View Rule

The Black Lung Benefits Act provides benefits to coal miners who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) arising from their employment and to their eligible survivors. The Act requires each coal mine operator to secure the payment of its potential benefits liability by either qualifying as a self-insurer or by purchasing and maintaining a commercial insurance contract. The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) is responsible for authorizing coal mine operators to self-insure and for setting the appropriate security amounts. Appropriate security helps protect the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which pays benefits when operators fail to make payments due to bankruptcy or other reasons. As part of its ongoing efforts to reform the self-insurance program to ensure that operators are adequately securing their liabilities, OWCP proposes to update its regulations for authorizing operators to self-insure and for determining appropriate security amounts.