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 Downwinder claims, eligibility generally turns on three things: where the exposed person lived, when they were physically present there, 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 was during the relevant nuclear 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.
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.
Utah is listed as an affected area statewide for downwinder claims.
Idaho is listed as an affected area statewide for downwinder claims.
New Mexico is listed as an affected area statewide and has a special earlier qualifying period tied to the first Trinity test.
Arizona eligibility is county-specific, not statewide.
Nevada eligibility is limited to specific counties and certain Clark County townships.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice RECA downwinder affected-area guidance. This website is informational and does not determine final eligibility.
You do not need to prove that fallout personally caused the cancer in the way a lawsuit would require. The claim file must document the eligible area, period, and diagnosis.
Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma often turn on the exact diagnosis name and the medical record that confirms it.
Many internal cancers may qualify. The intake call helps match the diagnosis, location, and time period before records are requested.
That is common. Start with the illness name you know, and we can help identify what record would confirm the diagnosis.
The website only collects screening details. Medical records should wait for the secure document workflow after intake.
Most families need help reconstructing old addresses, dates, medical proof, and beneficiary paperwork. That is the administrative work we handle.
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 documentation.
A licensed RECA attorney reviews and files the completed claim with the Department of Justice.
From desert towns and ranch roads to uranium work sites, RECA claims often begin with old addresses, family stories, and records that need to be organized into proof.
Photo: Desert Landscape, katsrcool/Bob Protus, CC BY 2.0.
We are not trying to be a generic directory. The job is to help families move from "I might qualify" to a clean, timely, attorney-reviewed DOJ submission. RECA Justice is backed by Claims Northwest's claims and administrative experience dating back to 2005.
Claims Northwest has worked in claims handling, documentation, and administrative support since 2005, giving this RECA process a practical operations foundation.
We are paid only if the claim is approved, according to the agreement you sign.
A licensed attorney serves as attorney of record for filed claims.
We help spouses, children, and eligible heirs understand what proof may be needed.
We keep the next step visible, from eligibility review to document collection and attorney filing.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act is a federal program administered by the Department of Justice for eligible people exposed through nuclear weapons testing or uranium-related work.
No. A Downwinder claim is an administrative federal compensation claim. Eligibility is based on statutory requirements, not proving fault in court.
Yes, survivor claims may be available. The exact beneficiary path depends on family relationships and documentation.
Start with what you know. Old addresses can often be supported with school records, employment history, census-style documents, church records, military records, tax documents, or family paperwork.
The eligibility check is free. There is no upfront fee to start with RECA Justice.
Claims must be filed by December 31, 2027. Because document collection can take time, waiting until the deadline can create avoidable risk.
No. The website form only asks for basic screening details. Medical documents are handled later through a secure document process.
The first step takes about a minute. Tell us where the exposed person lived, whether there was a covered diagnosis, and how we can reach you.