Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)
Black Lung Program Statistics
Total Number Black Lung Beneficiaries |
|||||||
Fiscal |
Part B |
Part B |
Total Part B |
Part C |
Part C |
Total Part C |
Total |
2004 |
52,205 |
5,888 |
58,093 |
45,455 |
11,264 |
56,719 |
114,812 |
2005 |
46,564 |
4,972 |
51,536 |
42,370 |
10,161 |
52,531 |
104,067 |
2006 |
41,625 |
4,248 |
45,873 |
39,481 |
9,108 |
48,589 |
94,462 |
2007 |
36,786 |
3,623 |
40,409 |
36,541 |
8,185 |
44,726 |
85,135 |
2008 |
32,732 |
3,091 |
35,823 |
33,574 |
7,351 |
40,925 |
76,748 |
2009 |
28,911 |
2,654 |
31,565 |
30,826 |
6,571 |
37,397 |
68,962 |
2010 |
25,593 |
2,264 |
27,857 |
28,671 |
5,996 |
34,667 |
62,524 |
2011 |
22,424 |
1,935 |
24,359 |
26,829 |
5,785 |
32,614 |
56,973 |
2012 |
19,679 |
1,726 |
21,405 |
26,366 |
5,638 |
32,004 |
53,409 |
Notes:
1. Figures denote beneficiaries in payment status on September 30 of the listed year. Part B: beneficiaries approved by the Social Security Administration under Part B of the Black Lung Benefits Act. Part C: beneficiaries approved by the Department of Labor under Part C of the Act. Part C figures include all beneficiaries receiving monthly benefits from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund and from responsible coal mine operators.
2. A Chief Beneficiary is the person eligible for benefits on the coal miner's account. There is only one chief at any given time. A living miner is always chief, followed by surviving spouse or divorced spouse, followed by dependent children, followed by dependent siblings.
3. An eligible dependent may succeed to Chief Beneficiary status upon the death of the prior chief.
4. Part C Chiefs do not include Medical Benefit Only claims, as MBO claimants are already Part B Chief beneficiaries and are entitled only to medical benefits under Part C, not monthly cash payments.
Source: US Department of Labor
Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation
