Understanding the Benefits of the EEOICPA

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) is available to workers and their families who were exposed to harmful chemicals, toxins, and heavy metals with high levels of radiation as a part of their jobs in the U.S. nuclear weapons industry. If you or a family member were injured as a result of this exposure, you may be eligible for compensation.

What Benefits Are Available?

The EEOICPA provides various benefits to workers and their families who were injured due to their exposure to hazardous materials. These benefits include medical benefits, wage-loss benefits, and death benefits. Additionally, the program also provides compensation for certain medical expenses, such as travel costs for medical treatment.

Part B Benefits

Covered medical services for both Parts B & E include:

• Payment of medical expenses for covered illnesses from the date a claim is filed
• Lump-sum compensation of up to $150,000
  • This sum is payable to the claimant or their eligible survivors

• Doctors’ visits
• Outpatient and inpatient care
• Lab testing
• Therapy, including physical, occupational, and speech
• In-home medical care
• Prescriptions
• Durable medical equipment
• Travel expenses related to medical services

Part E Benefits

• Payment of medical expenses for the treatment of covered medical conditions
• Monetary compensation up to $250,000 based on a combination of lost wages and impairment

• Lost wage calculations:
  • $10,000 for each year before Social Security full retirement age (FRA) that the worker’s wages were between 25% and 50% lower than the worker’s average wage during the three years prior to the first quarter of wage loss
  • $15,000 for each year before FRA that the worker’s wages were at least 50% lower than the worker’s average wage during the three years prior to the first quarter of wage loss
• Impairment calculations:
  • $2,500 for each percentage point of whole body impairment as determined using the current edition of the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment