J6 Payout Tiers: What Bucket You Land In & Docs That Count

FACT LABEL: LIKELY

The 1776 Fund hasn't dropped the final damage matrix yet. But every massive federal payout in the last 30 years—NFL brain injury settlement, BP oil spill, 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund—uses the same playbook. A damage matrix. A spreadsheet that sorts you into a bucket based on what actually happened to you. Your bucket has a floor and a ceiling. You get paid based on what you can prove.

Here's how it works, what buckets you'll probably land in, and what documents actually move the needle instead of just looking good in a filing cabinet.

---

Why a Matrix? Because $1.776 Billion Can't Be a Guessing Game

CONFIRMED: DOJ announced the Anti-Weaponization Fund will receive $1.776 billion from the Judgment Fund.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-establishes-anti-weaponization-fund

That's a lot of money. It's also not infinite. Thousands of J6 defendants, their families, people whose assets got seized, people who lost custody, people who watched their lives burn down in federal court—they're all coming for their piece.

If the DOJ tried to give each person a custom trial, you'd all be in your seventies before the first check cleared. So instead: the matrix. It sorts claimants into buckets based on real, measurable facts:

• What actually happened to you (prosecuted, convicted, locked up, probation, assets seized, family separated, job lost, security clearance revoked)
• How long it lasted (days in jail, months fighting charges, years on probation)
• What you lost (paycheck, house, custody, savings, freedom, license, health, peace of mind)
• What you can prove with documents (court orders, bank statements, medical records, termination letters, pay stubs, receipts)

Each bucket gets a payout range. Your job is to prove you belong in that bucket and that your losses fit what the documents show.

This is not a trial. This is not random. It is a system designed to move money fast without rewarding the lawyer class for filling out forms. But it only works if you do the prep work now.

---

Why Courts Require This (and Why It Matters to Your Payout)

CONFIRMED: Federal courts have mandated this exact system for decades.

In 1997, the Supreme Court case Amchem Products v. Windsor said: you cannot flatten everyone's damages into one number. People are different. Injuries are different. If your damages formula does not track the real differences between claimants, a judge will kill the whole fund dead.

https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/521/591/

Then the NFL Concussion Settlement (2015) proved it could work at scale. Hundreds of thousands of former players claiming brain injuries. The fund sorted them into tiers:

• Diagnosed cognitive impairment (mild, moderate, severe)
• Age at diagnosis
• Years of professional play
• Medical documentation

Each tier had a floor and ceiling. Players in the same tier got similar awards. If you had extraordinary proof, you could appeal and move up.

Result: Hundreds of thousands of people got paid without endless litigation. No lawyer took 20% just for submitting a form.

The BP Deepwater Horizon settlement (2016) did the same thing for Gulf Coast residents claiming economic losses. Matrix. Tiers. Documentation. Appeal process.

The 1776 Fund will use this same playbook. It has to. It's the only system courts will accept.

---

The Buckets You'll Probably Land In (Best Guess)

FACT LABEL: UNKNOWN — DOJ has not published the final tier structure or damage formula. What follows is educated inference based on 30 years of federal settlement patterns and the specific nature of J6 prosecutions. Do not assume these are official. When the fund drops the actual matrix, everything below could change.

But here's what the fund will almost certainly need to sort J6 claimants:

TIER 1: Convicted + Federal Prison Time (The Hammer Came Down)

You were charged, convicted, and locked up in federal custody. You did time. Your damages category includes:

• Lost wages (hourly rate × days in prison, or salary × months you couldn't work)
• Pretrial detention time (paid at the same rate as your employment income, or at a statutory rate the fund sets)
• Defense costs you paid out of pocket (lawyer fees, expert witnesses, investigators, appeals)
• Restitution or fines the court made you pay
• Medical or mental health care from custody (therapy, medication, treatment for injuries sustained)
• Lost professional licenses or security clearances (disqualified from your job)
• Child support arrears or custody loss from being unable to work or be present
• Seized assets (if not returned, the full value; if returned, the time-value loss)
• Collateral damage (spouse's lost income if she quit to care for kids; eviction threats; creditor harassment)

What You Need to Prove This:

1. Court docket — free from PACER.gov. Print everything. Download the whole PDF. This is your north star. It shows charges, guilty plea or conviction, sentencing order, everything. Do not trust your memory. Get the official record.

