RECA

NEWLY EXPANDED RECA PROGRAM FOR URANIUM WORKERS

The U.S. Congress established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in 1990. In July of 2025, new legislation was passed that expanded RECA to provide compensation and health benefits to more uranium workers.

The purpose of RECA is to provide benefits to:

1. Uranium miners, millers, haulers, core drillers, and remediation workers who have developed certain cancers or certain respiratory or kidney diseases. To be eligible, you must have been employed for at least one year from January 1, 1942, through December 31, 1990. The compensation amount is $100,000.
2. People who were on site during one of approximately 200 atmospheric nuclear weapon tests between 1945 and 1962 and have become sick. The compensation amount is $100,000.
3. People who were physically present in certain counties downwind of the Nevada Test Site for at least two years from January 21, 1951, through October 31, 1958. Downwinder counties include the entire state of New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and large portions of Nevada and Arizona. These individuals are eligible if they have been diagnosed with specific types of cancer. The new compensation amount is $100,000 for successful new RECA claims. Unfortunately, previously paid claimants are not eligible for new compensation.

Uranium workers must have worked in one of these states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. To be eligible for compensation, they must have received a diagnosis of primary lung cancer, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cor pulmonale, or a non-malignant respiratory disease. All uranium workers can also now qualify if they have been diagnosed with kidney cancer or kidney diseases and meet RECA’s eligibility requirements.

On-site participants include Pacific test sites, the Nevada test site, the South Atlantic test site, and the Trinity test site.

An entirely new category of eligible claimants exposed to Manhattan Project era waste has been created under the updated RECA, including residents of specific zip codes in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alaska. Individuals with residency or employment in those zip codes, who contracted leukemia or one of the following types of cancer, can be eligible for $50,000 in compensation, or reimbursement of related medical expenses, whichever is greater. Those cancers are multiple myeloma, lymphoma other than Hodgkins Disease, thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, bladder, brain, colon, ovary, bone, renal, liver, except for cirrhosis or hepatitis B and lung. Claimants must establish at least two years of residency or work in these affected areas from January 1, 1949.

Overall, RECA has been extended to December 31, 2027. Claims should be filed as soon as possible.

RECA is administered by the Department of Justice. Uranium workers can qualify for additional compensation and free health benefits from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA).

Please fill out the form on this page or call 855-230-1339 for more information and to see if you qualify for benefits under the newly expanded RECA Program.