YDC Settlement Fund Update 2026: $20M Approved

If you have a pending YDC claim or you are already receiving annual payments, here is the update you have been waiting for. The New Hampshire YDC settlement fund will resume resolution proceedings in the second week of August 2026, the first scheduled movement on pending claims in more than a year. In June 2026, lawmakers approved $20 million in new funding, less than half the $55 million administrator Gerard Boyle requested, and Boyle has set a goal of clearing the roughly 1,700 remaining claims within three years. The fund has paid close to $240 million to 425 survivors, and survivor trials are running into 2027. Below is what we know and what it means for you.

Where the YDC Settlement Fund Stands in 2026

The NH YDC settlement fund has resolved 425 of the 2,269 claims filed before the filing window closed, according to the administrator's May 2026 report (opens in a new tab) covering activity through May 31, 2026. Those 425 claims carry close to $239.3 million in approved settlements, of which about $156.2 million has actually been paid so far and the rest is scheduled as annual installments. As of May 31, 2026, 1,689 claims were still pending, and those claimants have requested about $1.83 billion with the statutory cap applied. The state is not insured for the abuse, so every settlement is paid by taxpayers.

The average award for the 425 resolved claims is about $563,000 including interest. Here are the numbers, drawn from the administrator's May 2026 report, with earlier context first reported by WMUR (opens in a new tab) and InDepthNH (opens in a new tab):

Category	Number
Total claims filed (window closed)	2,269
Claims resolved with a settlement	425
Total settlements approved (425 claims)	~$239.3 million
Paid out so far (May 31, 2026)	~$156.2 million
Claims still pending (May 31, 2026)	1,689
Requested by pending claimants (with cap)	~$1.83 billion
Claims withdrawn	75
Claims denied or dismissed	80
Statutory cap per claim	$2.5 million

The fund was created to compensate survivors of physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the New Hampshire Youth Development Center, a state-run juvenile detention facility in Manchester that operated for more than 50 years. The fund was established under NH RSA 21-M:11-a (opens in a new tab) as an alternative to individual lawsuits, which would have no statutory cap on damages.

New Administrator Confirmed After Nine-Month Gap

Former Concord Circuit Court Judge Gerard Boyle was unanimously confirmed as the new YDC fund administrator by the Executive Council on March 25, 2026.

Boyle replaces former Chief Justice John Broderick, who served as administrator from the fund's creation in 2022 until July 2025. Broderick's departure followed a legislative change that shifted the administrator's role from an independent judicial branch appointment to one subject to attorney general oversight. Under the new structure, the administrator's settlement award determinations must be approved by the attorney general. Gov. Kelly Ayotte can also remove the administrator at any time for any reason.

Those two changes, the attorney general's veto over awards and the governor's power to remove the administrator, are now before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Attorneys for a group of survivors filed an appeal in April 2026 arguing the state broke its promise of an independent, neutral process after nearly 2,000 people had already filed claims, as reported by WMUR (opens in a new tab). A ruling for the survivors would reinstate those claims and block both changes. The appeal is still pending.

We hear from YDC survivors regularly, and the frustration over this nine-month gap comes up in nearly every conversation. No new claims were decided during that period. For survivors with pending claims, this added months of waiting on top of what was already a long and difficult process. Attorneys representing claimants, including Mark Knights of Nixon Peabody LLP, have said many of the people they represent are considering taking their cases to court instead.

With Boyle now in place, the claims process finally has a timeline again. The administrator's office expects to restart resolution proceedings in August 2026.

Resolution Proceedings Set to Resume in August 2026

Resolution proceedings on pending YDC claims will begin again in the second week of August 2026. That is the first scheduled movement on undecided claims since the fund lost its administrator in July 2025. The timeline comes from administrator Gerard Boyle and a June 5, 2026 client update (opens in a new tab) from Nixon Peabody and Rilee & Associates, the firms representing many survivors.

A resolution proceeding is the hearing where the administrator reviews a claim before issuing a written decision. Under the current rules, the administrator has 45 days after the proceeding to issue that decision, and an award can be paid as a single lump sum or in annual installments.

Boyle asked the legislature for $55 million in additional funding to run the fund through the restart. In June 2026, lawmakers approved $20 million, less than half the request. There is also good news on the payment side. The earlier pause on processing payments for claims that were already settled has been lifted, and those survivors have started receiving their money again.

June 2026 Update: $20 Million Approved and a Three-Year Plan to Clear the Backlog

In June 2026, New Hampshire lawmakers approved $20 million in new funding for the YDC settlement fund, less than half the $55 million administrator Gerard Boyle requested. Boyle has set a goal of resolving the roughly 1,700 remaining claims within three years, faster than the four to six years that historical resolution rates pointed to. About 400 survivors have received settlements since 2022, according to NHPR reporting (opens in a new tab) from June 25, 2026.

To hit that timeline, Boyle plans to run six resolution hearings a week once proceedings restart in August. He also intends to add mediation. Starting in late fall, claimants, their attorneys, representatives from the Attorney General's office, and experienced mediators would meet to try to settle cases without a full hearing.

Boyle has framed speed as a cost issue as much as a fairness issue. "The longer it takes, the greater the administrative costs are to run the fund," he told NHPR. He expects his approach to cut the fund's administrative costs by roughly half, which leaves more of each appropriation for survivors rather than overhead.

Boyle has also been blunt about what the case files show. "The abuse that I have discovered is absolutely horrendous," he told NHPR. Most claims predate the 2006 opening of the Sununu Youth Services Center, the modernized Manchester facility built with cameras and recording equipment that replaced the older YDC operations.

Even with the new money, the fund's own accounting shows a gap. The administrator's May 2026 report (opens in a new tab) puts total appropriations at $185 million against $251.2 million needed just to cover the installments on settlements already awarded through May 31, 2026. That is a shortfall of about $66.2 million before a single pending claim is decided, and the report shows the fund stays in the black only through the current fiscal year. For survivors waiting on a decision, the practical takeaway is simple. Hearings are restarting on a set schedule, and the administrator is publicly committed to moving faster than the original projections, but the money to pay every claim is not yet in place.

SB 481 Update (May 7, 2026): House Redirects Sale Proceeds Away From the Settlement Fund

Senate Bill 481 directs the sale of the former YDC property on South River Road in Manchester, where the state expects to net up to $75 million. The Senate's original version sent those proceeds to the YDC Settlement Fund. The House Finance Committee first voted 13-11 along party lines to reroute that money, and on May 7, 2026 the full House followed with a 186-157 vote to send the sale proceeds to the state's General Fund instead, where lawmakers can decide later whether to direct any of it to survivors.

Rep. Brian Seaworth (R-Pembroke) defended the amendment on the floor as a "housekeeping" measure, telling members it "does not create new revenue or direct new spending." Seaworth noted the state has already had to cancel contracts and shift money in other parts of the budget to pay settlement claims, and argued that putting the property proceeds in the General Fund "makes sense to keep the future decisions open." Rep. David Preece (D-Manchester) opposed the amendment, telling the floor that "this is not about accounting, this is about accountability" and that the proceeds belong to the survivors. Because the House amended the bill, it returns to the Senate for concurrence or a committee of conference. (See InDepthNH's reporting (opens in a new tab) on the floor debate.)

What this means for survivors: the original Senate framework reflected in older coverage of SB 481 is no longer the operative version. Unless the Senate refuses to concur and a conference committee restores the Settlement Fund destination, sale proceeds will flow to the General Fund whenever the sale closes. There is no firm timeline for the sale, which could take years. The property currently houses remaining YDC facilities and Manchester Police Department horse stables, both expected to vacate by the end of fiscal year 2026 when the replacement facility in Hampstead is completed. Maintenance costs while the property sits unsold are estimated at $500,000 to $1 million.

SB 558: Proposal to Move the Administrator to the Judicial Branch

Senate Bill 558, introduced in the 2026 session, would transfer the YDC claims administrator from the executive branch to the judicial branch. Under current law, the governor with consent of the executive council appoints the administrator. Under SB 558, the Supreme Court would make the appointment.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Altschiller (Dist. 24) along with Sen. Rosenwald, Sen. Watters, Sen. Long, Sen. Perkins Kwoka, and Rep. Ebel, has a proposed effective date of July 1, 2026. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Beyond the branch transfer, SB 558 would roll back three changes made in 2025 HB 2:

• Attorney fee installments. Current law, added in 2025, requires that when an award is paid in periodic payments, the claimant's attorney fees are also paid in equal installments across the same schedule, with 5% compound annual interest on the unpaid balance. SB 558 would remove that requirement.
• 30-day acceptance window. Under the 2025 changes, the administrator's decision is not final until both the AG designee and the claimant affirmatively accept it within 30 days. SB 558 would make the decision final and non-appealable on issuance, subject only to a 10-day reconsideration request for mathematical or scrivener's errors.
• Monthly reporting. Current law requires the administrator to submit an itemized monthly report to legislative leaders. SB 558 would change this to a quarterly report.

