06/07/2026
Paper application tutorial.
For those of you just learning about Idaho Downwinders I will try to give a short overview. If you want to file a claim online here is the portal link.
https://reca.justice.gov/ClaimsPortal/s/?language=en_US
The paper application link is here:
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:b8fe087d-15a1-46f4-9101-4c100454d38e
These instructions take you through the paper application. The online version is similar.
On page #1 of the application, Part 1, is the information for the person filling out this form. Part 1 continues onto page #2. It has two places for your address, the first is your mailing address and the second is your physical address.
Page #2 Check no on the Tribal information if it does not apply to you.
Part 2, this is where you fill in the information for the person who had cancer. If you are the person that had cancer, skip Part 2.
Page #3 Part 3, This is your relationship to the person who had cancer.
Parts 4,5,6 & 7 are to be filled out with your relationship to the person who had cancer.
ALL vital records need to be certified. Birth and death records have to have a raised seal on them to be valid for this application. You can order birth and death records at vitalchek.com. they will be $26.50 each. If you need certified marriage records, contact the County Courthouse where the marriage took place and order one there. In Idaho they will be $2 each. Divorce decrees are only needed to show the end of a marriage for the person who had cancer and passed. Any self filers or beneficiaries do not need divorce decrees.
Page #5, This is for listing ALL children or grandchildren alive or dead. Use a separate sheet of paper if necessary to list them all.
If one or more beneficiaries do not want to be part of this claim, write down their last know contact information. The RECA program will contact them and ask if they want to be part of the claim. If they choose not to participate their portwill be set aside in an account for them if they ever want it. After that the rest of the beneficiaries will have their claims processed.
Page #6, Part 8, This section is for the time frame of when the person who had cancer lived in Idaho. The top check box applies to most Downwinders. The person who had cancer had to have lived in Idaho for at least one year between the times of January 21, 1951 and November 6, 1962. The second check box is for anyone that can't prove a full year, only needs to prove (one month) June 30, 1962 to July 31, 1962.
Page #7, Write in what city or town the person who had cancer lived in Idaho between 1951-1962. Write the time frame they lived there. (example Emmett 1955-1962)
Page #8, Proof of residency. This section requires you to prove you lived in Idaho for at least one year between 1951-1962, or the month time frame. The easiest way to do this is with certified school records. If you were in school during the time frame contact the school district where the person who had cancer went to school. Ask them to send you your records in the mail with a cover letter. (the cover letter is the certification) If you can't find school records you can use birth certificates of siblings, marriage records, tax records, letters, church records, voting records, personal diaries are just some of the documents you can use as long as they are from the time frame.
Also you can go to the library close to where the person who had cancer lived. Ask the library if they have any information to prove residency in that area between 1951-1962. If they do get copies and have them write a cover letter.
On the Idaho State Archives website they have a link on their main page for Downwinder request form. Fill it out and they will look through their archives for information on the person who had cancer. They will send you copies and a cover letter.
https://history.idaho.gov/archives/reca/
On the University of Idaho Library website they have a Downwinder request form also. Fill it out online and if they find your person that had cancer they will send the copies to you with a cover letter.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Y2u8fpJXGUqyCwS4JgSIUxaSEHQ0MBFJmCa2EIVFmhNURUQ4RjZZMFEzVjVRSjNFOEhNSTRKNk9ITC4u
At the bottom of page #8, if the person who had cancer was a member of the LDS Church you can call 801-240-3500 and ask they to do a records search for the person who had cancer. Follow their instructions to get those records.
When looking for records to prove residency, a lot of people were still living with their parents as children. In that case you would use your parent's residency as your own. Your birth certificate will tie you to your parents.
Page #9, Part 10, Check all the boxes for cancer that apply to the person who had cancer.
Part 11, Proof of disease. There are six bullet points in this section, you only need one of them, not all. If it has been more than ten years since the person had cancer, skip this part and go to the next page.
At the top of page #10, check the box to have the RECA program access the Idaho State Cancer Registry to get old cancer records. Idaho's Cancer Records go back to 1971.
The question asking if you have received help from a RESEP clinic, check no. (unless you have been given a green application, then it is checked yes)
Part 12, This is asking if you received a previous payment from RECA or a company lawsuit for the person who had cancer. This does not include insurance policies such as AFLAC. Check no if these do not apply to the person who had cancer.
The next question asks if the person who had cancer worked for the U.S. Energy Department and filed a claim. (example INL or Hanford) If this does not apply to the person who had cancer check no.
Page #11, Part 13, Check no on the attorney page. You are filing this claim yourself.
Page #12, Part 14, SKIP this page.
Page #13, Sign and date this important page!
Page #14, Fill out this information on the person who had cancer. This is the request page for the cancer records from the Idaho Cancer Registry. Make sure to sign and date this page.
At the bottom of Page #14 is the address to send this application to. Send it certified, with a signature request.
Page #15, Leave the claim number blank, they will assign it to you later.
Fill out the top portion of Page #15 and sign and date it.
If you want this information to go to someone else Fill in the bottom.
Page #16, SKIP this page.
Page #17 Is for ALL of the living beneficiaries to be listed. Each one needs to have an original signature.
If you need help along the way write down your questions and email me at [email protected]
There are a lot of different situations that have a work around so don't feel it is hopeless. Please reach out if you need help.
Tona Henderson
Director of Idaho Downwinders
