Attention: This bulletin has expired and is inactive.
EEOICPA BULLETIN NO.03-04
Issue Date:
________________________________________________________________
Effective Date:
________________________________________________________________
Expiration Date:
________________________________________________________________
Subject: RECA (Radiation Exposure Compensation Act) Indicator
Background: The RECA Indicator in ECMS has been expanded to show whether the DOJ (Department of Justice) confirmed the claimant or deceased employee was a Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) recipient. The RECA indicator must be entered on all DEEOIC cases. This includes RECA and non-RECA cases in the four District Offices. The only time the RECA Indicator is not used in the District Office is when all of these conditions have been met.
1) The claimant did not indicate on the EE-1 or EE-2
whether s/he received a RECA award letter.
2) The claim is non-RECA.
3) A payment is not being issued.
Reference: ECMS v.1.4.11.13 Release Notes, Updated
Purpose: To notify the District Offices that entry of the RECA Indicator is mandatory. The indicator is to be used on RECA and non-RECA cases. Additionally, the bulletin describes how the list box has been expanded and to provide guidance on its usage.
Applicability: All staff.
Actions:
1. At Case Create (ECMS, Claim Screen), the Case Create Clerk (CCC) reviews the EE-1 (Item 14) or EE-2 (Item 20) to determine
if the claimant received an award letter from the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The CCC inputs the Recvd RECA Ind (Received RECA Indicator) which is either Y or N:
Y – Yes – The claimant checked the Y box indicating that
s/he or the deceased employee received a RECA
award letter.
N – No - The claimant checked the N box indicating that
s/he or the deceased employee did not receive
a RECA award letter.
2. The CCC is responsible for entering a Y when the Yes box is checked and a N when the No box is checked. This applies to RECA and non-RECA claims that are received in the District Office. However, if neither box is checked, the CCC does not make any entry in the RECA list box.
3. The Claims Examiner (CE) reviews the claim to ensure the Y/N entered by the CCC is accurate.
4. If neither box is checked, the CE is responsible for reviewing the claim. In particular, the CE looks at whether the employee was a uranium worker (
5. The CE contacts the DOJ on all RECA claims in which the claimant indicated that s/he received an award letter or one in which the CE suspects an award letter may have been received. The CE sends the request to DOJ and enters the DJ status code along with the status effective date (date request is made) in ECMS (Case Status screen). The EEOICPA PM 2-900(5) notes that the DOJ must confirm the eligibility of a claimant for RECA benefits. (Note: Requests should not be sent to DOJ if the DOJ letter is in the case file.)
6. After a confirmation letter is received from the DOJ, the CE inputs one of the following RECA Indicator codes in ECMS (Claim Update screen).
4 – To be used when the claimant is confirmed as a RECA
IV award recipient.
5 – To be used when the claimant is confirmed as a RECA V
award recipient.
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X – The claimant is non-RECA. (Note: The CE may enter the X indicator at any time to confirm his/her determination that the case is non-RECA. That is, an X
entry is not tied solely to receipt of a letter from DOJ
that confirms non-RECA status.)
7. If the DOJ response indicates that the claimant has a pending claim with DOJ, the DEEOIC case should be closed (Closure Code C9) until the DOJ claim has been adjudicated. The Y/N code is not changed. It remains Y or N until the claim is reopened and the CE determines whether the Y or N should be replaced with the 4, 5, or X code.
8. If the DOJ confirms the claimant was a RECA IV or V award recipient or that the claimant is non-RECA, the RECA Indicator must be 4, 5, or X at the time the recommended acceptance or denial decision is issued. ECMS will not allow a payment to be made on a RECA claim unless the RECA Indicator is in place.
9. If a letter was not sent to the DOJ because there was no indication that the claimant was a RECA recipient, the CE must still enter the RECA Indicator X at the time the recommended acceptance or denial decision is issued. ECMS will not allow a payment to be made on a non-RECA claim unless the RECA Indicator is in place.
10. The only time the RECA Indicator does not have to read 4, 5, or X at the time of recommended decision is when all of the following conditions have been met:
- The claimant did not indicate on the EE-1/EE-2 whether
s/he received a RECA award letter.
- The CE determines the claim is non-RECA.
- Payment is not being made on the case.
11. The Senior Claims Examiner is responsible for ensuring the RECA Indicator has been correctly entered on all RECA and non-RECA cases prior to signing recommended decisions.
12. Backfill will not be done on cases without the RECA indicator in ECMS.
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Disposition: Retain until incorporated in the Federal (EEOICPA) Procedure Manual.
PETER M. TURCIC
Director, Division of Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation
Distribution List No. 1: (Claims Examiners, Supervisory Claims Examiners, Technical Assistants, Customer Service Representatives, Fiscal Officers, FAB District Managers, Operation Chiefs, Hearing Representatives, District Office Mail & File Sections.)
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