A new group of Amazon Prime customers starts receiving money automatically today, without filing a claim or filling out a form. But the amount depends on their eligibility and prior payments, and the widely cited $200 figure is not the amount newly eligible customers are receiving today.

Oct. 1 marks the start of an expanded payment phase under the Federal Trade Commission's $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon over its Prime enrollment and cancellation practices. A federal court approved the revised payment terms on Sept. 14, and the FTC announced the expansion on Sept. 17.

"Amazon will begin issuing automatic redress payments to millions of additional consumers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits during a one-year period," the FTC said. Their automatic payments can be up to $51.

"Eligible Consumer" means any U.S. consumer who signed up for Amazon Prime through a "Challenged Enrollment Flow" or unsuccessfully attempted to cancel during the "Relevant Time Period," which the court order defines as "June 23, 2019 to June 23, 2025."

The relevant enrollment flows include Amazon's Universal Prime Decision Page, shipping-selection page, single-page checkout and Prime Video enrollment flow.

The original settlement's automatic-payment phase covered customers who used no more than three Prime benefits, while its claims process covered eligible customers who used no more than 10. The revised order expands eligibility to consumers who used up to 20 benefits during a 12-month period.

The group being added to the automatic-payment process starting Oct. 1 is those who used 11 to 20 benefits. The program applies to U.S. customers. Amazon Prime members in other countries are not covered by this settlement.

"No action is needed to receive a refund. You do not have to file a claim, respond to a notice, or complete any forms," the FTC says. Payments will be sent by mailed check or electronic payment through PayPal or Venmo.

"The maximum payment cap has been raised from $51 to $200 total," the FTC said when announcing the revised payment terms.

For the newly eligible 11-to-20-benefit group, the automatic payment can be up to $51. Consumers who already received a payment under the settlement may become eligible for a later payment of up to $149, bringing their total payments under the program to no more than $200.

That later distribution is not scheduled for this week. Under the revised order, the claims administrator is to begin the pro rata payments by the end of April 2027, using whatever remaining funds are available for eligible recipients who previously accepted a payment. The amount is therefore not guaranteed to be $149 for everyone.

How Much Amazon Has Already Paid

Amazon began sending settlement payments in November 2025. By September 2026, the FTC said Amazon had distributed more than $845 million in consumer redress.

The settlement requires Amazon to provide up to $1.5 billion in consumer redress, separate from the $1 billion civil penalty imposed as part of the agreement. The Oct. 1 payments are an expansion of that existing redress program, not a new settlement.

"The FTC is not contacting people about refunds in the Amazon matter," the agency says. "No one from Amazon will ever ask you for money to get a refund."

No legitimate representative should ask you to pay a fee to receive the money, and Amazon will not ask you to pay to obtain a refund, says the FTC's refund page and adds, eligible customers do not need to file a claim or respond to an unsolicited message to receive an automatic payment.

If someone sends a text, email or calls claiming that you must click a link or provide sensitive information to secure your Amazon Prime refund, don't follow the instructions. Check the status through the FTC's official Amazon refund information instead, it cautioned.

The number to remember today is $51, not $200. The $200 figure is the revised maximum a qualifying consumer can receive across the settlement program; it is not a flat payment being deposited into every newly eligible customer's account on Oct. 1.