Federal RECA program · Downwinder claim help
RECA Justice helps downwinders and surviving family members check eligibility, gather medical and residency proof, prepare the claim file, and coordinate attorney filing with the DOJ.
For eligible people with a covered diagnosis and qualifying presence in an affected area.
Who Qualifies
For Downwinder claims, eligibility generally turns on three things: where the exposed person lived, when they were physically present, and whether they were diagnosed with a covered disease.
You or your family member lived in an area recognized under RECA's downwind provisions.
Presence during the relevant testing period, including the special New Mexico period beginning September 24, 1944.
A medical record documents a compensable cancer or leukemia recognized by the program.
Potential tax-free Downwinder compensation
December 31 filing deadline
Primary Downwinder states now in focus
Medical, residency, identity & survivor proof, together
Eligible Areas
The current RECA downwinder expansion includes three full states and selected counties or townships in two additional states. Final eligibility still depends on dates, diagnosis, and documentation.
A complete claim needs residency proof, medical records, and identity or survivor documents going back decades — often scattered across old addresses and agencies, or lost entirely. Reconstructing it is the hard part, and it's exactly what we handle for you.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice RECA downwinder affected-area guidance. This website is informational and does not determine final eligibility.
A Federal Program, Reauthorized in 2025
The 2025 reauthorization extended coverage to all of Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico — and set a firm December 31, 2027 filing deadline. Learn how RECA started →
How It Works
Most families need help reconstructing old addresses, dates, medical proof, and beneficiary paperwork. That administrative work is what we handle — so you can help your parent without doing it alone. See what it costs →
We ask where the exposed person lived, what diagnosis exists, and who would be filing.
We help identify residency proof, medical records, identity documents, and survivor paperwork.
A licensed RECA attorney reviews and files the completed claim with the Department of Justice.
A complete claim can require residency proof, medical records, identity documents, and survivor paperwork going back 60–70 years — much of it scattered across old addresses and agencies, or lost entirely. Tracking it down and reconstructing what's missing is where most families get stuck. It's the work we take off your hands.
Let Us Handle the PaperworkDo not send full medical records through this website. Our intake collects only basic screening details; sensitive documents are handled later through a secure document workflow.
Common Questions
No. RECA is a federal compensation program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice — not a lawsuit. Eligible Downwinder claimants may receive a $100,000 one-time payment.
No. RECA Justice is a private claims-preparation and administration service. We are not a government agency, are not affiliated with the DOJ, and are not a law firm. A licensed RECA attorney serves as attorney of record for filed claims.
People who lived in a recognized downwind area — Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico statewide, plus covered counties in Arizona and Nevada — during the testing period and were later diagnosed with a covered cancer or leukemia may qualify. Surviving spouses, children, and eligible heirs may also be able to file.
There is no upfront cost to check eligibility. See How it works for a plain explanation of how we're paid.
A denial is not the end. If a claim is denied, we prepare and pursue the appeal for you — strengthening the file and answering why it was turned down. There's still no upfront cost; the RECA-set fee on an appeal is 10% of the award, plus expenses.
Yes. The filing deadline is December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed by the DOJ in the order received, so it helps to start early.
The first step takes about a minute, with no obligation. Prefer a person? Call and we'll walk through it together.
RECA Justice is not a government agency. This website is informational and does not determine final eligibility.