Can a RECA payment be combined with VA or DOL benefits?

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, provides lump-sum compensation to individuals who developed serious illnesses after exposure to radiation from the U.S. nuclear weapons program. Eligible categories include downwinders (residents of designated areas during atmospheric testing 1944-1962), onsite participants (workers and military personnel present at atmospheric nuclear tests), uranium workers (miners, millers, ore transporters, and core drillers 1942-1990), and individuals exposed to Manhattan Project waste in designated ZIP codes. When the eligible individual has died, survivors may apply for the payment. RECA was reauthorized and expanded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21), enacted July 4, 2025; all claims must be filed by December 31, 2027.

Death notification

The RECA Program is currently accepting claims following reauthorization under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119-21), enacted July 4, 2025. The statutory deadline to file all claims is December 31, 2027. When the individual eligible for compensation has died, surviving family members file a survivor claim using the same RECA claim form for the applicable category (Downwinder, Onsite Participant, Uranium Worker, or Manhattan Project Waste). Survivors receive equal shares of the single lump-sum payment that would have been paid to the deceased. For the Manhattan Project Waste category specifically, a deceased applicant's surviving spouse receives $25,000 (or surviving children receive equal shares of $25,000 if there is no surviving spouse). Families can file electronically through the RECA Claim Portal at reca.justice.gov or by mail. The Civil Division cannot accept emailed applications.

Deadline: All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027 (statutory deadline under Pub. L. 119-21)

Survivor benefits

The RECA offers 4 benefits for surviving family members.

Downwinder Survivor Claim

Pays a one-time lump sum of $100,000 to the survivors of an individual who developed a compensable cancer after being physically present in a designated downwind area during specified periods of atmospheric nuclear testing. Surviving family members divide the single payment in equal shares. Compensable diseases include leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia), multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin's disease), and primary cancers of the thyroid, breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, liver, and lung. The deceased must have been present in the State of New Mexico for 1 year between September 24, 1944 and November 6, 1962; in any other affected area for 1 year between January 21, 1951 and November 6, 1962; or in any affected area for the entire period June 30, 1962 through July 31, 1962.

Amount: $100,000 lump sum (divided in equal shares among eligible survivors)

Onsite Participant Survivor Claim

Pays a one-time lump sum of $100,000 to the survivors of an individual who was present onsite at a U.S. atmospheric nuclear test conducted before January 1, 1963, and later developed a compensable disease. Awards are offset by any amounts the participant received from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the same illness. The wartime detonations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not covered. Compensable diseases are the same as for Downwinders.

Amount: $100,000 lump sum, less any VA payments for the same illness (divided in equal shares among eligible survivors)

Uranium Worker Survivor Claim

Pays a one-time lump sum of $100,000 to the survivors of an individual who worked as a uranium miner, uranium miller, core driller, ore transporter, or in remediation at a uranium mine or mill in covered states during the period January 1, 1942 through December 31, 1990, and later developed a compensable disease. Compensable diseases include lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, fibrosis of the lung, silicosis, pneumoconiosis, cor pulmonale related to fibrosis of the lung, renal cancer, and other chronic renal diseases. The worker must have served in a covered occupation for at least 1 year during the covered period, or alternatively shown exposure to 40 or more working level months of radiation.

Amount: $100,000 lump sum (divided in equal shares among eligible survivors)

Manhattan Project Waste Survivor Claim

Added by Pub. L. 119-21 (enacted July 4, 2025), this category compensates individuals (or their survivors) who developed a covered illness after living, working, or attending school for at least 2 years after January 1, 1949 in designated ZIP codes affected by Manhattan Project waste contamination in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky. When the eligible individual is deceased at the time of filing, the surviving spouse receives $25,000; if there is no surviving spouse, surviving children receive equal shares of $25,000.

Amount: $25,000 to surviving spouse, or equal shares of $25,000 among surviving children if no spouse

When someone dies

Notifying the RECA after a death

7-step process, 6 required documents, and 4 survivor benefits.

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Frequently asked questions

Onsite Participant awards are offset by any amounts the participant received from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the same illness. Uranium workers approved under RECA may also qualify for supplemental compensation under the Department of Labor's Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA), administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs at dol.gov/owcp/energy.