In 1990, the United States government passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Its purpose was to help compensate the people that were exposed to radiation due to nuclear testing on US soil. Since then, the benefits have been expanded to include additional counties surrounding the nuclear testing sites to include more people. Here are a few things that you should know about the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act if you are impacted by the government's actions. 

There Are Several Groups That Can Receive Compensation 

There are multiple categories of people that qualify for compensation due to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. It includes uranium workers that lived in specific states, which would have been exposed to uranium as far back as the 1940s. There is also a group that includes onsite participants that were part of the destination sites in specific locations. Of course, there is also the previously mentioned group of citizens that lived downwind of the test sites.

By being part of one of these groups, it is possible for the affected person or a next of kin, to receive compensation related to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

There Are Verification Requirements To Receive Compensation

Victims of radiation exposure must meet specific verification requirements in order to make a claim and receive compensation. They must identify the individual that was affected, prove that the person was living in the hot zone of radiation exposure during the qualifying years, and have proof that they suffer from a qualifying disease. 

There are also different qualifying diseases based on the qualifying group as well. For example, uranium miners can qualify due to having fibrosis of the lung, but downwind residents and onsite participants do not have fibrosis of the lung as a qualifying disease. 

There Is A Deadline For Filing A Claim

If you feel like you qualify for compensation through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, know that it is not too late to file a claim. However, the deadline coming up fast. You must have your claim in the mail by July 11th, 2022 in order to meet the deadline. Failing to do so will mean that you will be eligible for compensation. That is why it is important to spread the word and let others know that the deadline is approaching if they qualify. If you don't know what needs to be done to file a claim, reach out to a lawyer that specializes in these claims for their assistance.  

For more information, contact a center like National Cancer Benefits Center.