By Michael Steele – Tribal Policy Analyst

Tribal members diagnosed with certain types of cancers and lived in “affected areas” to include Idaho, Utah, New Mexico or certain areas within Arizona or Nevada between January 21, 1951 and November 6, 1962 are eligible to receive compensation from the federal government for exposure to radioactive material. Claims require proof of cancer diagnosis and proof of residence. Documentation must be submitted by the individual affected (claimant), a surviving spouse, a surviving child or a surviving grandchild no later than December 31, 2027. Individuals who worked in the uranium industry or were directly exposed to nuclear weapon testing may also be eligible for compensation. 

Originally passed in 1990, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) compensates individuals, including “Downwinders” who lived downwind of nuclear weapons testing sites, that developed cancer after exposure to activities associated with nuclear weapons testing. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reauthorized RECA with expanded eligibility to descendants and included a larger geographic “affected area” for eligibility. This does not apply activities that took place at the Idaho National Laboratory. If the claimant has passed on, a surviving spouse can submit a claim. If the claimant and spouse are both deceased, a living child can apply. Compensation would be divided equally between living children. If the claimant’s children are deceased, the same applies to living grandchildren.

Downwinders who lived in “affected areas” during the time specified above and developed leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgin’s disease) or primary cancers of the thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, liver (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated) or lung cancers may apply.

Medical records showing the diagnosis must be provided in the claim. As most eligible claimants have passed on, obtaining medical records can be challenging as State and federal laws do not require healthcare facilities to keep records in perpetuity. However, old medical records are often found in homes and individuals can check with health care facilities where claimants were treated to determine if a record of the diagnosis still exists. Proof of residency that establishes that the claimant lived for at least one year in the “affected area” during the requisite period could include tribal, federal, state, county or city records, church, education, utility, library, historical society, business, civic or fraternal association/organization records. 

Due to a high volume of applications, there may be delays processing claims. For more information and access to the RECA claim portal visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/reca.