Camp Lejeune Justice Act Settlement Calculator
Federal program (not a class action) under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (part of the PACT Act). Estimate Elective-Option vs. full-litigation outcomes for veterans, family members, and civilian workers exposed to contaminated water 1953–1987.
How much will I actually get? If your case fits the Elective Option: somewhere between $100,000 and $550,000 depending on diagnosis and exposure length. Full litigation can range from $10,000 to $1,000,000+, especially for severe injury or wrongful death — but takes longer and requires DOJ negotiation or trial.
✅ Federal program active — Elective Option ($100K–$550K) and full-litigation pathways live. ⚠️ Admin-claim filing deadline of August 10, 2024 has PASSED; new claims generally not accepted. Existing 261,000+ claims being processed (slowly).
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement
$21B Settlement Fund
Est. 500,000 eligible claimants
Your Details
Your Estimated Payout
$5,292 — $7,938
Actual Camp Lejeune Payouts — settled federal administrative claims nationwide
Across settled federal administrative claims nationwide, this benchmark is based on 1,193 real payments totaling $319.1M from Official payment records from the U.S. Treasury Department.
Average
$268K
Median
$300K
25th %ile
$150K
90th %ile
$400K
Source: U.S. Treasury Judgment Fund. These are settled federal administrative claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, not litigation verdicts. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
What the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Actually Covers
Between 1953 and 1987, the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (NC) was contaminated with industrial solvents — primarily trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride. Hundreds of thousands of military, family members, and civilian workers consumed and bathed in that water for decades.
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (signed into law as part of the PACT Act) gave affected individuals the right to sue the United States in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina — bypassing the usual sovereign-immunity bar. This is a federal program with statutorily defined eligibility, not a class-action settlement.
The Department of Justice and Navy launched the Elective Option in September 2023 — a codified, faster-path payout matrix from $100,000 to $550,000 depending on diagnosis and exposure length. Full litigation remains an option for those who want to pursue more (typically severe injury or wrongful death). By the August 10, 2024 filing deadline, 261,000+ administrative claims had been filed with the Navy. Official: navy.mil/clja/.
Example Eligibility & Tier Profiles
These illustrative profiles show how the Elective Option tiers typically apply. Exact amounts depend on the DOJ matrix.
Profile 1 — Marine, Bladder Cancer, 2 Years on Base
Active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune 1980–1982 (730 days). Diagnosed with bladder cancer 2018. Has DD-214, full medical records, oncology causation opinion.
Elective Option tier near the top of bladder-cancer band ($450K cap) given exposure length + documentation. Estimate: ~$300K–$450K via Elective Option.
Check if this is your situation →Profile 2 — Civilian Worker, Liver Cancer, 4 Years
Civilian engineer at Camp Lejeune 1975–1979. Liver cancer diagnosis 2010. Has employment records, medical records, presence documentation.
Elective Option Tier 1 (liver cancer) at upper-mid band: ~$150K–$300K estimate. Civilian-worker status fully eligible under CLJA.
Check if this is your situation →Profile 3 — Family Member, Parkinson’s, Childhood Exposure
Lived in Camp Lejeune base housing as a child 1968–1973 with active-duty parent. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 55. Has base-housing records and medical opinion.
Elective Option Parkinson’s band: ~$250K–$400K estimate depending on documentation. Family-member eligibility confirmed under CLJA.
Check if this is your situation →Profile 4 — Wrongful Death (Surviving Spouse)
Husband stationed at Camp Lejeune 1970–1974, died of kidney cancer 2019. Surviving spouse files on behalf of estate.
Wrongful-death pathway under CLJA. Elective Option or full litigation; full litigation often pursued for wrongful-death cases. Estimate: top-of-range Elective Option or $500K+ in full litigation, depending on facts.
Check if this is your situation →Profile 5 — Brief Visit, No Qualifying Condition
Visited Camp Lejeune for a one-week training in 1985. No qualifying diagnosis.
Not eligible. 30-day exposure minimum not met; no qualifying diagnosis. No claim available.
