People exposed to government-generated nuclear radiation during the 1950s and 1960s may be eligible for monetary compensation for serious health diagnoses. If you were physically present at nuclear testing in the western United States–or if you are an eligible survivor of a worker–you should know what qualifies you to submit a government compensation claim. Are you what’s commonly called a “downwinder?”
Let’s learn more about what a downwinder is and how you can receive compensation due you.
What Is a Downwinder?
The term “downwinder” describes an individual exposed to nuclear radiation from above-ground atomic bomb testing during the Cold War era in the United States. Downwinders include residents of specific geographical areas downwind of these nuclear test sites in the states of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the United States government conducted over 100 atmospheric nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). These tests released large amounts of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. These toxins travelled by wind currents across neighboring states.
As a result, many people living in these areas were exposed to high radiation levels. This exposure has been linked to various health issues, including cancer and other long-term health effects.
Am I a Downwinder Eligible for Government Compensation?
Downwinders and their families can file for a lump sum, tax-free payment of $50,000. These payments do not result from class action lawsuits against the federal government. Instead, they are paid to claimants–workers or their eligible survivors–through a government program specifically set up in the 1990s by the United States Congress.
To be eligible for a lump sum payment, nuclear test site workers or their survivors must present several kinds of documentation. These include proofs of:
- Identity and/or relationship to the worker
- Diagnosis of compensable cancers or other health problems
- Proof of proximity to the areas of Ura nuclear radiation exposure.
Downwinders typically have been diagnosed with a wide range of cancers, including:
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Head and neck cancers, such as esophageal cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Bladder cancer
Also, they may suffer from chronic health conditions, such as respiratory problems, birth defects and reproductive issues.
The current federal government program for downwinders and other people who had contact with nuclear materials, radiation and fallout was created in response to the Trinity Test conducted on July 16, 1945. Traditionally, the Trinity Test marks the beginning of the atomic age.
The test took place at Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in New Mexico. It released huge amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere.
This toxic material was carried downwind, affecting people living in nearby counties in Nevada, Utah and Arizona. However, it wasn’t until years later that the effects of this exposure–and other incidents of exposure through testing at the Nevada Test Site–were revealed. The people we now call downwinders began to experience high rates of cancer and other health issues directly correlated with exposure to nuclear materials.
Can I Get Help with Filing an Application to the Cancer Compensation Program?
The good news is, yes, you can get all the help you need to submit a pre-qualification application. At the National Cancer Benefits Program, our specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, including holidays.
We will assist you with your application and generate the documents you need to qualify for your lump sum benefit of $50,000. If you are an eligible survivor of a downwinder, we will also help you get your due compensation.
The downwinder cancer claim application process can be somewhat challenging. However, our experts at the National Cancer Benefits Program give accurate, compassionate counsel to those wishing to start the cancer compensation process. We obtain the highest possible compensation award for each and every one of our clients. We also help downwinders and others who have previously filed a cancer compensation application but were denied payment.
If you are a downwinder who was exposed to nuclear fallout in Arizona, Utah, or Nevada, in the mid-twentieth century, please call the National Cancer Benefits Center at (800) 414-4328. You can also use our online information request form here.
Let us help you prove your eligibility as a downwinder and get the lump sum compensation from the federal government. We are privileged to be of service and are happy to say we have a success rate of over 90 percent.
