These resources are designed to help you understand the EEOICPA program, determine whether it may apply to you or a loved one, and find reliable support as you move forward. Every link and section below points to an official or trusted source so you can get accurate, up‑to‑date information.

Who the Program Helps

EEOICPA may apply to:

• Former DOE workers

• Contractors and subcontractors

• Uranium miners, millers, and ore transporters

• Certain federal employees involved in nuclear weapons development

• Survivors of eligible workers

If someone worked in or around the nuclear weapons industry and later developed a serious illness, EEOICPA may provide benefits.

What the Program Provides

EEOICPA offers two main types of benefits:

1. Financial Compensation

Eligible individuals may receive a lump‑sum payment depending on their diagnosis and work history. Survivors may also qualify for compensation if the worker has passed away.

2. Medical Benefits (White Card)

Approved individuals receive a White Card, which covers:

• Doctor visits

• Treatments and medications

• Medical equipment

• In‑home care

• Related medical needs for their approved condition

There is no cost to the patient for approved care.

Covered Facilities

The Department of Labor maintains a list of covered facilities — locations where workers may have been exposed to radiation or toxic substances. If someone worked at one of these sites during a covered time period, they may qualify.

The Covered Facilities List is very long — over 350+ facilities nationwide. It includes:

• Department of Energy (DOE) sites

• Atomic weapons employer (AWE) facilities

• Beryllium vendor sites

• Uranium mines, mills, and ore transporters

• Contractors and subcontractors

• Sites active from the 1940s through the Cold War and beyond

The list spans every region of the United States, with multiple facilities in states like:

• Texas

• Colorado

• Tennessee

• Ohio

• Washington

• New Mexico

• Nevada

• California

• Idaho

• Kentucky

• South Carolina

• And many more

Covered Illnesses Under EEOICPA

EEOICPA covers illnesses that are scientifically linked to radiation exposure, toxic chemicals, beryllium, and silica used throughout the U.S. nuclear weapons industry. These conditions often develop slowly over many years, which is why so many former workers are only now discovering they may qualify.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the major categories of covered illnesses.

1. Cancers

Cancer is the most commonly approved category under EEOICPA. The program recognizes cancers caused by ionizing radiation, chemical exposure, and radioactive materials.

Examples of covered cancers include:

• Lung cancer

• Breast cancer

• Prostate cancer

• Thyroid cancer

• Leukemia

• Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non‑Hodgkin)

• Multiple myeloma

• Kidney cancer

• Bladder cancer

• Brain cancer

• Esophageal cancer

• Stomach and colon cancers

• Pancreatic cancer

• Skin cancers (excluding basal cell in some cases)

Important: You do not have to prove the cancer was caused by work exposure. The Department of Labor uses a scientific model called Probability of Causation to determine whether radiation exposure at a covered facility could have contributed.

2. Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD)

Beryllium was widely used in nuclear weapons production.

Covered conditions include:

• Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD)

• Beryllium Sensitization (positive BeLPT test)

CBD is a serious lung disease caused by inhaling beryllium dust or fumes. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, and scarring of lung tissue.

3. Chronic Silicosis

Silica exposure occurred at uranium mines and certain DOE facilities.

Covered if:

• The worker was exposed for at least 250 days, and

• The diagnosis occurred 10+ years after first exposure

Silicosis causes lung scarring, breathing difficulty, and increased risk of infections.

4. Occupational Lung Diseases

Many lung conditions are covered when linked to toxic exposure.

Examples include:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Pulmonary fibrosis

• Asbestosis

• Emphysema

• Interstitial lung disease

• Radiation‑induced pneumonitis

These illnesses often develop after years of inhaling dust, fumes, solvents, or radioactive particles.

5. Toxic Exposure–Related Conditions

Workers were exposed to hundreds of hazardous substances, including solvents, heavy metals, acids, and radioactive isotopes.

Covered toxic‑exposure illnesses may include:

• Neurological disorders

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Autoimmune disorders

• Certain blood disorders

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Reproductive health issues

These are evaluated case‑by‑case based on medical evidence and exposure history.

6. Secondary Conditions

If a covered illness causes another medical condition, the secondary condition may also be approved.

Examples:

• Cancer treatment causing neuropathy

• Steroid treatment causing diabetes

• Radiation causing heart or thyroid damage

• COPD leading to chronic respiratory failure

This is important because it expands the medical benefits available under the White Card.

Why This Matters

Many former nuclear workers were exposed without proper protection or full knowledge of the risks. EEOICPA exists to acknowledge that sacrifice and ensure they receive the care and compensation they deserve.

If someone has any serious illness and worked at a covered facility, it is worth checking eligibility — even if they are unsure whether the illness is related.

Survivor Benefits Under EEOICPA

Survivor benefits are available to certain family members when a former Department of Energy (DOE) worker or contractor passes away from an illness covered under EEOICPA. These benefits exist to honor the worker’s service and ensure their family receives the compensation the worker earned but may not have lived to receive.

Survivor benefits can be awarded even if the worker never filed a claim, as long as the survivor can provide the required documentation.

Who Can Qualify as a Survivor?

Eligibility depends on the worker’s marital and family situation at the time of death. The Department of Labor recognizes the following survivors:

1. Surviving Spouse

A spouse is eligible if they were:

• Married to the worker at the time of death

• Living with the worker (or separated for reasons beyond their control)

The spouse is usually the first in line to receive benefits.

2. Children

If there is no surviving spouse, benefits may go to the worker’s children. Eligible children include:

• Biological children

• Adopted children

• Stepchildren who lived with the worker in a parent‑child relationship

Children must have been alive at the time of the worker’s death.

3. Other Family Members

If there is no spouse or children, benefits may pass to:

• Parents

• Siblings

• Grandchildren

These cases are reviewed individually.

What Survivor Benefits Include

1. Lump‑Sum Compensation

Survivors may receive:

• $150,000 under Part B (for covered cancers, CBD, silicosis)

• Additional compensation under Part E (based on wage loss and impairment)

If the worker had an approved claim but passed away before receiving payment, the survivor may receive the full amount.

2. Medical Benefits (White Card)

Survivors do not receive medical benefits for themselves. However, if the worker was approved before passing, the White Card remains valid for the worker’s medical bills up to the date of death.

3. Funeral or Burial Costs

EEOICPA does not directly pay funeral expenses, but some state or federal programs may help. Survivors can still receive compensation even if the worker passed away years earlier.

What Survivors Need to Provide

To apply, survivors typically need:

• The worker’s death certificate

• Marriage certificate (for spouses)

• Birth certificates (for children)

• Proof of relationship

• Medical records showing the covered illness

• Employment history or facility documentation

The Department of Labor reviews all documents to confirm eligibility.

When to Apply

Survivors can apply:

• Immediately after the worker’s death

• Years or even decades later

• Even if the worker never filed a claim

There is no deadline for survivor claims.

How Eligibility Is Determined

Eligibility is based on:

• Verified work history

• A qualifying diagnosis

• Exposure during covered time periods

• Documentation reviewed by the Department of Labor

Once a claim is approved, the individual receives compensation and medical benefits.