What is the maximum compensation per person provided by the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990 for downwinders?

• A. $50,000
• B. $500,000
• C. $5,000
• D. $250,000

Answer: (A)

RECA provides a one-time lump-sum payment to people affected by radiation exposure from U.S. nuclear weapons tests. For downwinders, the payment is capped at fifty thousand dollars per person. This fixed amount is intended as a straightforward remedy for each eligible individual, regardless of the number of illnesses or other factors. To receive it, claimants must meet specific exposure criteria and medical conditions and file a claim with the program. The key idea is that the compensation is an individual, per-person limit, not an amount awarded per family or per incident.