RECA.help

Navigating the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) requires meticulous attention to detail and a clear understanding of evidentiary requirements. The claims process can be complex, particularly when key records are decades old or incomplete.

With the 2025 expansion of RECA, eligibility rules—including affected areas and residency requirements—have been significantly broadened, and introducing an entirely new category for individuals exposed to Manhattan Project waste. While this historic expansion opens the door for many who were previously excluded, it has also resulted in an unprecedented surge in new applications. Furthermore, the launch of the Department of Justice’s online claims portal in January 2026 has fundamentally simplified how applications are processed, which has fueled another large jump in the number of claims being submitted.

This massive influx of claims has created a significant backlog in federal reviews. With thousands of applications currently pending, any missing documentation, unverified residency, or incomplete medical records can push a claim to the back of the line and cause months of additional delays.

RECA.help is being established to assist claimants with the most difficult parts of the process—ensuring applications are comprehensive, accurate, and ready for review from day one. While our archive of historical records, city directories, and vital statistics for Downwinder claims is extensive, we are continuously adding documentation to support the new Manhattan Project Waste claims, especially for cases where proof of presence is limited, missing, or difficult to obtain.

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