Frequently Asked Questions

An Authorized Representative is a person a claimant legally appoints to act on their behalf in dealings with the Department of Labor for EEOICPA claims administration. There are a small number of EEOICPA Authorized Representatives who are true experts and focus solely on EEOICPA claims, such as myself. 

As your Authorized Representative, I handle all of the necessary claims administration process including research, documentation, and paperwork needed for successful and timely claim processing.  I have great expertise in linking illnesses to toxic chemical exposure(s) and pride myself for possessing great passion in helping this specific population!  It is a passion of mine to help those who have helped secure our Country's Freedom!  

Nuclear Heroes Advocacy, LLC never charges any fee upfront for EEOICPA filing claims administration services.  Under the Law, the EEOICPA allows an Authorized Representative to charge a maximum of 2% for New Claims, & 10% to Reopen/Refile any previously denied claims ONLY when/if your claim is approved.  No matter how much time I've spent on your claim, there is no fee unless your claim gets approved.

Take the time commitment and burden off of your shoulders and let an expert handle the claims process for you!  The claims process can take up to 18 months with numerous correspondences from the Department of Labor that will request various additional information needed to adjudicate your claim.  The most important quality, besides my bona fide expertise in the EEOICPA, is my passion that I have in serving this population!  As your authorized representative, I take all of the burden off of you with the entire claims administration and ensure timely responses, and credible research based evidence in establishing a more favorable outcome for you.  This includes but not limited to:

• Requesting your exact medical records from your physician needed to support your claim
• Claims administration by submitting all of the required documentation and forms
• Responding to every DOL correspondences in a timely manner (with the exception of payment form EN20, if approved)
• Staying on top of your case in live time on the DOL online portal to ensure that the claim is being processed correctly per the EEOICPA procedure manual and that nothing falls into a loophole
• Coordinating with your physician if any additional evidence or support is needed
• Providing evidence that your claimed condition is scientifically proven to be linked to your occupational exposure(s) through credible scientific medical literature
• Staying on top of the DOL claims examiner to ensure the claim's timeline stays on track
• Timely initiation of impairment evaluation and submittal of required forms and medical records for the maximum compensation possible based on your case
• Referral to a local medical benefits specialist, once approved, to help you maximize the most out of your white card medical benefits, and much more!

Yes. 

If you have the time, patience, and knowledge to get through government paperwork and reply to DOL correspondences accurately and timely, you may be successful at self-filing. My advice, however, is to first review the historical approval rates on the DOL website.   Approximately 50% of all claims are denied for various reasons-many of which are premature denials just missing a simple piece of needed documentation or the scientific medical literature research needed to prove your case.  Here are the latest statistics: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/weeklystats.htm.  

You and your family have been through a lot, the last thing you need is to deal with an overcomplicated filing process, confusing paperwork, and potential setbacks that may lead to a claim denial.  This is why Nuclear Heroes Advocacy, LLC exists! With my expertise on the filing process and extensive knowledge on the EEOICPA program, I am able to identify the quickest route to a successful claim. 

NO. 

*For legal purposes, I am not tax accountant and do not provide financial or tax advice.  

The link to the full text of the EEOICPA law is provided below. A specific clause states:  “Compensation or benefits provided to an individual under this (EEOICPA) …  (1)  shall be treated for purposes of the internal revenue laws of the United States as damages for human suffering; and (2)  shall not be included as income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility to receive benefits described in section 3803(c)(2)(C) of Title 31, or the amount of such benefits.  Pub. L. 106-398, Title XXXVI, § 3646; Pub. L. 108-375, § 3162(e)  http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/law/EEOICPAALL.htm  Section 3803(c)(2)(C) of Title 31  http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/3803

*No-cost medical coverage for the approved condition, may include but not limited to, Doctor Visits, Medical Treatments, Outpatient Therapies, Durable Medical Equipment (Walker/Rollator, Lift Chairs, Hospital Bed, grab bars etc.), Medications/Prescriptions, Travel to the doctor, hospital, or other facilities, Inpatient and outpatient hospital charges, including ER visits, Ambulance Services, Diagnostic Laboratory Testing, Radiological Testing (Xray, CT scan, PET scan, MRI, etc), Home Health Care and a 

*Tax-Free Financial Compensation (amounts vary case by case and whole body impairment).

Yes, you may be entitled to more benefits.  Here are the top 3 reasons how you might qualify to file again.

• Additional qualifying primary illness not as a result of your already approved condition.

• Consequential conditions can arise for any reason established as being medically linked to a previously accepted work-related illness. In some instances, a “chain of causation” can result in a series of injuries, illnesses, impairments, or diseases, which are a direct consequence of an accepted work-related illness. 

• Every 2 years DOL impairment evaluation.  An impairment award is monetary compensation for the permanent loss of function of a body part or organ, due to a covered illness under the EEOICPA, as established by medical evidence and measured by percentage points. For each one percent of impairment, $2,500 is awarded.  As most chronic illnesses progressively decline over time,  the DOL allows a claimant to request re-evaluation every two years until 100% impairment is reached.