If you have an attorney handling your claim on a periodic payment structure, the installment-fee provision is the change most likely to matter to you. Attorneys under current law have a financial incentive to prefer lump sum awards because periodic awards mean their fees are stretched over the same payment schedule as the claimant's award. SB 558 would remove that incentive and pay attorney fees up front regardless of how the underlying award is structured. The bill's status can be tracked on the New Hampshire General Court bill tracking system (opens in a new tab).

RSA 21-M:11-a: Amendment Timeline

The statute creating the YDC fund has been amended every year since it was enacted. Here is the full timeline, which matters if you are reading older coverage and wondering whether it still applies.

Year	Chapter	Effective Date	Key Changes
2022	122:2	May 27, 2022	Original enactment. Established the fund, administrator position, claim window, compensation caps, and reporting requirements. A companion section amended RSA 91-A:5 to add a Right-to-Know exemption for claim records.
2023	79:487-489	July 1, 2023	Multiple administrative refinements enacted as part of the state budget.
2024	92:1	June 14, 2024	Single-section amendment.
2025	141:437-440	July 1, 2025	Added assistant administrator authority (subject to joint fiscal committee approval), attorney general memoranda of understanding with judicial branch, installment attorney fees with 5% interest, 30-day mutual acceptance window, and related changes. Took effect the day after the claim window closed.
2026	SB 558 (proposed)	July 1, 2026 (if enacted)	Shifts administrator from executive to judicial branch. Removes installment attorney fees, the 30-day acceptance window, and monthly reporting requirements.

Privacy of Claim Records

YDC claims administration records are exempt from the New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law under RSA 91-A:5, XIII. This means claim submissions, supporting materials, and the administrator's working files cannot be released through a public records request.

Settlement agreements themselves remain publicly accessible as governmental records under RSA 91-A:4, VI. After a claim is finally resolved, the administrator may release other records only if disclosure would not violate other law or constitute an unwarranted invasion of the claimant's privacy. The legislature built this framework alongside the original 2022 fund statute as a deliberate balance between survivor confidentiality and transparency in how state funds are spent.

What This Means If You Have a Pending Claim

If your claim is among the roughly 1,700 still pending, the August 2026 restart of resolution proceedings is the development that matters most. That said, nobody can promise exactly how fast the backlog will clear once hearings resume.

Some survivors may decide to pursue their cases in court instead of waiting on the fund. The fund is nonbinding, which means that if you do not accept the administrator's offer, your court case stays alive and goes back on the trial track. In court, there is no $2.5 million cap on damages.

The only YDC civil suit to reach a verdict so far, David Meehan's case, ended in a $38 million jury award. The state has fought to limit payment to $475,000 under New Hampshire's general state liability cap, an issue that remains in litigation as of mid-2026. More survivor trials are now on the calendar through 2026 and into 2027. Whether to wait on the fund or take your case to trial is a decision to make with your attorney based on the specifics of your situation.

If you have already received an award and are collecting 10 annual payments, you have a separate option worth knowing about. You can sell some or all of your remaining future payments for an immediate lump sum through a licensed structured settlement purchaser. CSF has closed more than 4,000 structured settlement transactions and works with YDC survivors specifically. This process is separate from the claims fund and does not affect other survivors' claims or the fund's operations.

Options for Survivors Receiving Annual Payments

YDC settlement awards are paid in 10 annual installments. Survivors who need access to their money sooner can sell future payments for a lump sum.

This is not a loan. It is a sale of your future payment rights, governed by the New Hampshire Structured Settlement Protection Act (NH RSA 408-G) (opens in a new tab). A judge must review and approve the transfer. You choose how many payments to sell and keep the rest. Good credit is not required, there are no monthly payments, and no out-of-pocket cost.

