Cold War Patriots plans town hall session for ex-Nevada Test Site workers in Pahrump

Former Nevada Test Site workers will have a chance learn about government compensation and health care benefits.

Cold War Patriots, a community resource advocacy group that helps nuclear weapons and uranium workers to get recognition, compensation and health care, will host free town hall meetings for former Nevada Test Site workers in Las Vegas and Pahrump on June 20 and 22, a recent news release states.

Former Nevada Test Site workers and survivors of workers who have passed away will learn about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and offers monetary compensation and health care benefits to workers who participated in the nuclear weapons program from 1942 until today and became sick because of radiation exposure.

Information will be available for people who have never applied for benefits, those who have applied but were denied, people whose application is pending, and those who have already received a federal Labor Department white medical benefits card but want to learn more about the benefits available to them, including in-home care.

Tim Lerew, Cold War Patriots chairman, said a recent annual report to Congress from the Ombudsman for Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act indicated that one of the biggest issues former workers face is a lack of knowledge about the program.

“This special group has suffered work-related illnesses and should be compensated for their service, but the sad fact is many people aren’t even aware of the incredible benefits available to them,” Lerew said.

“Our outreach meetings bridge that gap, and we invite anyone who worked at the Nevada Test Site to come to the presentation, ask questions, and meet with our advocates who can help them understand the financial and medical benefits they’ve earned and guide them through these often-complex government programs,” Lerew said.

Cold War Patriots is part of Professional Case Management, which provides specialized in-home health care services to nuclear weapons and uranium workers.

Visit www.coldwarpatriots.org or call 1-888-903-8989 for more information.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77