Information about EEOICPA

This page is officially located at : http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/torts/const/reca/eeoicpa.htm

On July 31, 2001, the Department of Labor will begin processing claims filed under a new compensation program created by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This new program will pay workers who were approved for compensation under Section 5 of RECA, or their eligible survivors, up to an additional $50,000 and future medical benefits related to the condition for which they were approved for compensation under RECA. You need not have actually received your payment from RECA in order to be found eligible for the additional compensation and benefits under EEOICPA.

Need more information? See our Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to re-file my RECA claim to be eligible for EEOICPA?

No. If you have been approved under Section 5 of RECA (which includes uranium miners, millers, and ore transporters) and were awarded $100,000 in compensation, you do not need to file another claim form under the RECA Program. Instead, you should file an EEOICPA claim form as instructed below. (You need not have actually received your payment from RECA.)

Are all RECA claimants eligible for compensation and benefits under EEOICPA?

No. EEOICPA provides additional compensation and benefits only to those RECA claimants who were approved under Section 5 of RECA, which covers uranium miners, millers, and ore transporters.

How do I file an EEOICPA claim?

Claim forms are available from the Department of Labor's Website at www.dol.gov. If you were once a uranium miner, miller, or ore transporter, you should fill out Form EE-1, " Claim for Benefits under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act." If you are the survivor of a uranium miner, miller, or ore transporter, you should fill out Form EE-2, " Claim for Survivor Benefits under Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act." You will also need to sign a Privacy Act Release, which will allow us to release to the Department of Labor information from your RECA claim file needed to process your EEOICPA claim. Disclosure of the information contained in your RECA file is voluntary; however, it may not be possible to process your EEOICPA claim without the information. If you are a former uranium miner, miller, or ore transporter (rather than the survivor of a former miner, miller, or ore transporter), you may be eligible for medical benefits related to the condition for which you were approved under RECA. It is important to understand that any medical treatment you receive on or after the date you file your claim, but no earlier than July 31, 2001, may be paid for. Thus, if you want your medical benefits to be paid from as early as July 31, 2001 (the date on which EEOICPA becomes effective), it is in your best interest to file your claim form on or before that date.

When can I file my EEOICPA claim?

You may send in your claim now. The Department of Labor will begin processing claims when the law goes into effect on July 31, 2001.

Is there a deadline for filing my EEOICPA claim?

There is no deadline. However, if you are eligible you will only be able to obtain medical benefits for treatment of your RECA claim illness beginning on the date you file your claim, but no earlier than July 31, 2001.

Are surviving spouses eligible for benefits?

Yes, if they were married to the eligible uranium miner, miller, or ore transporter when he died.

Are children eligible for benefits?

Yes, if their parent was approved for compensation under Section 5 of RECA, and (1) they were unmarried and under 18, or unmarried and full-time students under age 23 when their parent died, or (2) they were unmarried and 18 or older but incapable of self-support when their parent died.

Where do I mail my EEOICPA claim form?

Your claim form should be mailed to the Department of Labor's Office Of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) at the following address:

U.S. Department of Labor OWCP/DEEOIC P.O. Box 77918 Washington, D.C., 20013-7918

For your claim to be processed, you must provide (1) your claim form (available at www.dol.gov, (2) a signed Privacy Act Release, and (3) a copy of your Award Letter from the RECA Program.

May I file my EEOICPA claim with the RECA Program Office at the Department of Justice?

No. Doing so will only delay the processing of your EEOICPA claim.

Will my EEOICPA claim be accepted for filing if I am unable to attach a copy of my RECA Award Letter?

Yes. You should search your records and make every attempt to attach a copy of the Award Letter that you received from the RECA Program.

If I have additional questions, who should I contact?

If you have additional questions, you should check the Department of Labor's Web site at www.dol.gov, or you may contact the Department of Labor's toll-free call center at 1-866-888-3322 for additional information.

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