Check if this is your situation →Current Program Status (August 2026)
Where the Camp Lejeune Justice Act program actually stands today. The legal framework is fully operational; the practical bottleneck is the speed at which the Navy/DOJ process claims.
Sources: navy.mil/clja/, DOJ press releases, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee oversight reports.
Who Is Eligible
You may have a Camp Lejeune Justice Act claim if ALL of these apply:
- You were present at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days (cumulative) between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987
- You were a service member, family member of a service member, or civilian worker / contractor during that period
- You were later diagnosed with a qualifying condition: kidney cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemias (adult), aplastic anemia / myelodysplastic syndromes — or wrongful-death claim involving one of these
- You can document your presence (DD-214, housing records, base-employment records)
Filing deadline: the administrative claim must have been filed with the Navy by August 10, 2024 — that window is now closed. If you missed it, consult an attorney about narrow exceptions; the practical answer in most cases is the claim is barred.
Camp Lejeune Tier Table (Elective Option & Full-Litigation Ranges)
| Claim Type | Estimated Range | Requirements / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Option — Tier 1 conditions | $100,000 – $300,000 | Includes kidney cancer, liver cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemias, multiple myeloma. Higher band requires 5+ years exposure. |
| Elective Option — Bladder Cancer | Up to $450,000 | Codified Elective Option amount for bladder cancer at maximum exposure tier. |
| Elective Option — Parkinson’s Disease | Up to $400,000 | Codified Elective Option amount for Parkinson’s at maximum exposure tier. |
| Full Litigation (opt out of Elective Option) | $10,000 – $1,000,000+ | Wider range — top end for severe injury, wrongful death, strong causation. Requires DOJ approval and may take years. |
Sources: Camp Lejeune Justice Act Elective Option matrix (DOJ Sept 2023 framework); navy.mil/clja/. Actual payouts depend on diagnosis, exposure duration, and documentation. This page is informational, not legal advice.
Camp Lejeune CLJA vs. Class-Action MDLs — Don’t Confuse Them
Camp Lejeune is a federal-program claim against the United States, NOT a class action against a corporation. Different rules, different deadlines, different process.
| Camp Lejeune (CLJA) | Pharma / Cosmetic MDLs | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Service members, families, civilians at Camp Lejeune 30+ days, 1953–1987, with qualifying diagnosis | Defined per each MDL’s class (e.g., Hair Relaxer users; Tepezza patients) |
| Fund / settlement structure | Federal program; Elective Option capped $100K–$550K; full litigation $10K–$1M+ | MDL settlement funds (e.g., 3M Earplug $6B); ranges vary widely by MDL |
| Distribution timing | Payouts accelerating (~$708M paid by Aug 2026) — still a fraction of 261K+ claims | Each MDL has its own distribution timing |
| Defendant(s) | United States (sued in E.D.N.C.) | Corporate defendants (e.g., L’Oréal, Horizon, Johnson & Johnson) |
| Filing deadline | Filing deadline August 10, 2024 — PASSED | Each MDL has its own filing deadlines (state SOL applies) |
| Court / portal | navy.mil/clja/ | Each MDL is docketed before a different federal district court |
Elective Option vs. Full Litigation — How Payouts Are Calculated
The federal program offers two pathways:
- Elective Option — a fixed matrix based on (a) qualifying diagnosis and (b) exposure duration. Faster, predictable, lower ceiling. Sept 2023 DOJ framework.
- Full Litigation — file suit in E.D.N.C. and litigate damages individually. Slower, requires more evidence, higher potential ceiling (especially for severe injury and wrongful death).
