If you or your loved ones have been affected by radiation exposure due to nuclear testing, you may be entitled to compensation. However, many people are unaware of their rights as downwinders and the opportunities available for compensation.
Let’s demystify the compensation opportunities available for downwinders and explain how you can claim what you are entitled to.
Who are Downwinders?
Firstly, it is important to understand who is considered a downwinder. A downwinder is someone who lived near or downstream from a nuclear test site during the atmospheric testing era between 1945 and 1962.
These tests were conducted by the United States government in various locations across the country, including:
- Arizona: Apache, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Yavapai
- Nevada: Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine, the northern portion of Clark
- Utah: Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington, Wayne
Downwinders were exposed to radiations that were carried by winds from these sites. The exposure led to various health problems such as cancer, thyroid issues, and birth defects, among other things.
Compensation Opportunities for Downwinders
Recognizing the health impacts suffered by downwinders, the U.S. government enacted the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in 1990. RECA provides one-time benefits to individuals who developed certain cancers or other diseases as a result of their exposure to radiation released during the atmospheric nuclear tests.
RECA offers compensation to three groups of people:
- Uranium miners, millers, and transporters who worked between 1942 and 1971
- Onsite participants at atmospheric nuclear weapons tests
- Downwinders who lived in designated areas during specified periods
How Much is the Compensation, and Who Can Apply?
Under RECA, downwinders are eligible to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $50,000. However, to qualify for this compensation, individuals must have been living in certain counties in Arizona, Nevada, or Utah for at least two years during the period of nuclear testing (between January 21, 1951, and October 31, 1958, or the month of July 1962).
The applicant must also have been subsequently diagnosed with a specified compensable disease, including:
- Bile duct cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer (male or female)
- Colon cancer
- Esophagus cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Leukemias (except for chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
- Liver cancer (unless there is evidence of cirrhosis or hepatitis b)
- Lung cancer
- Lymphomas (except for Hodgkin’s disease)
- Multiple myeloma
- Nasal pharynx cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreas cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Salivary gland cancer
- Small intestine cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Thyroid cancer
Eligible survivors, which include spouses, children, or grandchildren, can submit a claim for the downwinders compensation program on behalf of a deceased family member who fulfills the program’s criteria.
How to Apply for RECA Compensation?
Applying for Downwinder’s compensation under RECA involves the following steps.
Gather Necessary Documents
Before you start filling out the application form, gather all the necessary documents to provide proof of your or your loved one’s residence during the eligible time period and medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of a compensable disease.
Fill Out the Application Form
The next step is to fill out the claim form for cases filed under RECA. Read the entire form carefully and make sure to complete all the sections.
Provide Proof of Residence
You need to provide proof that you or your loved one lived in the specified areas during the eligible time period (between January 21, 1951, and October 31, 1958, or the month of July 1962).
This could be in the form of school records, employment records, tax records, or any other document that can verify residence.
Supply Medical Documentation
You also need to supply medical documentation confirming a compensable disease diagnosis.
Submit the Application
Once you have filled out the form and gathered all the necessary documents, submit the application to the U.S. Department of Justice. They will review your application and determine your eligibility for compensation.
Get Help with Downwinder’s Compensation Program
Remember, applying for Downwinder’s compensation under RECA can be a complex process. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get help from organizations that provide free legal aid to downwinders seeking compensation. One such organization is the National Cancer Benefits Center.
At the National Cancer Benefits Center, we have a team of experts committed to helping downwinders gather necessary documentation and navigate the complicated application process. The compensation claims filed by our providers have a success rate of over 90 percent.
To learn more about the downwinder or government compensation for cancer patients, contact our friendly staff today at (800) 414-4328 or fill out our online form here so we can get started. We look forward to helping you file your claim!
