Creditors with claims may participate in any distribution of property of the Bankruptcy estate according to the priority of their claim.  However, not all creditors will actually receive payment—e.g., there may be no nonexempt property to distribute or the claimant may be disqualified from receiving payment.
For a claim or interest to be allowed, a proof of claim or interest must generally be filed in the Bankruptcy proceeding.
A properly filed claim is deemed allowed, unless objected to by an interested party