Filing deadline: December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed by the DOJ in the order received.
The basics, in plain English
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act is a federal program that pays a one-time benefit to people who developed certain cancers after being exposed to fallout from U.S. nuclear weapons testing. It is not a lawsuit, and it is not a tax. Here's how it works.
What it is
A federal compensation program — established by Congress in 1990.
Downwinder award
A one-time payment of $100,000 for eligible claimants.
Deadline to file
December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed in the order received.
RECA was created so families wouldn't have to sue the government to be made whole. Congress acknowledged the harm and set up a compensation fund instead.
During the Cold War, the United States detonated nuclear weapons above ground at the Nevada Test Site and at the Trinity site in New Mexico. Radioactive fallout drifted across nearby communities — the people who lived there became known as "downwinders." Years later, many developed cancers linked to that exposure.
RECA is the government's answer: rather than proving fault in court, an eligible person documents where they lived, when, and a covered diagnosis — and receives a fixed, one-time payment. You do not need to prove that fallout caused the cancer.
The first nuclear device is detonated in the New Mexico desert, exposing families across the Tularosa Basin.
Above-ground tests at the Nevada Test Site send fallout across Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and beyond.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act establishes a federal fund for downwinders, uranium workers, and on-site participants.
Coverage broadens — adding New Mexico statewide, extending Idaho, and renewing the program with a new filing deadline.
All claims must be filed by December 31, 2027. After that date, the window to file closes.
This site focuses on the downwinder part of the program — people who lived in an affected area during the testing years and later developed a covered cancer.
RECA also covers uranium miners, millers, ore transporters, and on-site test participants under separate rules. If that's your situation, call us — we can point you in the right direction.
For decades, communities like New Mexico's Tularosa Basin were left out entirely. The 2025 expansion brought them in — and reset the clock with a 2027 deadline. Many eligible families still don't know the program exists.
Clearing up confusion
“It's a lawsuit, and I'll have to go to court.”
It's a federal claims program. No lawsuit, no court, no testimony.
“I have to prove the fallout caused my cancer.”
You don't. You document the area, the time period, and a covered diagnosis.
“My relative already passed, so it's too late.”
A surviving spouse, child, or heir may still file on their behalf.
“It costs money to find out if I qualify.”
Checking eligibility is free. See how we're paid →
If your family lived downwind and faced a covered diagnosis, it's worth a minute to check. There's no cost and no obligation.
Start Free Eligibility CheckRECA Justice is informational only and does not determine final eligibility. Final decisions are made by the U.S. Department of Justice.