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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Program to pay black lung benefits to coal miners and their survivors: improvements are needed. Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5318444
Black lung, a chronic disease, has the medical designation coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The Congress, in enacting the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act in 1969, intended to provide benefits to miners disabled by black lung and survivors of miners who died from the disease. However, the law's 3-year filing requirement has resulted in Labor having to deny many claims for living miners and widows who otherwise would be eligible, as shown in this report. Accordingly, if the Congress wishes to provide such claimants with an opportunity to qualify for benefits, it should again amend the act.
Research Organization:
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Health Resources Div.
OSTI ID:
5318444
Report Number(s):
PB-269875; HRD-77-77
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English