Radiation Exposure Compensation Act: Downwinders Compensation, Uranium Workers and the Deadline
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act pays a one-time amount to people who became ill after radiation exposure from the nation's nuclear weapons program, or to their survivors. Claims go to the Justice Department, not to a court, and Congress has reauthorized and widened the Act. This page quotes the Justice Department's own statement of the Act, and the tool below gives the amount for your category and counts the days to the deadline.
In the Department's words: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “RECA was reauthorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Pub. L. 119-21, enacted on July 4, 2025.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
See the payment for your category and the days to the deadline
Choose the category of claim and whether the person who became ill is living. The tool gives the amount the program states, with survivors' shares, any VA offset or documented medical costs, checks a ZIP code against the Manhattan Project waste list, and counts the days left to file.
The payment the program states, and the deadline
For a Downwinder, the program states a one-time payment of $100,000.00 (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)).
All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027 (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)).
This applies the amounts the Justice Department's page states to the facts you enter. It does not decide that a place, a period, a job, a diagnosis or a document qualifies; the program decides that.
How the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act works
It is not a lawsuit. “RECA does not require claimants to prove causation.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The rules are changing: “The Program is working to issue revised regulations during 2026.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “Where possible, the RECA Program will use existing regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 79 to adjudicate claims until revised regulations are published.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
Downwinders compensation
A Downwinder must have been physically present in an affected area for one of these periods: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
Then a diagnosis must follow. The diseases: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The places: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The 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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) So with 3 survivors sharing, each receives $33,333.33.
Onsite participants in the atmospheric tests
An Onsite Participant was present at a test involving an atmospheric nuclear detonation, which “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “The compensable diseases for Onsite Participants are the same as the compensable diseases for Downwinders.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The 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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) So a participant who received $18,000 from the VA for the same illness would be paid $82,000.
Uranium miners, millers and ore transporters
“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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) The work: “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;” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The time: “The worker must have worked in a covered occupation and location for at least 1 year during the covered period.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “Alternatively, an employee who worked in a uranium mine may establish exposure to 40 or more working level months of radiation.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “Employees may combine periods of mining, milling, core drilling, and ore transporting to satisfy this duration requirement.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The diseases: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The places: “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;” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) The 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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
Manhattan Project waste under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
The reauthorization added this category. “The individual was physically present for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949, in a designated area affected by Manhattan Project waste:” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “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” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The diseases: “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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
The amount depends on whether the person is living at 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.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “Where a qualifying individual is deceased at the time of filing, RECA provides their surviving spouse $25,000.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “If there is no surviving spouse, surviving children may receive equal shares of the $25,000 payment.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026))
So a living claimant with $86,000 in documented unreimbursed medical costs would be paid $86,000, and one with less would be paid $50,000.
The deadline under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
The Justice Department's page is plain: “All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) Leave time before December 31, 2027 to gather the records a claim needs.
Filing: “The Civil Division cannot accept emailed applications.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) “Keep copies of all submitted materials for your records.” (U.S. Department of Justice, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (read Oct. 6, 2026)) Gather proof of where and when the person lived or worked, the medical records of the diagnosis, and identification, as the claim form asks.
Getting help with a claim
This site is not a law firm, does not refer anyone to a lawyer, and cannot say whether a claim will be approved. The questions that decide a claim are whether the records show presence in a covered place for the required time, a covered job, and a covered diagnosis, and for survivors, who the survivors are.
Bring records of residence, work or schooling with dates, the medical records of the diagnosis, any VA award for the same illness, and for Manhattan Project waste, the bills and insurance statements showing what was not reimbursed.
What this page does not cover
It quotes the Justice Department's statement of the Act as amended, not the Act's text, and not the regulations, which the Department says it is revising. It does not cover the separate Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, attorney fee limits, or tax treatment.
It read the Department's page on October 6, 2026. A change to the Act or the page after that date is not reflected here.