Official U.S. Department of Justice figures
This is not a new or untested program. The Department of Justice publishes its RECA claim numbers, and they tell a clear story: billions already paid, tens of thousands of families compensated — and under the expanded law, nearly every claim decided so far has been approved.
$3.3 billion+
Paid to approved claimants since the program began in 1990.
51,994
Claims approved by the Department of Justice to date.
99.6%
Of claims decided under the expanded 2025 law have been approved.
The Department of Justice tracks every RECA claim it receives and publishes a running summary. The figures below are from the DOJ's report dated August 24, 2026.
Two tables follow: claims filed under the expanded law (passed July 2025 — the version of the program open today), and claims filed under the original program before the expansion.
| Claim type | Approved | Denied | % approved of decided | $ approved | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downwinder | 3,859 | 19 | 99.5% | $385,900,000 | 21,890 |
| Onsite participant | 69 | 20 | 77.5% | $6,865,015 | 112 |
| Manhattan Project waste | 5,170 | 1 | 100% | $234,575,000 | 17,946 |
| Uranium worker | 297 | 2 | 99.3% | $29,700,000 | 1,202 |
| Total | 9,395 | 42 | 99.6% | $657,040,015 | 41,150 |
“Pending” means filed and awaiting review — claims are reviewed in the order received.
| Claim type | Approved | Denied | % approved of decided | $ approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downwinder | 27,316 | 5,310 | 83.7% | $1,367,120,000 |
| Onsite participant | 5,768 | 4,007 | 59.0% | $421,837,520 |
| Ore transporter | 434 | 176 | 71.1% | $43,400,000 |
| Uranium miller | 1,983 | 701 | 73.9% | $198,300,000 |
| Uranium miner | 7,098 | 4,286 | 62.4% | $709,074,560 |
| Total | 42,599 | 14,480 | 74.6% | $2,739,732,080 |
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, “Awards to Date,” updated August 24, 2026. RECA Justice is not affiliated with the DOJ; these figures are quoted from the DOJ's public report.
It reflects claims decided so far under the expanded law — many more are still pending review. No one can promise your claim will be approved. What the numbers show is that when a claim is complete and well-documented, the DOJ approves it far more often than not.
A free 15-minute call is all it takes to find out if you qualify. No cost, no obligation — and no fee unless you're compensated.
RECA Justice is informational only and does not determine final eligibility. Final decisions are made by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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