The interactive calculator above estimates your tier within the Elective Option framework. Both options are mutually exclusive — accepting the Elective Option waives the right to full litigation.
| Pathway | Mechanism | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Option — Standard | Codified DOJ payout matrix | $100,000 – $550,000 (capped by diagnosis + exposure tier) |
| Full Litigation — Standard injury | Settlement or jury verdict | $10,000 – $1,000,000 |
| Full Litigation — Severe / wrongful death | Settlement or jury verdict (top-tier cases) | $1,000,000+ (top of range) |
Camp Lejeune Justice Act Timeline
- 1
1953–1987: Water Contamination Period
Drinking water at Camp Lejeune contaminated with TCE, PCE, benzene, and vinyl chloride from industrial waste, leaking storage tanks, and an off-base dry cleaner. ATSDR later identifies hundreds of thousands of affected service members, dependents, and workers.
- 2
2012: Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act
Provides VA health care for affected veterans and dependents — but does NOT permit lawsuits against the United States. Sovereign-immunity bar remained until 2022.
- 3
August 2022: PACT Act / Camp Lejeune Justice Act Signed
Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 (Section 804 of the Honoring our PACT Act) opens a two-year window for affected individuals to file administrative claims and, if denied or unresolved within six months, sue the United States in E.D.N.C.
- 4
September 2023: Elective Option Launched
DOJ and Navy roll out the Elective Option matrix — $100K to $550K payouts based on diagnosis and exposure length — to accelerate resolution. Claimants can accept the Elective Option or opt for full litigation.
- 5
August 10, 2024: Administrative-Claim Filing Deadline (PASSED)
Last day to file an admin claim with the Navy was August 10, 2024 - 261,000+ admin claims were filed. Early processing was infamously slow, but payouts accelerated through 2026: roughly $708M paid so far, with courts now pushing for a comprehensive settlement framework by October 30, 2026.
Why This Case Matters
Camp Lejeune is the largest toxic-exposure federal-liability program in U.S. history. The PACT Act/CLJA model — Congress opening a defined window to sue the U.S. for past contamination — is now a template for other historical exposures (PFAS / AFFF, base contamination cases, etc.). The biggest critique is distribution speed: 261,000+ claims vs. ~58 paid in 18 months. Related toxic-exposure litigations: 3M AFFF (PFAS firefighting foam), Hair Relaxer MDL, Roundup (glyphosate).
What Drives a Camp Lejeune Payout
- Diagnosed condition severity: Bladder cancer, kidney cancer, Parkinson’s, and wrongful-death cases anchor the highest Elective-Option bands. Other presumptive conditions (Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemias, aplastic anemia) fall in lower bands.
- Length and continuity of exposure: 30 days minimum is the legal threshold. Within the Elective Option, longer continuous exposure (1–5+ years) bumps you into higher tier bands.
- Documentation strength: DD-214 (military), housing records (family members), employment records (civilians), plus medical records and a causation opinion are the standard package. Stronger documentation moves you up the tier and reduces processing delay.
- Elective Option vs. full litigation choice: The Elective Option pays faster and at codified amounts. Full litigation can yield more but requires DOJ approval, more documentation, and typically takes years. Most cases choose Elective Option; complex severe cases consider full litigation.
- Distribution speed (the real bottleneck): Payouts accelerated sharply in 2026 (roughly $708M paid so far; a March 2026 DOJ release reported $421M+ since mid-January) - but measured against 261,000+ admin claims, most claimants still wait. Expect months to years between claim filing and actual payment; courts have set October 30, 2026 as the target for a global settlement framework.
Camp Lejeune Scams — What to Watch For
Because Camp Lejeune covers hundreds of thousands of potential claimants and involves federal money, it attracts heavy scammer attention. Common patterns to recognize:
⚠️ TV/radio ads promising guaranteed six-figure payouts
Real Elective Option amounts are codified and conditional on diagnosis + exposure tier. Anyone — including law firms — promising a guaranteed dollar amount before evaluating your case is overselling.
⚠️ Up-front fees or “processing charges”
Legitimate attorneys work on contingency. The VA and Navy never charge to process a claim. Any up-front fee request is a red flag.
⚠️ Cold calls asking for SSN, bank, or Medicare/Medicaid info
Neither the Navy/DOJ nor a legitimate attorney needs detailed financial info from a cold call. Hang up and verify via navy.mil/clja/ or a known law firm.
