Q:
What are the most significant changes in the amendment
to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) which
was signed by President Clinton?
A: The most significant change to the
1990 Act has been the expansion of the scope of coverage
for workers exposed to radiation. Thousands of people
who worked in the uranium industry are now eligible for
benefits as a result of the July 2000 amendment.
Here
is a review of some of the significant changes:
Uranium
mill workers and ore haulers are now eligible for radiation
exposure compensation payments under the Act. It may
be several months before the U.S. Justice Department
issues approved forms and regulations for these new
classes of uranium workers. However, it can take months
or even years to fully document a radiation exposure
claim. It may be valuable to start the claim process
even before the new forms are issued.
For
those workers whose claims were previously denied, the
July 2000 changes to the Act reduce the required radiation
exposure work history for underground uranium miners.
It redefines the compensable diseases for on site nuclear
test employees, and adds additional geographical locations
for down winders exposed to fall out from nuclear testing.
The changes to the Act also recognize work related exposure
to radiation during the period 1942 to 1946. Finally,
a person's smoking or coffee drinking history no longer
effect their eligibility. These changes may greatly
improve your chances for being approved if you were
previously rejected on a compensation claim.
If
you or a deceased relative of yours has been diagnosed
with a disease as a result of exposure to radiation,
please call for a free consultation.
Our
firm is one of the national leaders in successfully
pursuing RECA claims. We have established documentation
in some of the more difficult cases including those
involving surviving beneficiaries. Even if your claim
was previously denied, under a percentage fee agreement,
there are no attorney fees unless we obtain benefits
for you.
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