation.","proofRequired":"required","claimTime":"about 1 hour","claimAmount":"$10,000 to $200,000","coverageStartDate":"1936-01-01","coverageEndDate":"1981-12-31","deadline":"2028-07-27","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-06-11","lastUpdated":"2026-09-07","firstPublishedAt":"2026-06-11","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-06-11","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-06-11","languages":["en","fr"]}}