⚠️ “File now or lose your claim!” pressure to file past the deadline
The filing window closed August 10, 2024. Anyone pressuring you to file now and claiming exceptions are routinely granted is misleading. Exceptions exist but are narrow and require attorney analysis.
⚠️ Fake VA / DOD email asking to “verify your claim”
Phishing emails impersonate the VA, DoD, and Navy with requests to “verify” claim info or login credentials. Government agencies do not request login credentials by email. Verify via the official navy.mil/clja/ portal.
Camp Lejeune Justice Act FAQs
I missed the August 10, 2024 deadline — can I still file?
Generally no. The CLJA gave a strict two-year filing window that closed August 10, 2024. There are narrow exceptions for service members with later-discovered conditions or unusual circumstances (e.g., recently uncovered medical link), but those are case-by-case and require attorney analysis.
Which conditions qualify?
Kidney cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, adult leukemias, aplastic anemia / myelodysplastic syndromes — plus wrongful-death claims involving any of these. Other conditions may qualify under full litigation with strong causation evidence but are outside the Elective Option matrix.
How much will I actually get?
If your case fits the Elective Option: somewhere between $100,000 and $550,000 depending on diagnosis and exposure length. Full litigation can range from $10,000 to $1,000,000+, especially for severe injury or wrongful death — but takes longer and requires DOJ negotiation or trial. Use the interactive calculator above for a profile-based estimate.
Why is the program so slow?
The Navy/DOJ initially budgeted for tens of thousands of claims and received 261,000+. Staffing, document review, and DOJ approval processes were not scaled for that volume, and early payouts were infamously slow. The pace improved substantially in 2026 (roughly $708M paid so far, offers recently at ~650 in three weeks), and federal judges now require weekly DOJ/plaintiffs meetings with an October 30, 2026 target for a global settlement framework. Bipartisan Senate oversight continues to press for faster processing.
Do I have to choose between Elective Option and full litigation?
Yes. The two pathways are mutually exclusive. Accepting an Elective Option offer waives your right to pursue full litigation for the same claim. Most claimants choose Elective Option for speed and certainty; complex severe injury or wrongful-death cases more often choose full litigation.
Do I need to pay an attorney up front?
No. CLJA attorneys work on contingency — paid a percentage of any recovery (commonly 20–25% under federal limits for CLJA cases). If there’s no recovery, you owe no fee.
Is the Camp Lejeune payout taxable?
Compensation for personal physical injury or sickness is generally not taxable under IRC Section 104(a)(2). Punitive-damages portions and interest are usually taxable. This is not tax advice — consult a tax professional.
What if my parent / spouse died of a qualifying condition?
Wrongful-death claims are explicitly within scope of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, filed by the estate or eligible survivors per state law. Documented presence (1953–1987, 30+ days) and one of the qualifying diagnoses as cause of death anchors a strong claim. Wrongful-death cases often pursue full litigation rather than Elective Option.
What military base toxic exposure veterans disability benefits exist beyond Camp Lejeune?
Two routes run in parallel and do not exclude each other. VA disability compensation covers service-connected illness from toxic exposure, and the PACT Act of 2022 widened it substantially — adding presumptive conditions for burn-pit and airborne-hazard exposure and extending coverage to other contaminated installations, so a claim no longer always requires proving the link yourself. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act route on this page is separate: a civil claim against the United States, open to veterans, family members and civilian workers alike, and unusual in that it does not require service connection at all. Filing one does not bar the other, though a CLJA award is offset against certain VA payments for the same harm.
What’s Still Uncertain
The big open question is the court-ordered endgame: federal judges have directed the DOJ and plaintiffs' leadership to meet weekly and set October 30, 2026 as the target for a comprehensive global settlement framework - with the threat of replacing leadership counsel and sanctioning DOJ lawyers if it slips. In the E.D.N.C. litigation, courts have dismissed 166 cases, leaving roughly 3,590 pending lawsuits. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated total federal liability could reach $21 billion - against ~$0.7 billion paid so far. Distribution speed remains the program's biggest uncertainty; individual timing is not predictable.