OWCP Announces Plans to Ensure Mine Operators Meet Benefit Obligations

The federal Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs said it has taken steps to reform the self-insurance process for coal mine operators to support the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Specifically, OWCP said it is reviewing actuarial estimates of the self-insured operators’ liabilities and risk of default, and setting security amounts. The agency said the process will protect the fund from operator default going forward. The Black Lung Benefits Act requires each coal mine operator to secure the payment of its potential benefits liability by either qualifying as a self-ins...