No — new claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, the federal law that allowed civil claims for base water contamination, are closed. According to the U.S. Navy, the filing deadline was August 10, 2024, and it is no longer accepting new claims in the Navy CLJA claims page.
This update matters if you already filed on time. Timely claims are still moving through Navy review, federal court cases, and settlement payments. Late claims cannot start that process now.
Official resources:
- Check eligibility on Va’s official study page — Use this page to check the study’s participation requirements.
- Read the original report from Justice — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
Table of Contents
- Who qualified under the closed deadline?
- What happens to claims filed on time?
- How much has been paid so far?
- What can you still do after missing the deadline?
Who qualified under the closed deadline?
The law covered people who lived, worked, or were otherwise exposed at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 total days. The exposure period was August 1, 1953 through December 31, 1987.
Claimants must allege harm linked to the contaminated water. Navy guidance describes three main exposure groups:.
- residents who lived on base for 30 or more total days
- civilian workers employed on base for 30 or more total days
- others present and exposed on base for 30 or more total days
What happens to claims filed on time?
A large backlog remains in review. The Justice Department told the court that about 408,500 de-duplicated Navy administrative claims remain in processing. The same notice reported 3,784 Camp Lejeune complaints filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina from February 11, 2023 to September 14, 2026 in the DOJ settlement-status notice.
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Only timely filers can move forward in court. After a Navy denial, or after six months without a response, a claimant has 180 days to sue in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Public Radio East reported first kidney-cancer bench trials set for October 26 and November 9, 2026, with court-supervised talks aimed at a global settlement framework by October 30, 2026.
How much has been paid so far?
Payments have grown mainly through a fixed-payment option. According to the Justice Department, settlement offers exceed $1.1 billion and actual payouts exceed $879 million as of September 18, 2026 in the Justice Department update.
The Department reports 2,822 claimants paid to date. Most payments came through the Elective Option fixed-payment track. That track pays set amounts for qualifying conditions, rather than full individual damages trials.
What can you still do after missing the deadline?
You cannot open a new Justice Act claim now. You may still seek Veterans Affairs disability compensation and health care if you qualify separately. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, benefits remain available for qualifying veterans and family members in the VA Camp Lejeune benefits page.
VA lists eight presumptive conditions, including kidney, liver, and bladder cancers and Parkinson's disease. Veterans and family members can apply online or by mail. Check the VA eligibility rules for service dates, dependent status, and medical proof.
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