If you work as a miner and ever develop cancer or some other type of chronic disease because of radiation, then you have the right to be compensated. This is all thanks to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). To get your benefits, here are some things you'll want to do.
Make Sure Your Condition Is Professionally Documented
In order to receive rewards using RECA, you have to show without a doubt that you have a serious condition that was caused by radiation exposure due to mining conditions. That's where professional documentation from doctors will come in handy.
You need to get an official diagnosis and be able to link it with working in a mine and being exposed to radiation. Then you'll have an easier time getting your RECA application to go through the first time and without any major delays.
Fill Out Application Carefully
Once you get all of the medical documentation ready to go, you can start the application process. It will involve multiple forms that you need to carefully fill out as accurately as you can. Then subsequent stages of dealing with RECA benefits will be easy to handle as a whole.
You'll need to include details like your name, the mining company you worked for, when you worked for them, and the type of medical problem you're suffering from because of radiation. Fill these forms out perfectly so that your benefits are awarded without any obstacles getting in the way.
Show an Autopsy Report if You're a Surviving Family Member
If you're a surviving family member trying to use RECA, then you'll want to send in an autopsy report for the loved one that passed away because of mining radiation. This will be an important document that acts as proof that radiation was the cause of death.
Then you should have a much easier time getting RECA benefits without having to jump through a bunch of hoops. This is especially true if there's a direct link showing your loved one's death was because of constant radiation exposure from mining.
RECA is something very important to families affected by radiation caused by mining activities. If you're ever put in a situation of having to use it, you want to be very meticulous with the compensation process. Then you won't be prone to making a bunch of mistakes that delay or deny you these important financial benefits.
