RECA / EEOICPA and Downwinders Explained

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RECA Eligibility Overview

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

RECA eligibility was significantly expanded in 2025. The program is currently accepting claims, and

the current claim deadline is December 31, 2027.

Main Eligibility Categories

• Downwinders — People who lived or were physically present in qualifying areas during specified

periods associated with atmospheric nuclear testing and who later developed a covered disease.

• Onsite Participants — People who participated onsite in atmospheric nuclear weapons testing

during qualifying periods.

• Uranium Workers — Qualifying uranium miners, millers, core drillers, and ore transporters who

worked during covered periods and developed a compensable disease.

• Manhattan Project Waste — Certain people who lived or worked in designated areas affected by

Manhattan Project waste and developed a covered disease.

What Generally Must Be Proven

Eligibility generally requires documentation showing:

1 A qualifying location, employment, or onsite participation;

2 Presence or employment during the required time period; and

3 A qualifying medical diagnosis or compensable disease.

For an Individual Eligibility Review

Gather the following information: (1) where the person lived or worked, (2) the years they were there,

(3) their diagnosis or cancer, and (4) whether they worked in uranium mining, milling, core drilling, ore

transportation, or participated in nuclear testing.

Official source: U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

Program — justice.gov/civil/reca

Uranium Industry Workers: $100,000

Onsite Participants: $100,000

Downwinders: $100,000

In 1990, the U.S. government established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to offer financial assistance to individuals who became seriously ill due to exposure to radiation. This includes:

- Communities affected by nuclear weapons testing

- Individuals who worked in uranium mining and milling

- Onsite workers exposed during atmospheric nuclear detonations

Who Qualifies and Who Gets the Compensation?

RECA provides lump-sum payments, not ongoing medical benefits. There are three main groups of eligible claimants for RECA compensation, each with different criteria and compensation amounts:

**Uranium Industry Workers**  

Compensation: $100,000

These include miners, millers, and ore transporters exposed to radioactive or toxic materials.

Requirements:

- Worked at a covered uranium site between Jan 1, 1942 – Dec 31, 1990

- Employed for at least 12 months (cumulative or continuous)

- Developed an approved illness following exposure

**Downwinders:**  

Compensation: $100,000

These are individuals who lived in areas downwind of nuclear test sites and later developed qualifying illnesses.

Requirements:

- Lived for at least one year between September 24, 1944, to November 6, 1962, or

- For the entirety of June 30, 1962, to July 31, 1962

- Later diagnosed with a covered illness

**Onsite Participants**  

Compensation: $100,000

These individuals worked directly at nuclear testing locations.

Requirements:

- Physically present at a test site during atmospheric nuclear testing

- Participated in or were exposed during detonation events

- Later diagnosed with a qualifying illness

**What Health Conditions Are Covered?**

Covered illnesses vary slightly depending on the claimant's category:

**Uranium Workers**

- Lung-related diseases: primary lung cancer, fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, pneumoconiosis, cor pulmonale

- Kidney conditions (millers and ore transporters): primary renal cancer, chronic renal disease, nephritis.

**Downwinders & Onsite Workers**  

(Must meet age and latency requirements)

- Leukemia (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia)

- Multiple myeloma

- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

- Cancers of the: thyroid, breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, salivary gland, bladder, brain, colon, liver, lung, ovary.

**Where Did Your Exposure Occur?**

*RECA-Covered Test Sites (for Onsite Participants)*

- Nevada Test Site

- Trinity Test Site (New Mexico)

- Bikini Atoll

- Enewetak

- Johnston Island

- Christmas Island

- South Atlantic & Pacific Proving Grounds

*Uranium Work Locations*

Eligible workers must have worked in one of the following states:

- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

*Eligible Counties for Downwind Exposure*

Residents in the following counties may qualify:

- Arizona: Apache, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Yavapai

- Nevada: Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine, Clark (townships 13–16, ranges 63–71)

- Utah: Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington, Wayne

**RECA Does Not Provide Medical Benefits**

While RECA offers financial compensation, it does not cover ongoing medical treatment. However, if you’ve been approved under RECA, you may also qualify for medical benefits through Part B of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). 

Under EEOICPA eligibility, eligible individuals may receive full coverage for medical expenses related to a covered illness, in-home care, prescriptions, therapy, and more. This builds a critical support system for those filing radiation exposure claims.

