FIFO Processing Queue

The FIFO processing queue is the line in which an asbestos bankruptcy trust reviews claims: first in, first out, meaning in the order they are filed. A claim's place in line is usually set by its filing date once the trust has the required materials.

Origin

First-in, first-out ordering was written into trust distribution procedures to treat claimants fairly and process large volumes of claims in a predictable way. Trusts typically also run separate FIFO payment queues, so a claim that has been approved is paid in order when funds are available.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For most claims, the FIFO queue is why trust payments take time: a trust reviews claims in filing order, and new trusts may have large backlogs when they first open. Filing promptly, with complete medical and exposure documentation, helps a claim avoid delays. Exigent health and exigent hardship claims, for gravely ill or financially desperate claimants, can be moved ahead of the queue. Each trust's rules differ on what counts as a complete filing, how individual review fits into the order, and whether deficient claims lose their place. Trusts that open after a long bankruptcy may set an initial filing window during which all claims are treated as filed on the same date.

Example Sentence

Her trust claim was 4,000th in the trust's FIFO processing queue, so her lawyer filed an exigent health request because she was still living with mesothelioma.

Related Terms

Exigent Health Claim, Trust Distribution Procedures, Expedited Review, Individual Review, Bankruptcy Trust Claim, Payment Percentage

Notes

• Tell your lawyer right away about a new diagnosis or decline in health; it may allow faster processing.
• Missing documents can delay a claim; help your lawyer gather medical and work records early.