Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Application Instructions

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) provides one-time payments to individuals who developed certain illnesses after exposure to radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons testing or uranium industry work.

Recent updates to RECA now include the following zip codes in Missouri: 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 63114, 63135, 63138, 63044, 63121, 63140, 63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 63043, 63341, 63368, 63367. Eligible constituents in these areas may now qualify for compensation as Manhattan Project Waste Claimants.

Who Can Apply

RECA covers four main categories of claimants. The majority of affected individuals in the St. Louis region will apply as:

Manhattan Project Waste Claimants – People who lived, worked, or went to school in designated areas affected by Manhattan Project waste for at least two years after January 1, 1949, and were later diagnosed with a specified disease.
Download Manhattan Project Waste Claim Form

The specified compensable diseases for Manhattan Project waste applicants are any leukemia (provided initial exposure occurred after age 20), multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and 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, bone, renal, liver (except if cirrhosis or Hepatitis B is indicated), or lung.

If you have previously lived in another affected region, were a Uranium worker, or were present at a nuclear testing site, you may apply as:

Downwinders – Residents of certain counties and states exposed to fallout from atmospheric nuclear testing.
Download Downwinder Claim Form
Uranium Workers – Miners, millers, ore transporters, and core drillers who worked in certain states between 1942 and 1990.
Download Uranium Worker Claim Form
Onsite Participants – Individuals present at designated U.S. atmospheric nuclear test sites before 1963.
Download Onsite Participant Claim Form

Compensation Amounts

Manhattan Project Waste Claimants: $50,000 or reimbursement for documented medical expenses (if living at time of filing); $25,000 to surviving spouse or children if deceased.
Downwinders, Uranium Workers, Onsite Participants: One-time payment of $100,000.

How to Apply Now

Currently, all claims must be submitted by mail.
An online claim portal will be available by December 2025—and will not require certified or original records.

To apply by mail:

Download and complete the correct claim form for your category (links above).
Gather documentation as described in the claim form:
- Proof of residence, employment, or onsite participation during a qualifying period
- Medical records diagnosing a compensable disease
- Identification documents
Mail your completed form and documents to:
- U.S. Department of Justice
  Radiation Exposure Compensation Program
  P.O. Box 146
  Ben Franklin Station
  Washington, DC 20044-0146

Deadline

All claims must be filed no later than December 31, 2027.

Need Help?

For questions or assistance:

Phone: 1-800-729-7327 (currently inoperable—please use email)
Email: Civil.RECA@usdoj.gov
Website: DOJ RECA Program Page

If you believe you or a loved one may qualify for RECA, we encourage you to begin the application process as soon as possible.