On June 7, 2022, the President signed into law the RECA Extension Act of 2022. The law extends the termination of the RECA Trust Fund and the deadline to file new claims for two (2) years from the date it was enacted.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) is a program relating to atmospheric nuclear testing and employment in the uranium industry.
Program Overview:
Nearly 200 atmospheric nuclear weapons test were conducted by the United States from 1945 to 1962. Uranium mining and processing was necessary to develop the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal, which involved tens of thousands of workers.
After testing ended, many lawsuits were filed against the United States alleged failure to warn workers, military personnel, and civilians about the exposure to known radiation hazards. These lawsuits were eventually dismissed. Congress responded to these lawsuits by creating a program that provided partial restitution to individuals who were diagnosed with serious illnesses after presumed exposure to harmful radiation during atmospheric nuclear tests or after employment in the uranium industry. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was signed into law on October 5, 1990, and the coverage expanded on July 10, 2000.
This Act was created to serve as an effective, low-cost option to litigation. RECA does not require claimants to prove causation. It allows claimants to qualify for compensation by establishing a diagnosis based on a list of compensable diseases after living in a designated area or working for a specific period of time.
RECA Covered Areas:
Lump sum compensation is available for individuals who have been diagnosed with a specified disease in one of the defined populations:
Downwinders: Individuals who lived downwind of the Nevada Test Site may be eligible for a one-time, lump sum payment of $50,000.
Onsite Participant: Military personnel or civilians who were present at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests may be eligible for a one-time, lump sum payment of $75,000.
Uranium Miners, Millers, and Ore Transporters: may be eligible for one-time, lump sum payment of $100,000. Additional compensation may be available through the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program if the claim is approved under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
*For further information regarding the different programs, click the links above.
Eligibility:
An individual can file a claim on their own behalf if they meet the criteria of one of the compensation programs. Also, a spouse, child, or grandchild are considered eligible surviving beneficiaries and may file a claim on behalf of a deceased family member if they meet the criteria of one of the compensation programs.
If you or a family member has been exposed by government-created radiation and potentially has a claim to one of the U.S. government's cancer compensation programs, please call our office at (520) 244-3600 for a free consultation or use our online form to request additional information. Let us assist you in obtaining the money you deserve.