Filing deadline: December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed by the DOJ in the order received.
Filing for a loved one
If a family member was exposed to fallout and has since passed, you may still be able to file. A RECA claim can be filed by a surviving spouse, child, or other eligible heir — and you can start it on their behalf.
Who can file
A surviving spouse, child, or other eligible heir — generally in a set order.
What it's based on
The same area, period, and diagnosis that would have qualified your loved one.
Deadline
All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027.
When the exposed person has passed, eligibility generally passes to surviving family in a set order. The closest surviving relative is usually the one who files.
A husband or wife who was married to the claimant at the time of death is generally first in line.
If there is no surviving spouse, the claimant's children may file — often the adult son or daughter managing the estate.
If there is no surviving spouse or child, the claimant's surviving parents may be eligible.
In some cases, other close relatives may file when no closer survivor remains.
The exact order and shares are set by the program. We help you confirm who in your family is eligible to file.
A survivor claim needs the same proof as any claim, plus documents that connect you to your loved one. Start with what you have — we help reconstruct the rest.
We ask where your loved one lived, what diagnosis they had, and how you're related — so we can confirm who should file.
We help gather residency proof, medical records, the death certificate, and the relationship documents — organized into one file.
A licensed RECA attorney reviews and files the completed survivor claim with the Department of Justice.
Do not send full medical records or certificates through any website form. Intake collects only basic screening details; sensitive documents are handled through a secure document workflow.
A common question
If your loved one is living, the claim is filed in their name — and you can help with every step, from gathering records to managing the paperwork. A survivor claim is for when the exposed person has already passed. Either way, a family member can do the legwork.
The claim is in their name. You can help gather records and handle the process on their behalf.
An eligible survivor files. You'll also need the death certificate and proof of relationship.
For the family
Many families don't realize a claim is still possible after a parent or spouse has passed. If your loved one was exposed and diagnosed, it may not be too late — finding out takes about a minute, with no obligation.
Start a Survivor ClaimSource: U.S. Department of Justice RECA guidance. This page is informational and does not determine final eligibility or the order of survivor eligibility.