DC AG's Office Announces Instacart Workers Who Made Deliveries in DC May Be Eligible for $150+ Cash Payments; Online Claims Process Is Now Open

Instacart Shoppers Who Made Deliveries in DC from October 2016 through April 2018 Must File Claim by March 25, 2023, to Receive Payment Resulting from Legal Settlement

WASHINGTON, DC – Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Instacart workers who made deliveries in the District of Columbia from October 1, 2016, through April 30, 2018, may be eligible for refunds of $150 or more, related to a lawsuit brought by the Office of Attorney General (OAG) against Instacart. Instacart workers must file an online claim form by March 25, 2023, to be eligible to receive a payment. The online claim form and additional information about the Instacart Workers in DC claims process is available at instacartworkerrefundsdc.com.

“The hardworking professionals at the Office of Attorney General secured a major win against Instacart for deceiving consumers into believing that ‘service fees’ disguised as tips would go directly to the workers delivering their orders, when the fees actually went to Instacart,” said AG Schwalb. “Our office now has $1.5 million to put back in workers’ pockets. I urge workers who made Instacart deliveries to DC consumers between October 1, 2016, and April 30, 2018, to file an online claim form by March 25, 2023, and to help us get the word out to others who may be eligible.” 

In 2020, OAG sued Instacart for misleading consumers about service fees and failing to pass the full amount of tips left by consumers to the workers that delivered the orders. Now, $1.5 million of a penalty paid by Instacart to resolve the lawsuit is being paid back to workers. To receive payment, workers must fill out the online claim form and submit required documentation by March 25, 2023.

Any Instacart worker who made at least one delivery in the District of Columbia between October 1, 2016, and April 30, 2018—while Instacart had misleading service fee practices in place—may be eligible to receive payment. Qualified workers will receive cash payments of at least $150. Some workers may receive more than $150, depending on how long they worked for Instacart and how many deliveries they made to DC consumers.

To complete the online claim form, workers must upload documentation demonstrating that they made at least one Instacart delivery in DC to a DC consumer between October 1, 2016, and April 30, 2018. Examples of acceptable proof of employment may include:

  • Instacart pay stub;
  • IRS 1099 forms reflecting Instacart earnings;
  • DC tax forms demonstrating Instacart employment/earnings;
  • Instacart employment verification letter;
  • Signed or final Instacart employee contract for DC;
  • Emails or other written documentation from Instacart verifying Instacart employment within DC;
  • Instacart employee ID;
  • Bank statements showing deposits from Instacart; and
  • Other official Instacart communication reflecting delivery of an Instacart order within DC and including the worker’s name and/or other personal information.

Answers to frequently asked questions about this settlement and the Instacart Workers in DC Claims Process are available here.

How to Report Unfair Business Practices
To report scams, fraud, or unfair business practices, contact OAG’s Office of Consumer Protection by calling (202) 442-9828, emailing consumer.protection@dc.gov, or submit a complaint online.