Benefits: |
Workers'
Compensation Programs |
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Federal
Black Lung Benefits Program
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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The Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) provides for monthly payments and medical benefits to coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) arising from their employment in or around the nation's coal mines. The Act also provides for monthly benefits to a miner's dependent survivors. Unless the miner was awarded benefits pursuant to a claim filed before 1982, a survivor must establish that pneumoconiosis was a substantially contributing cause of the miner's death to be entitled to benefits.
The program provides two types of medical services related to black lung disease: (1)diagnostic testing for all miner-claimants to determine the presence or absence of black lung disease and the degree of associated disability, and (2) for miners entitled to monthly benefits, medical coverage for treatment of black lung disease and disability. Diagnostic testing includes a chest x-ray, pulmonary function study (breathing test), arterial blood gas study, and a physical examination. Medical coverage includes (but is not limited to) costs for prescription drugs, office visits, and hospitalizations. Also provided, with specific approval, are items of durable medical equipment, such as hospital beds, home oxygen, and nebulizers; outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation therapy; and home nursing visits.
BASIC INFORMATION
FACT SHEETS
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Black Lung Benefits Act - Provides monthly payments and medical benefits to coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) arising from employment in or around the nation's coal mines. Also provides monthly benefits to a miner's dependent survivors if pneumoconiosis is caused or hastened the miner's death.
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20 CFR Part 726 - Regulations under the Black Lung Benefits Act.
- Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room C-3521
Washington, DC 20210
E-mail:
DCMWC-Public@dol.gov
Tel: 1-800-638-7072
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
Local Offices
- For questions on other DOL laws,
please call DOL's Toll-Free Help Line at 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Live assistance is available in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional service is available in more than 140 languages through a translation service.
Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL TTY: 1-877-889-5627
*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol
for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller
will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance
inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc.
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