US Department of Labor to host town hall meetings in Albuquerque April 8-9 to assist nuclear weapons workers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Labor will host two town hall meetings on Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, in Albuquerque to provide the public with information about the medical benefits available under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The EEOICPA provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry. At the town hall meetings, presentations will be made on home health care services and how to better serve EEOICPA claimants.

Staff from the Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation's Denver and Seattle district offices and Espanola Resource Center, which is based in Espanola, N.M., will also be available April 8 and 9 to assist individuals with the filing of claims under the EEOICPA and provide claimants with status updates on their existing EEOICPA claims. The EEOICPA is administered by DEEOIC, part of the Labor Department's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

The Labor Department works with physicians who have enrolled with the program, home health care providers and approved beneficiaries to ensure that the medical benefits afforded under the EEOICPA are handled in a fair and expeditious manner.

To date, $1.25 billion in EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits has been paid to over 11,952 claimants living in New Mexico, while more than $10.2 billion has been paid nationwide. For additional information about the upcoming town hall meetings or to schedule an appointment for claim-filing assistance, contact the Espanola Resource Center toll-free at 866-272-3622. These meetings are open to the public, and pre-registration is not required. The information presented on each day will be the same. Space is limited and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

TOWN HALL MEETING PRESENTATION DATES/TIMES:April 8 and 9 at 9:00 a.m. MDT

DISTRICT OFFICE & RESOURCE CENTER STAFF HOURS:8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MDT

LOCATION: Crowne Plaza Albuquerque 1901 University Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87102