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Compensation Programs

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

Due to technical difficulties, the RECA Program toll-free number, 1-800-729-7327, is temporarily inoperable.  If you wish to contact the RECA Program, please email us at civil.reca@usdoj.gov

News & Notices

  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Pub. L. No. 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025, reauthorized the filing of claims under RECA. New claims may be filed until December 31, 2027.  The OBBBA also expanded eligible populations under RECA.
  • Claim forms for applications under the amended RECA are available here.
  • An online claim filing portal is in development. That system is projected to be operational by December 2025.  Applicants who elect to file electronically are exempt from regulations requiring submission of certified or original records.
  • Where possible, the RECA Program will use existing regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 79 to adjudicate claims under the amended law until revised regulations can be finalized.

Program Summary

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), 42 U.S.C. § 2210 note, is a federal law that provides partial restitution to individuals who developed certain serious illnesses following exposure to radiation from the U.S. nuclear weapons program, or their survivors.  RECA assigned responsibility to the Attorney General to establish procedures and make determinations regarding whether claims satisfy statutory eligibility criteria.

This unique statute was designed as a non-adversarial alternative to litigation.  RECA does not require claimants to prove causation.  Rather, claimants qualify for compensation by establishing a diagnosis of a compensable disease after working or residing in a designated location for a specific period.

Regulations implementing RECA are published at 28 C.F.R. Part 79.  These regulations establish procedures designed to use existing records so that claims can be resolved in a reliable, objective, and non-adversarial manner, quickly and with little administrative cost to the United States or to the person filing the claim.

Claimant Categories Under RECA as Amended

Pub. L. No. 119-21 made significant changes to the eligibility criteria under RECA.  The categories of claimants under RECA are described below:

DOWNWINDERS

“Downwinders” are individuals who developed certain cancers after presumed exposure to radiation released during the atmospheric nuclear tests conducted within the United States.  A qualifying Downwinder must meet two essential criteria:

  1. The Downwinder must have been physically present in an affected area for one of the following durations:
  • In the State of New Mexico for 1 year between September 24, 1944, and November 6, 1962;
  • In any affected area for 1 year between January 21, 1951, and November 6, 1962; or
  • In any affected area for the entire period from June 30, 1962, to July 31, 1962.

The affected areas under RECA’s downwind provisions include the states of Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah, as well as the following counties: In the state of Arizona, the counties of Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Gila & Mohave; in the state of Nevada, the counties of White Pine, Nye, Lander, Lincoln, Eureka, and Clark County townships 13 through 16 at ranges 63 through 71.

2.  Following this presence, a qualifying Downwinder must show that they were diagnosed with a specified compensable disease.  The specified compensable diseases are leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia), multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary cancers of the: thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, liver (except if cirrhosis or Hepatitis B is indicated, or lung.

Compensation amount:
RECA provides qualifying Downwinders a one-time, lump sum payment of $100,000. If the individual has died, their survivors may apply for equal shares of the single payment. 

ONSITE PARTICIPANTS

RECA extends compensation to individuals who participated onsite in a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device and later contracted a compensable disease.  A qualifying Onsite Participant must meet two essential criteria:

  1. The participant was present “onsite” above or within a government installation during a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device.  “Test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear devices” means only those tests conducted by the United States prior to January 1, 1963, and does not include the wartime detonations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
  2. The participant was subsequently diagnosed with a specified compensable disease. The compensable diseases for Onsite Participants are the same as the compensable diseases for Downwinders.

Compensation amount:
RECA provides qualifying Onsite Participants a one-time, lump sum payment of $100,000 offset by any amounts received from the VA for the same illness.  If the individual has died, their survivors may apply for equal shares of the single payment.  

URANIUM WORKERS:

RECA extends compensation to individuals who worked in covered occupations relating to uranium mining during the period from January 1, 1942, through December 31, 1990.  A qualifying uranium worker must meet the following essential criteria:

  1. The worker was employed as a uranium miner, uranium miller, core driller, in the transport of uranium or vanadium-uranium ore from such a mine or mill, or was involved in remediation efforts at such a uranium mine or uranium mill;
  2. The employment must have occurred at uranium mines or uranium mills located in the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, and Texas;
  3. The worker must have worked in a covered occupation and location for at least 1 year during the covered period.  Alternatively, an employee who worked in a uranium mine may establish exposure to 40 or more working level months of radiation.  Employees may combine periods of mining, milling, core drilling, and ore transporting to satisfy this duration requirement.
  4. The worker must have been diagnosed with a specified compensable disease.  The specified compensable diseases for uranium workers are lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, fibrosis of the lung, silicosis, pneumoconiosis, cor pulmonale related to fibrosis of the lung, renal cancer, and any other chronic renal disease including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury.

