Downwinders
What are Downwinders?
From the 1940s through 1962, the United States Government conducted numerous atmospheric nuclear weapons tests at the Trinity Test Site and the Nevada Test Site, as well as on islands in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Radioactive fallout from these tests drifted across surrounding regions, exposing unsuspecting communities to dangerous levels of radiation.
In response to the widespread health consequences—including increased rates of cancer and leukemia—the U.S. Government enacted the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to provide financial compensation to individuals who developed radiation-related illnesses, and to surviving family members of those who passed away.
Under the original RECA program, compensation was available to individuals in designated areas of Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. These areas remain eligible under the expanded law. The 2025 RECA expansion broadened coverage to include all of Utah, Mohave County, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, and individuals who lived in specific ZIP codes near nuclear waste transfer routes tied to the Manhattan Project and Cold War-era contamination.
If you or a loved one lived in a covered area during a time of atmospheric testing and later developed a qualifying illness, you may now be eligible for up to $100,000 in compensation—even if the affected individual has passed away.
Qualifications
Residency Requirement
To qualify under the expanded RECA program as a Downwinder, an individual must have lived in a covered area for at least 12 consecutive months during:
- January 21, 1951 – November 6, 1962 (inclusive)
- Or June 30, 1962 – July 31, 1962, if residing only during that narrow testing window
- New Mexico residents: September 24, 1944 – November 6, 1962 (12 months within this full range)
Covered Areas
- Nevada: Lander, Eureka, White Pine, Nye, and parts of Clark County
- Utah: All counties
- Arizona: Coconino, Apache, Gila, Yavapai, Navajo, and all of Mohave County
- New Mexico and Idaho: Entire states now included under the 2025 expansion
Qualifying Illnesses
To be eligible, the individual must have been diagnosed with one of the following (as specified in the legislation and DOJ guidance) :
Primary Cancers of:
- Pharynx
- Thyroid
- Female Breast
- Male Breast
- Small Intestine
- Pancreas
- Ovary
- Salivary Gland
- Lung
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Brain
- Urinary Bladder
- Bile Ducts
- Liver
- Colon
- Gall Bladder
Other Conditions:
- Leukemia (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
- Multiple myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (excluding Hodgkin’s disease)
Proof of Residency
Valid documentation (including for household members) may include:
- Tribal enrollment cards
- School or employment records
- Birth/marriage certificates
- Personal letters or envelopes
- Property tax (rolls)
- Newspaper clippings
- Social Security or voting records
- Diaries, church, or medical records
Coming Soon: Manhattan Project Waste Eligibility
Specific guidelines for individuals living in ZIP codes near Manhattan Project-era waste transport or storage sites will be released soon. If you believe you may qualify under that category, please contact us to receive immediate updates when those details go live.
The Law Offices of Laura J. Taylor are offering free consultations. Call (877) 819-0336 or email us at info@downwindersprogram.com today to find out if you—or a deceased loved one—qualify.
Downwinders
Compensation
$100,000
Laura J. Taylor Turner
Law Offices of Laura J. Taylor, P.L.L.C.
Prescott, Arizona
Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography
File A Claim
See if you’re eligible to receive a settlement for the effects of government created radiation exposure.
Over 20+ Years of Experience
File A Claim
See if you’re eligible to receive a settlement for the effects of government created radiation exposure.