.EEOICPA Overview

The EEOICPA, which provides crucial support for those affected by workplace hazards, is divided into two main parts:  

Part B: Radiation & Beryllium Related Illnesses  

- Lump-sum compensation of up to $150,000  

- Comprehensive medical coverage for approved conditions  

This part is applicable to workers exposed to radiation, beryllium, or silica, making it a key component for EEOICPA eligibility, especially for those filing radiation exposure claims.

Part E: Toxic Exposure Illnesses  

- Compensation is based on wage loss and whole-body impairment, reaching up to $250,000  

- Medical benefits aligned with the condition  

Part E is available to DOE workers whose illness is determined to be “as likely as not” caused by toxic exposure, expanding the support network, inclusive of RECA compensation elements.  

Covered Medical Services Under Both Parts:  

- Primary care & specialty doctor visits  

- Hospital stays (inpatient/outpatient)  

- Physical, speech, and occupational therapy  

- Lab tests and diagnostic procedures  

- In-home care services  

- Prescription medications  

- Durable medical equipment (DME)  

- Travel costs for medical appointments  

How Are Compensation Amounts Calculated in Part E?  

- Wage Loss: $10,000 per year when pre-retirement earnings dropped by 25–50%  

- $15,000 per year when earnings dropped by more than 50%  

- Whole Body Impairment: $2,500 per percentage point of impairment based on AMA guidelines  

How to Qualify: Two Pathways in Part B  

1. **Dose Reconstruction**  

   - Estimates the level of radiation exposure during employment and is pivotal for determining if your illness was likely caused by workplace conditions.  

2. **Special Exposure Cohort (SEC)**  

   - This pathway allows workers from specific facilities and timeframes to qualify without needing dose reconstruction, provided they have a covered cancer diagnosis.  

Survivor Eligibility for EEOICPA Benefits  

Family members may apply if the eligible worker has passed away. Survivor rules vary slightly under each part.  

Part B Survivors May Include:  

- Spouse (married for at least one year)  

- Children (if no spouse survives)  

- Parents, grandparents, or grandchildren (in that order, if no spouse or child survives)  

Part E Survivors May Include:  

- Spouse (if married for at least one year)  

- Children under 18 at the time of the worker’s death  

- Children up to 23 if enrolled in college  

- Children with qualifying medical disabilities at the time of the worker’s passing.

What's New Under the New RECA Expansion?  

Wider Downwinder Coverage for Diagnosed Persons  

Eligibility for EEOICPA eligibility now extends to all residents of Utah, New Mexico, and Idaho, as well as newly included areas in Arizona, specifically Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Gila, and Mohave counties. Residents from select regions in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska—particularly those adversely impacted by the Manhattan Project—are also now eligible for RECA compensation.  

'Downwinders' refers to individuals who lived in areas subjected to radioactive fallout due to nuclear weapons testing or uranium mining, especially in the western United States. These individuals were exposed to radiation and many have since developed illnesses, including various cancers, which could qualify them for radiation exposure claims.  

YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS TO QUALIFY:  

☐ Leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia)  

☐ Multiple Myeloma  

☐ Lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease)  

☐ Primary cancer of the thyroid  

☐ Primary cancer of the male or female breast  

☐ Primary cancer of the esophagus  

☐ Primary cancer of the stomach  

☐ Primary cancer of the pharynx  

☐ Primary cancer of the small intestine  

☐ Primary cancer of the pancreas  

☐ Primary cancer of the bile ducts  

☐ Primary cancer of the gall bladder  

☐ Primary cancer of the salivary gland  

☐ Primary cancer of the urinary bladder  

☐ Primary cancer of the brain  

☐ Primary cancer of the colon  

☐ Primary cancer of the ovary  

☐ Primary cancer of the liver (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated)  

☐ Primary cancer of the lung  

Part II: PROOF OF DISEASE. To establish that the individual who became ill contracted a disease, you will need to submit specific medical documentation reflecting a diagnosis of a covered cancer for EEOICPA eligibility or radiation exposure claims. For a detailed list of the accepted documents for each illness, please consult the Medical Records Attachment at the end of this form. To certify the record, request your medical provider (hospital or doctor's office) to include a cover letter stating, "the attached medical records consisting of [# of] pages pertaining to [the person who became ill] are true and accurate copies of records kept in our files." Documentation that may be utilized to confirm a diagnosis of a compensable disease includes, but is not limited to, the following:  

• pathology report of tissue biopsy or surgical resection  

• operative report  

• hospital discharge summary report  

• physician summary report  

• death certificate, dated and signed by a physician  

• autopsy report  

(Source: DOL RECA Downwinder Claim Form 2025)