Overview Compliance Assistance Materials Basic Information Fact Sheets Applicable Laws and Regulations DOL Contacts Return to Workers' Compensation Menu

Frequently Asked Questions What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)? Do I need longshore insurance? What is the Defense Base Act?

OVERVIEW

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides employment-injury and occupational-disease protection to approximately 500,000 workers who are injured or contract occupational diseases occurring on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas, and for certain other classes of workers covered by extensions of this Act.

These benefits are paid directly by an authorized self-insured employer; or through an authorized insurance carrier; or, in particular circumstances, by a special fund administered directly by the Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE MATERIALS

BASIC INFORMATION

• Employment Law Guide - Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation - Describes the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).
• LHWCA Home Page
• Forms Page - Provides online Longshore forms.
• Special Fund Page - Contains information for Special Fund recipients and others in the Longshore community, including a schedule of payments and frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding Special Fund benefits.
• Longshore Rates Page – Information on this page includes a table of Minimum and Maximum Compensation Rates, the GSA mileage reimbursement, and other items of interest to Longshore claimants.
• Longshore Act Coverage and Benefits - Pamphlet LS-560 – Provides information on compensation and medical care to employees disabled from injuries that occur on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas customarily used in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. The Act also offers benefits to dependents if the injury causes the employee's death.
• Defense Base Act Home Page - Contains information on the Defense Base Act, which provides workers compensation protection to civilian employees working outside the United States under a contract with the U.S. government.
• Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) Medical Fee Schedule - Provides medical fee schedule information concerning the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Federal Black Lung Benefits Act (FBLBA), and the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOIC).

FACT SHEETS

• Workers' Compensation Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
• Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Program
• Longshore Coverage and Benefits

APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

• The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) - Provides compensation and medical care to employees disabled from injuries that occur on the navigable waters of the United States, or in adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing or building a vessel. Survivor benefits also are provided if the work-related injury causes the employee's death.
• 20 CFR Parts 701 to 704 - Regulations governing the administration of the Longshore Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
• The Defense Base Act - Provides workers compensation protection to civilian employees working outside the United States under a contract with the U.S. government.
• War Hazards Compensation Act - Provides compensation for the injury, disability, death, or enemy detention of employees of contractors with the United States, and for other purposes.
• Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act - Provides information on coverage under the Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act for employees working on the Outer Continental Shelf in the exploration and the development of natural resources.
• Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act – Provides information on coverage under the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act to certain civilian employees of nonappropriated fund instrumentalities of the Armed Forces such as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard exchanges.
• District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Act - Provides information on coverage under the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act for disability or death resulting from injury to employees in certain employment in the District of Columbia who sustained injuries or illnesses as a result of employment prior to July 26, 1982.

DOL CONTACTS*

• Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
  Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
  Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation (DLHWC)
  200 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Room C-4315
  Washington, DC 20210
  Email: DLHWC-Public@dol.gov
  Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365), or 202-693-0038
  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.