What is the EEOICPA?

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) was enacted by Congress in October 2000 to compensate current and former nuclear energy industry employees for serious illnesses they developed after working at a covered facility. The program's Part B covers compensation for workers with silicosis, beryllium illness, or radiation-induced cancers. Compensation is also available to their survivors. The EEOICPA is administered by the Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

Who Can Make a Claim?

For a Part B claim to be accepted by the DOL, it must be determined that the cancer has been caused by work-related radiation exposure at the site. To determine how much radiation the worker may have been exposed to, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) does a dose reconstruction on behalf of the claimant.

In some cases, workers can be part of a Special Exposure Cohort (SEC), where there is no need to do the NIOSH dose reconstruction. To be included, they must have one of the 22 specified forms of cancer and have worked at the covered facility during covered time periods.

What Benefits Could I Receive?

Workers whose claims are approved are compensated with medical benefits for the covered illness (the "white card"), including no cost home healthcare, and a lump sum payment of $150,000.