OWCP News Release: [01/11/2012]
Contact Name: Jesse Lawder Mary Brandenberger
Phone Number: (202) 693-4659 (202) 693-4651
Email Address: lawder.jesse@dol.gov brandenberger.mary@dol.gov
Release Number: 12-0034-ATL (008)
US Department of Labor to host Traveling Resource Center in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Jan. 18 to assist nuclear weapons workers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host a Traveling Resource Center on Jan. 18 in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to provide information about a new class of former Y-12 plant employees recently added to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act’s Special Exposure Cohort.
Stationary resource centers are based in 11 locations nationwide and provide in-person and telephone-based assistance to serve individuals regardless of where they live. The department’s Traveling Resource Center takes these services on the road to assist workers in the claim-filing process. Representatives from the Jacksonville District Office of the department’s Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation and its Oak Ridge Resource Center will be present to answer questions, provide claim status updates and assist individuals interested in filing new claims under the EEOICPA.
The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. Survivors of qualified individuals also may be eligible for benefits. A worker who is included in a designated SEC class of employees, and who is diagnosed with one of 22 specified cancers, may receive a presumption of causation under the EEOICPA. On Oct. 18, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designated the following class of employees as an addition to the SEC: all employees of the U.S. Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at the Y-12 facility in Oak Ridge from Jan. 1, 1948, through Dec. 31, 1957, for at least 250 workdays occurring either solely under this employment or in combination with workdays within the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC. This designation became effective on Nov. 17. The Labor Department’s role is to adjudicate these claims based on the new SEC class definition as determined and introduced by HHS.
To date, more than $1 billion in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits has been paid to 8,940 eligible Y-12 claimants, while more than $7.7 billion has been paid nationwide. For additional information about the upcoming Traveling Resource Center visit or to schedule an appointment for claim-filing assistance, contact the Oak Ridge Resource Center toll-free at 866-481-0411. This event is open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
| TRAVELING RESOURCE | Wednesday, Jan. 18 |
| LOCATION: | Doubletree Hotel |
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