USA Pays Compensation to UK Nuclear Veterans under RECA Program.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was passed on the 5th October 1990, The Act's coverage was broadened on July 10th, 2000.

It will currently expire on July 10th 2022.

UK servicemen who participated in Operation Dominic are eligible for the program should they develop one of the established conditions.

It has paid out over $2.3 billion in benefits to over 36,000 claimants.

What are the diseases that can be claimed for?

Why does the UK not have a RECA Program?

The Ministry of Defence in the UK has relied on epidemiological studies performed by the National Radiological Protection Board (now Public Health England), rather than follow the USA and recognise their Nuclear veterans. This is despite this study only including 85% of the veterans, excludes any veterans who emigrated from the UK, and only looks at cancer and mortality.

The RECA program does not include everyone involved in Nuclear testing, but it has helped thousands of people, whereas the UK has only granted pensions to a very small number of their veterans. You do not have to prove causation under RECA to receive an award.

LABRATS asked the Cabinet Office why the UK does not have a RECA program. This is their response (30th April 2021):

How is a one-off payout of $75,000 difficult to make comparisons with? Their understanding is that the program does not translate into the UK system, yet pays out to UK participants.

The response continues, stating that all claims can be considered under the War Pensions Scheme.

Last year, a new form was produced by the Ministry of Defence to allow British nuclear veterans to apply for a war pension as a priority case. LABRATS asked the MOD for the number of veterans that have used the new form that was designed to help nuclear veterans obtain priority war pensions. Their answer was:

So the new form is not a priority form as advertised, it is a form that just asks for more comprehensive information at an initial stage, rather than at a later stage. The process for applications is currently taking over 18 months to make a claim and you have to prove causation.

Do the Cabinet Office Know about UK Payments?

The question is, do the Office for Veterans Affairs Secretariat know that the USA pays out to the UK participants of Operation Dominic (Brigadoon)? If they do, they refuse to acknowledge that the RECA program would be suitable in the UK.

Why will they not implement it?

The RECA program pays out to the families of the veteran if they are deceased (if they meet the criteria for payment). The application process is via a simple application form and the US Government has extensive documentation on the UK participants. The UK Government does not even have records on the exact number of people who were present at the testing program.

The UK government would rather spend millions of pounds fighting the veterans in court, denying them pensions, and removing information from the National Archives so that researchers and campaigners cannot access documents relevant to the testing program.

The current Veterans Minister refuses to meet with nuclear veteran organisations, they refuse to even open dialogue with the veterans themselves. Responding to veterans who served their country, informing them that they are 'vexatious' and that they will no longer correspond with them.

Are there differences?

• The USA tested atmospheric nuclear weapons, as did the UK.

• The UK tested at Christmas Island as did the USA.

• The UK performed 45 tests, the USA performed 1030 (Not including Nagasaki and Hiroshima)

• The UK tested underground at the Nevada testing grounds in the USA.

The atmospheric tests were similar, they used the same material, the yields were similar and they shared the same location (Christmas Island). So why would the USA compensate and the UK refuse?

Injustice

So if you are a British nuclear veteran, you are playing the year lottery. If you were at a nuclear test before 1962, you are not eligible for any non-causal compensation, instead, you have to apply for a war pension and prove that your condition was caused by your time at the tests.

If you went to Christmas Island in 1957 or 1958 for the Grapple series of tests you are not eligible under RECA. If you went in 1962 as part of Operation Dominic (Brigadoon) you are eligible to claim $75,000 if you have one of the conditions.

Conclusion

Do the UK government ministers know that UK participants of Operation Dominic are eligible for payments by the USA? We have educated many ministers, but there is no mention in Hansard that these payments are being made.

A RECA program does fit the UK, the tests were the same, the locations the same, the participants undertook the same duties, it is time to implement a RECA style program in the UK.

In the UK, we have an Operation Dominic veteran (Eric Barton) who has helped many families with their RECA claims. He has extensive experience and can help any family that believes that they might have a claim. Click the button below to find out more.

Find out more about RECA and UK Claims