We strongly recommend consulting with an independent attorney before making any decision about your settlement payments. Your compensation represents something deeply personal, and you deserve qualified advice that is independent from the company purchasing your payments.

If you want to understand what your payments would be worth as a lump sum, call us at (800) 317-3769 for a confidential, no-obligation quote. Our team provides respectful, confidential assistance for YDC survivors. The amount we quote is the amount you receive.

If you arrived at this update searching for "pre-settlement funding" in New Hampshire, that is a different product entirely. Pre-settlement funding refers to cash advances against pending personal-injury lawsuits before any settlement is reached. The YDC fund is administrative, not litigation. NH residents researching the distinction can read our guide to pre-settlement funding in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire is not the only government paying abuse claims on a schedule. Los Angeles County is paying a $4 billion settlement across five fiscal years, and the same budget arithmetic drives both. See our explainer on how government abuse settlements actually get paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has the YDC settlement fund paid out?

As of May 31, 2026, the fund had approved close to $239.3 million in settlements for 425 resolved claims, with about $156.2 million paid out so far and the rest scheduled as annual installments. 1,689 claims remained pending, requesting about $1.83 billion when the statutory cap is applied.

Who is the new YDC settlement fund administrator?

Former Concord Circuit Court Judge Gerard Boyle was unanimously confirmed by the Executive Council on March 25, 2026. He replaced former Chief Justice John Broderick, who served from the fund's inception in 2022 until July 2025.

When will the YDC settlement fund resume deciding claims?

Resolution proceedings resume in the second week of August 2026, the first scheduled movement since the fund lost its administrator in July 2025. Administrator Gerard Boyle plans to hold six hearings a week. After each proceeding, the administrator has 45 days to issue a written decision, and awards can be paid as a lump sum or in annual installments.

How much funding did the YDC settlement fund get in 2026?

In June 2026, New Hampshire lawmakers approved $20 million in new funding, less than half the $55 million administrator Gerard Boyle requested. Boyle has set a goal of resolving the roughly 1,700 remaining claims within three years and plans to cut administrative costs by about half.

What is the maximum YDC settlement award?

The statutory cap is $2.5 million per claim. Awards are paid in 10 annual installments rather than a single lump sum. The actual amount depends on the nature and severity of the abuse documented in each individual claim.

What is SB 481 and how does it affect YDC survivors?

SB 481 directs the sale of the former YDC property in Manchester, with proceeds estimated up to $75 million. The Senate's original version sent that money to the YDC settlement fund. On May 7, 2026, the New Hampshire House voted 186-157 to redirect the proceeds to the state's General Fund instead. Unless the Senate refuses to concur, the sale proceeds will not directly fund survivor payments.

Can I sell my YDC settlement payments for a lump sum?

Yes. If you are receiving your YDC award as 10 annual payments, you can sell some or all of those future payments for an immediate lump sum through a licensed structured settlement purchaser like Catalina Structured Funding. The transfer requires court approval under the New Hampshire Structured Settlement Protection Act.

Why was there a delay in the YDC claims process?

The fund went without an administrator for roughly nine months after John Broderick stepped down in July 2025. During that period, no new determinations were issued on pending claims. Gerard Boyle was confirmed as the new administrator in March 2026, and resolution proceedings resume in the second week of August 2026.

What is Senate Bill 558 (2026)?

SB 558 is a 2026 bill that would shift the YDC claims administrator from the executive branch to the judicial branch, with the Supreme Court making the appointment. It would also remove three 2025 HB 2 provisions: installment attorney fees with 5% annual interest, a 30-day acceptance window following the administrator's decision, and monthly itemized reporting. Proposed effective date is July 1, 2026.

What are the compensation caps under RSA 21-M:11-a?

The statute sets tiered caps: $1.5 million for sexual abuse (alone or with other abuse), $2.5 million for egregious sexual abuse, $250,000 for other abuse only, and $300 per day capped at $100,000 for isolated confinement. The fund cannot authorize more than $75 million in claims payments per fiscal year without joint fiscal committee and governor and council approval.

When will the YDC settlement fund close?

The claims filing window closed June 30, 2025. The fund itself is nonlapsing and continuously appropriated through June 30, 2032, after which any remaining balance lapses to the state's revenue stabilization reserve account under RSA 9:13-e.