Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)

Total Number Black Lung Beneficiaries
FY 2004 - 2022

Fiscal
Year

Part B
Chiefs

Part B
Dependents

Total Part B
Beneficiaries

Part C
Chiefs

Part C
Dependents

Total Part C
Beneficiaries

Total
Beneficiaries

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

25,106

5,638

30,744

52,149

2013

17,144

1,455

18,599

23,378

5,411

28,789

47,388

2014

15,047

1,257

16,304

21,860

5,314

27,174

43,478

2015

13,064

1,060

14,124

20,655

5,456

26,111

40,235

2016

11,408

882

12,290

19,981

5,817

25,798

38,088

2017

9,883

747

10,630

19,430

6,249

25,679

36,309

2018

8,631

629

9,260

18,962

6,663

25,625

34,885

2019

7,444

531

7,975

18,643

7,056

25,699

33,674

2020

 6,452 454 6,906 18,075 7,190 25,265 32,171

2021

 5,539 373 5,912 17,347 7,116 24,463 30,375

2022

 4,690 296 4,986 16,662 6,980 23,642 28,628

Notes:

1. Figures denote beneficiaries in payment status on September 30 of the listed year.

2. Part B beneficiaries approved by the Security Administration under Part B of the BLBA.

3. Part C figures include all beneficiaries receiving monthly benefits from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund or from responsible operators.

4. A chief beneficiary is the person eligible for benefits on the miner's account. There is only one chief at a time. A living miner is always chief, followed by surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse, followed by dependent children, followed by dependent siblings.

5. An eligible dependent may succeed to Chief Beneficiary upon the death of the prior chief.

6. Part C chiefs do not include Medical Benefits Only claims, as MBO claimants are already Part B chiefs and are entitled only to medical benefits under Part C, not monthly cash benefits.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation