§ 925. Procedure for the determination of claims during
transition period
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this subchapter,
for the purpose of assuring the uninterrupted receipt of benefits
by claimants at such time as responsibility for administration of
the benefits program is assumed by either a State workmen's
compensation agency or the Secretary of Labor, any claim for
benefits under this part filed during the period from July 1,
1973 to December 31, 1973, shall be considered and determined in
accordance with the procedures of this section. With respect to
any such claim -
(1) Such claim shall be determined and, where appropriate
under this part or section 9501(d) of title 26, benefits shall be
paid with respect to such claim by the Secretary of Labor.
(2) The manner and place of filing such claim shall be in
accordance with regulations issued jointly by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor, which
regulations shall provide, among other things, that such claims
may be filed in district offices of the Social Security
Administration and thereafter transferred to the jurisdiction of
the Department of Labor for further consideration.
(3) The Secretary of Labor shall promptly notify any
operator who he believes, on the basis of information contained
in the claim, or any other information available to him, may be
liable to pay benefits to the claimant under part C of this
subchapter for any month after December 31, 1973.
(4) In determining such claims, the Secretary of Labor
shall, to the extent appropriate, follow the procedures described
in subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 919 of title 33.
(5) Any operator who has been notified of the pendency of a
claim under paragraph 4 of this subsection shall be bound by the
determination of the Secretary of Labor on such claim as if the
claim had been filed pursuant to part C of this subchapter and
section 932 of
this title had been applicable to such operator. Nothing in this
paragraph shall require any operator to pay any benefits for any
month prior to January 1, 1974.
(b) The Secretary of Labor, after consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, may issue such
regulations as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the
purpose of this section.