Do You Qualify? Radiation Injury Claim Eligibility Requirements in 2025

Do You Qualify? Radiation Injury Claim Eligibility Requirements in 2025

Did you know that exposure to radiation can lead to serious health issues, and that compensation may be available? The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) has been revived and expanded in 2025, offering a lifeline to those affected by nuclear testing and uranium mining. Understanding the eligibility requirements is the first step toward claiming the compensation you deserve.

Understanding Radiation Injuries

Radiation injuries occur when the body is exposed to ionizing radiation, which includes gamma rays, X-rays, and high-energy particles. Exposure can come from natural sources, like radioactive substances, or human-made sources, such as X-ray machines, nuclear reactors, or even nuclear weapons.

There are three main types of radiation-induced injury:

  • Irradiation: Exposure to penetrating radiation from an external source.
  • External Contamination: Radioactive materials spread on the body’s surface, like the skin.
  • Internal Contamination: Radioactive materials enter the body through the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems, or through wounds. If internally contaminated, the body may incorporate the radioactive material.

RECA: A Second Chance for Victims

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) provides financial assistance to individuals who have developed specific illnesses after being exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons programs. RECA, which had expired in June 2024, was revived through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and reauthorized through the end of 2028. This reauthorization brings significant changes, including expanded eligibility and increased compensation amounts.

Who Is Eligible for a Radiation Injury Claim in 2025?

Several categories of individuals may be eligible for compensation under the amended RECA Act of 2025. Here’s a breakdown:

  1. Downwinders:

    • Residency Requirements: You must have lived in specific affected areas for a designated period. The affected areas now cover the whole states of Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico, six counties in southern Nevada and part of Clark County, and six counties in northern Arizona, including all of Mohave County.
    • Time Period:
      • In New Mexico, for at least one year between September 24, 1944, and November 6, 1962.
      • In any affected area, for at least one year between January 21, 1951, and November 6, 1962.
      • In any affected area for the entire period from June 30, 1962, to July 31, 1962.

    • Qualifying Diseases: Downwinders must have been diagnosed with specific compensable diseases, including:

      • Leukemia (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
      • Multiple myeloma
      • Lymphomas (excluding Hodgkin’s disease)
      • Primary cancers of the thyroid, breast (male or female), esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, or lung.
      • Uranium Workers:

    • Occupations: Eligible workers include those involved in uranium mining, milling, and ore transportation. The 2025 amendments also include “core drillers” and those involved in “remediation efforts” at mines or mills.

    • Time Period: The eligibility period for uranium workers employed in seven states is extended to January 1, 1942, through December 31, 1990.
    • Qualifying Diseases: Miners can qualify with lung cancer, non-malignant respiratory disease, renal cancer, or any other chronic renal disease, including nephritis and kidney tubal tissue injury.

    • Onsite Participants:

    • Requirements: Individuals who were present “onsite” or within a government installation during a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device before January 1, 1963, and have been diagnosed with a compensable disease. The eligible diseases are the same as those for Downwinders.

    • Communities Impacted by Manhattan Project Waste:

    • Residency: Claimants must have lived, worked, or attended school for at least two years after January 1, 1949, in designated ZIP codes across Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky.

    • Qualifying Illnesses: Leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphomas, and numerous primary cancers (thyroid, lung, colon, bladder, breast, brain, renal, liver, ovary, etc.) that appear at least two years after exposure.

Compensation Benefits

Successful claimants may be eligible for the following:

  • Living Individuals: A base payment of $50,000 or more, depending on eligible expenses. Some downwinders and onsite participants may receive $100,000.
  • Additional Reimbursement: For documented out-of-pocket medical costs not covered by insurance or government programs.
  • Deceased Individuals: If the individual is deceased at the time of the claim, a surviving spouse may receive $25,000. If there is no surviving spouse, surviving children may receive equal shares of the $25,000 payment.

How to Determine “Physical Presence”

You are considered to have been physically present in an affected area if your primary residence, place of employment, or school was located in the affected area, and you were present there for the required period.

Proving Your Claim

All claims must include valid documentation, such as:

  • Contemporaneous medical records
  • Proof of residence, work, or school attendance in an affected ZIP code during the qualifying period.

How to Apply

  1. Obtain the Application Packet:

    • Online: From the Department of Justice website.
    • By Mail: Request from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECP) office.

    • Gather Required Documents:

    • Proof of residence or employment during the eligible period.

    • Medical documentation of a qualifying illness.
    • Birth/death certificates (for deceased claimants).
    • Affidavits (if records are incomplete).

    • Submit Your Application:

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

    • Online: Via the Department of Justice website (projected to be operational by December 2025).

Statute of Limitations

Claims must be filed before December 31, 2027.

Do You Qualify? Take Action Now

If you or a loved one has been affected by radiation exposure and meet the eligibility requirements, now is the time to take action. The RECA Reauthorization Act of 2025 offers a vital opportunity for compensation and support.