‘The money is tax-free’: I’m 76 and won $50,000 in a settlement related to cancer from nuclear waste. What should I do with it?

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found The MoneyistI’m 76 and won $50,000 in a settlement related to cancer from nuclear waste. What should I do with it?‘The money is tax-free and does not affect our income, which comes from investments and Social Security’Last Updated: March 23, 2026 at 12:36 p.m. ETFirst Published: March 20, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. ETShareResizeListen(9 min)“I definitely want to make some charitable contributions and do a couple of other things with the money.” (Photo subject is a model.) Photo: Getty Images/iStockphotoDear Quentin,I’m 76 and I was recently awarded a $50,000 settlement from a federally mandated reparations program administered by the Department of Justice, as a result of developing a specific cancer caused by the dumping of nuclear waste in my area. I had to submit extensive documentation (proof of residency, pathology reports, etc.) to support my claim. The money is tax-free and does not affect our income, which comes from investments and Social Security. My husband has told me I can use it however I wish. I definitely want to make some charitable contributions and do a couple of other things with the money, and I will probably invest what’s left. I don’t intend to spend the entire $50,000 if I can help it. About the Author Quentin FottrellQuentin Fottrell is MarketWatch's Managing Editor-Advice Columns and The Moneyist columnist. You can follow him on Twitter @quantanamo.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.