Black Lung Benefits Reform Act, United States
Under the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act of 1952, the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977 and Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of 1977 were enacted in response to substantial numbers of U.S. coal miners becoming completely disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease).
The disease had caused many deaths but at the time only a few states provided benefits for disability or death to coal miners or their surviving dependents. The US Congress decided to provide benefits, in cooperation with states, to coal miners who were disabled from pneumoconiosis. The Reform Act provided benefit payments to coal miners who were completely disabled from pneumoconiosis and the Revenue Act established a requirement that operators of coal mines pay benefits to miners who have contracted black lung disease. The funds designated for disabled coal mine workers were placed in the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Additional amendments followed in 1981; these covered internal revenue codes and taxes, as well as the Black Lung Regulations Act in 2000, which provided stringent guidelines for medical claims.
Further Reading
- Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 Statutory Provisions (U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration)
- Compliance Assistance — Black Lung Benefits Act (U.S. Department of Labor Employment Standards Administration)
