The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) offers lump sum compensation and health benefits for Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons workers. The EEOICP also provides lump-sum compensation to survivors if a worker is killed on the job. Nuclear weapons employees can apply for benefits under either Part B or Part E of the EEOICP.

Under Part B of the EEOICP, $150,000 and payment of medical bills is available for:

• DOE workers, its contractors, subcontractors and nuclear weapons employers with radiation-induced cancer as long as:
  • The worker developed cancer after working at the DOE, its contractors or subcontractors  and
  • The cancer is likely related to that employment or
  • The employee is a member of the Special Exposure Cohort and suffered from one of the listed cancers
• Beryllium vendors working at covered facilities for the DEO who suffer from Chronic Beryllium Disease
• Miners who worked at least 250 days in the tunnels at underground atomic weapons tests sites in Alaska or Nevada who suffer from chronic silicosis

Under Part B of the EEOICP, compensation is available to survivors if the worker is deceased. In addition, compensation of $50,000 and payment of medical bills is available for uranium workers or surviving relatives previously awarded benefits under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

Under Part E of the EEOICP, DOE workers, contractors and subcontractors, or their survivors can receive compensation if the worker developed an illness from exposure to toxic substances in the workplace. Toxic substances include radiation, solvents, metals, acids and chemicals. Compensation will not exceed $250,000; the exact amount offered to the worker or survivors depends on wage loss, impairment and survivorship.

For more information on the EEOICP, visit the Department of Labor or speak to your workers’ compensation lawyer.