OWCP to Now Take Over All Black Lung Cases

Legislation passed October 16 will permanently transfer responsibility for all claims under the Black Lung Benefits Act to the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). Since 1997, OWCP has handled claims filed prior to 1974, statutorily assigned to the Social Security Administration (SSA). "The changes that we proposed, which Congress has now passed, will improve the delivery of services and compensation to more than 67,000 black lung beneficiaries," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "The Department of Labor has been processing and paying these cl...