Frequently Asked Questions

 An Authorized Representative is someone legally appointed by a claimant to manage and communicate with the Department of Labor (DOL) on their behalf regarding claims under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA).

Only a small group of professionals specializes exclusively in EEOICPA claims, and I’m proud to be one of them.

As your Authorized Representative, I handle the entire claims process, from gathering documentation and conducting research to completing and submitting all necessary paperwork. I bring deep expertise in connecting occupational illnesses to toxic exposure and am deeply committed to supporting this deserving community. It is truly an honor to assist those who contributed to securing our nation’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, you can.

If you're comfortable navigating complex government forms and responding promptly and accurately to Department of Labor (DOL) communications, you may be able to file your own claim successfully. However, before starting, it's a good idea to review historical approval rates on the DOL website. On average, about 50% of claims are denied—often due to minor issues like missing documents or the absence of supporting medical or scientific evidence. You can view the latest statistics here: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/weeklystats.htm.  

Given everything you and your family have already been through, taking on a complicated claims process can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. That’s exactly why Nuclear Heroes Advocacy, LLC is here. With my in-depth knowledge of the EEOICPA program and experience with the claims process, I can help streamline your case and improve your chances of a successful outcome.

NO.

EEOICPA compensation, under federal guidelines, is not taxable. Specifically, the EEOICPA law states that compensation received under it is treated as damages for human suffering and is exempt from federal income tax. EEOICPA awards are a form of compensation for human suffering. Under 42 U.S.C. § 7385e, such income is exempt from taxes. State laws generally align with this federal exemption, meaning EEOICPA compensation is also not subject to state income tax.

The link to the full text of the EEOICPA law is provided below.

A specific clause in the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) 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

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

*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.