2. Conviction order and sentencing order with prison time specified. This is the document that proves you did time and how much. Screenshot it. Print it. Get the PDF.

3. Bureau of Prisons records — request at bop.gov. Shows your exact dates in custody. This is the document that matters. BOP will mail it or send it electronically. Do not guess. Do not use your memory. Get the official record.

4. Every receipt for legal fees — your lawyer's actual invoices, not estimates. If you paid in cash, find the bank statement or written receipt. Do not guess. If you paid a retainer, show the contract and the invoices. If you paid installments, show all of them. If you paid $50K, show $50K of receipts. The fund will not accept "approximately $50K." They will accept a spreadsheet of dated invoices that add to $50K.

5. Pay stubs from 2 years before your arrest — this proves your baseline income. The fund will use this, not your guesses. Get the actual stubs from your employer or your tax return.

6. Tax returns for all prosecution years — shows what you actually earned during the case. If you were self-employed, show profit/loss statements. If you lost clients, show the client list before and after, and show the lost contracts in writing.

7. Termination letter from your job (or email, or screenshot of your employment record). If you were self-employed and lost clients, show the client list before and after, and show the lost contracts. If you got fired after conviction, show the letter or email. If you were laid off, show the WARN notice or severance agreement.

8. Medical records if you sought treatment — therapy, medication, diagnosis, hospitalization. Get records from the provider, not screenshots. The fund needs the letterhead and the provider's signature.

9. Proof of child support consequences or custody loss — court order, arrears notice, custody modification order. This is a big damage category. Do not leave it blank.

10. Restitution order and proof of payment — the order says how much, bank records prove you paid it.

11. Fine documentation and proof of payment.

12. Bank statements showing seized accounts (if applicable) — the exact dates, amounts, and when (or if) they were returned.

13. Proof of asset seizure and return (or proof it was never returned) — seizure receipt, release order, or nothing.

Example Math:

You did 18 months in federal prison. Made $60K/year. Paid $50K in legal fees out of pocket. Lost your job on arrest. Owe $15K in restitution. Your spouse had to stop working to care for the kids.

• Lost wages (you): 18 months of $60K = $90K
• Spouse lost wages: 18 months × her salary = $X
• Legal fees: $50K
• Restitution paid: $15K
• Medical treatment during case: $2K
• Total provable damages: $157K + spouse's income

The fund will not give you a dollar amount just for existing. It will give you a dollar amount for the $157K + spouse's income you can prove with documents.

---

TIER 2: Convicted + Probation Only (No Prison Time)

You were charged and convicted, but the judge gave you probation instead of prison. Your damages include:

• Lost wages (if you couldn't work during probation due to restrictions, monitoring, or job loss)
• Defense costs out of pocket
• Fines or restitution you paid
• Probation supervision costs (if you had to pay probation fees)
• Electronic monitoring costs (if you had to pay for ankle bracelet, phone check-ins, etc.)
• Job loss from the conviction itself or probation restrictions
• Lost professional licenses or certifications
• Mental health treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD from prosecution
• Family disruption (custody loss, divorce costs, child support arrears)

What You Need to Prove This:

1. Sentencing order showing probation terms, length, and any restrictions.
2. Pay stubs before and after conviction to show income loss.
3. Tax returns for prosecution years.
4. Lawyer invoices for all fees paid.
5. Probation supervision fee receipts (if applicable).
6. Electronic monitoring cost receipts (if applicable).
7. Fines and restitution orders and proof of payment.
8. Medical or mental health records if you sought treatment.
9. Termination letter or job loss documentation.
10. Professional license revocation notice (if applicable).

---

TIER 3: Prosecuted But Not Convicted (Acquitted, Dismissed, or Pled to Nothing)

You were charged, the case dragged on, and then it went away. Your damages are narrower but real:

• Defense costs out of pocket (lawyer, experts, investigators, appeals)
• Lost wages during the prosecution if you couldn't work (pretrial detention, bail restrictions, or job loss from the charge itself)
• Mental health treatment from the stress of prosecution
• Seized assets (if the government took money and never gave it back)
• Reputational harm (harder to quantify, but the fund may allow it)

What You Need to Prove This:

1. Court docket showing the charge and the dismissal or acquittal.
2. Lawyer invoices for all fees paid.
3. Pay stubs before and after the case to show income loss.
4. Tax returns for prosecution years.
5. Medical records if you sought treatment.
6. Pretrial detention records (if you were held awaiting trial).
7. Bail or bond receipts (if you paid bail and it was forfeited).
8. Seized asset documentation — the government's seizure receipt and whether it was returned.

---

TIER 4: Family Members of J6 Defendants (Collateral Damage)

You didn't get prosecuted. Your spouse or parent did. You lost income, custody, housing stability, or health. Your damages include:

• Lost wages from having to quit your job to support the defendant or care for kids
• Increased childcare or medical costs from the defendant's absence
• Lost custody or child support if the defendant couldn't pay
• Housing loss from inability to pay mortgage or rent
• Medical or mental health treatment from the stress
• Divorce costs if the prosecution broke your marriage

What You Need to Prove This:

1. Proof of relationship to the defendant (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.).
2. Court docket showing the defendant's prosecution.
3. Your pay stubs before and after the defendant's arrest, showing income loss.
4. Your tax returns for prosecution years.
5. Childcare receipts or invoices showing increased costs.
6. Medical records if you sought treatment.
7. Custody modification order (if applicable).
8. Divorce decree (if applicable).
9. Eviction notice or lease termination (if housing loss occurred).

---

TIER 5: Asset Seizure (No Prosecution or Minimal Prosecution)

The government seized your bank account, froze your business, or took your property. The case may have gone nowhere, or you were charged but acquitted. Your damages:

• The full value of seized assets (if never returned)
• Time-value loss (the money you couldn't use for months or years)
• Lost business income from frozen accounts
• Lost interest or investment returns on the seized money
• Legal fees to fight the seizure
• Replacement costs (if you had to liquidate other assets to pay bills)

What You Need to Prove This:

1. Seizure receipt or notice from the government showing the exact amount and date.
2. Court order (if any) authorizing the seizure.
3. Bank statements showing the account before and after seizure.
4. Release order or proof of return (or nothing, if never returned).
5. Lawyer invoices for fighting the seizure.
6. Lost business income documentation (if applicable).
7. Bank statements showing replacement withdrawals or loan activity.

---

The Documents That Actually Move the Needle

You have probably guessed this by now. The fund will not accept your word for anything.

It will accept:

• Official government documents (court orders, PACER filings, BOP records, IRS tax transcripts)
• Bank and financial records (statements, canceled checks, wire transfer receipts)
• Employer documentation (pay stubs, W-2s, termination letters, offer letters)
• Medical records with provider letterhead and signature
• Receipts and invoices with dates, amounts, and signatures or official stamps
• Contracts (employment, legal retainer, service agreements)

It will NOT accept:

• Your personal journal or diary
• Text messages or emails you wrote (unless the other person confirms them)
• Screenshots or photos of documents
• "Approximately" anything
• Vague descriptions ("I lost money" vs. "I lost $47,392.15 shown in bank statement dated March 3, 2021")
• Receipts you cannot verify (a cash register slip with no store name or date)

---

How to Build Your Documentation File Now

Do not wait. Do this in the next 30 days.

1. Get your PACER docket. Go to pacer.uscourts.gov. Search for your case. Download the entire PDF. Print it. Store it in a safe place.

2. Request your BOP records. Go to bop.gov and follow the request process. If you need them fast, call the facility where you were held. They can fax or email them to you.

3. Get your tax returns. Contact your CPA or use the IRS transcript request tool at irs.gov. You need returns for 2 years before your arrest and all prosecution years.

4. Gather all lawyer invoices. Call your attorney. Ask for a complete invoice history. If you paid multiple attorneys, get invoices from all of them. Make a spreadsheet: date, attorney name, amount, description. Total it. This is your defense cost.

5. Collect all pay stubs. Contact your employer or your payroll provider. Get stubs from 24 months before your arrest and all months during your prosecution. If you were self-employed, get profit/loss statements or bank deposits showing income.

6. Get your medical records. Contact any therapist, doctor, or hospital where you sought treatment during or after prosecution. Request records in writing. Ask for them to be mailed or emailed to you. Do not settle for a summary. Get the actual records.

7. Organize everything in a folder. Label each document with a date and a one-line description. Make an index (a simple spreadsheet or list) showing what you have. When the fund opens, you will have a complete file ready to submit.

---

What Happens After You Submit

FACT LABEL: UNKNOWN — The fund has not published its claims process, review timeline, or appeal procedure.

Based on other federal settlement funds:

1. You submit your claim with your documentation file.
2. A claims processor reviews it. They compare your claim to the damage matrix and assign you a tier and a payout range.
3. If your documentation is solid, you get a payout offer.
4. If your documentation is weak, they request more information. You have 30-60 days to provide it.
5. If you disagree with the payout, you can appeal or request a hearing. You do not need a lawyer for this part. You just need to show up and explain why your damages are higher.
6. The fund processes the appeal.
7. You get paid.

Do not hire a lawyer to negotiate your payout unless you have already built your documentation file. The lawyer's job is to argue your damages are higher than the initial offer. But they cannot argue anything if you do not have the documents.

If you hire a lawyer before you have your documentation together, you are paying him $200/hour to tell you to go get the documents yourself.

---

The Fee Trap

Here's where lawyers make their money off the 1776 Fund.

They will tell you:

"The fund is complex. You need expert help. We will prepare your claim and negotiate your payout. Our fee is 25% of whatever you get."

Then they will:

1. Ask you for documents (which you should have already gathered)
2. Plug your documents into the damage matrix (which is public, not secret)
3. Calculate your payout range (which is math, not magic)
4. Submit your claim (which is a form)
5. Wait for the fund to respond
6. Take 25% of your payout

If you do steps 1-4 yourself, you keep 25% of your payout and do not pay a lawyer.

If your payout is $100,000, a 25% fee is $25,000. That is a lot of money. Do not give it away for filling out a form.

Hire a lawyer only if:

• You are stuck on step 4 (you do not understand the form)
• The fund denies your claim and you want to appeal
• You have complex damages that require expert testimony

For everything else: build your file, read the form, and submit it yourself.

---

Where to Look for Updates

CONFIRMED: DOJ stated the fund must send quarterly reports to the Attorney General.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-establishes-anti-weaponization-fund

When the fund publishes the damage matrix, it will be in:

• DOJ press releases
• Federal Register notices
• The fund administrator's website (UNKNOWN who this is yet)
• Court filings (if the fund gets sued, the matrix may appear in litigation)

Check back here. We will update this post the second the matrix drops.

---

DISCLAIMER

This is not legal advice. We are not lawyers. We are not affiliated with DOJ, Treasury, the 1776 Fund, or any government agency. We cannot promise you will be paid or how much. The damage matrix has not been published. Everything above is inference based on how other federal settlement funds work. When the official matrix drops, it may be completely different. Get a real lawyer if you need one. But build your documentation file first. That part is up to you.