Compensation amount:
RECA provides qualifying Uranium Workers a one-time, lump sum payment of $100,000.  If the individual has died, their survivors may apply for equal shares of the single payment. 

MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE

RECA as amended extends compensation to individuals who developed a covered illness after living, working, or attending school in areas affected by Manhattan Project waste contamination.  A qualifying Manhattan Project waste applicant must meet the following essential criteria:

  1. The individual was physically present for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949, in a designated area affected by Manhattan Project waste:
  • In the state of Missouri, the zip codes of 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 63114, 63135, 63138, 63044, 63121, 63140, 63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 63043, 63341, 63368, 63367
  • In the state of Tennessee, the zip codes of 37716, 37840, 37719, 37748, 37763, 37828, 37769, 37710, 37845, 37887, 37829, 37854, 37830, 37831
  • In the state of Alaska, the zip codes of 99546 and 99547
  • In the state of Kentucky, the zip codes of 42001, 42003, and 42086
  1. The individual was later diagnosed with a specified disease.  The specified compensable diseases for Manhattan Project waste applicants are any leukemia (provided initial exposure occurred after age 20), multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary cancers of the thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, bone, renal, liver (except if cirrhosis or Hepatitis B is indicated, or lung.

Compensation amount:
Compensation available under the Manhattan Project waste provisions of RECA varies depending on whether the individual who became ill is living or deceased at the time of filing:

  • RECA provides qualifying individuals who are living at the time of filing the greater of $50,000, or total documented out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the covered illness not paid for or reimbursed through health insurance, a workers compensation program, or any other public, private or employee health program or benefit.
  • Where a qualifying individual is deceased at the time of filing, RECA provides their surviving spouse $25,000.  If there is no surviving spouse, surviving children may receive equal shares of the $25,000 payment.

How to Apply:

You may apply for RECA by using the electronic claim portal, or by mailing in a claim form with original or certified supporting documentation.  The Civil Division cannot accept emailed applications.

Online

Watch this space for information regarding a forthcoming option to file your RECA claim electronically.

Gather supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of residence, employment, or onsite participation during a qualifying period
    • Medical records documenting your diagnosis of a compensable disease
    • Identification documentation as described on the claim form

You do not need to submit original or certified copies of supporting documentation if you choose to file online.

Mail

  1. Download the correct claim form for your category:

You may also request that a claim form be mailed to you here.

2. Gather original or certified copies of supporting documents, such as:

  • Proof of residence, employment, or onsite participation during a qualifying period
  • Medical records documenting your diagnosis of a compensable disease
  • Identification documentation as described on the claim form

3.  Submit your completed claim form and documents by mail to:

U.S. Department of Justice
Radiation Exposure Compensation Program
P.O. Box 146
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0146

Keep copies of all submitted materials for your records.

Deadline to File:  All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027.

Inter-Agency Radiation Network

DOL

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act ("EEOICPA"), 42 U.S.C. §§ 7384 et seq. pays additional compensation to certain individuals who were approved for compensation under the uranium worker provisions of RECA.  For more information, please review the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs EEOICPA websiteLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

HHS

The National Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program ("RESEP"), provides grants to rural health clinics located in Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.  RESEP clinics provide medical screening for RECA illnesses at no cost to the individual.  RESEP clinics may also offer referral services, diagnostic tests, educational materials about preventive health measures, and assistance with RECA and EEOICPA claims.  For more information, please review the National Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program websiteLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..  

DoD

The Nuclear Test Personnel Review (“NTPR”) program is a Department of Defense office that works to confirm veteran participation in U.S. nuclear tests.  More information, including historical reports on U.S. nuclear tests, is available on the Nuclear Test Personnel Review websiteLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

VA

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs administers the largest system of benefits for veterans of any nation in the world.  More information regarding VA benefits related to radiation exposure is available on the VA radiation exposures websiteLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

Contact the RECA Program 

If you have questions about RECA or your application, please contact the RECA Program:

  • Phone: 1-800-729-7327
  • Email:  Civil.RECA@usdoj.gov
  • Mail:    
    U.S. Department of Justice
    Radiation Exposure Compensation Program
    P.O. Box 146
    Ben Franklin Station
    Washington, DC 20044-0146
Updated August 8, 2025