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Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§8128 Review of award

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 81— - COMPENSATION FOR WORK INJURIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 8128

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Labor can review a decision about paying compensation at any time, either on their own or if someone asks. After looking at the facts, the Secretary can stop, lower, raise, or start payments that were refused or stopped before. A decision by the Secretary or someone they appoint about allowing or denying a payment is final. No other federal official or any court can review or overturn that decision.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8128

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Labor may review an award for or against payment of compensation at any time on his own motion or on application. The Secretary, in accordance with the facts found on review, may—
(1)end, decrease, or increase the compensation previously awarded; or
(2)award compensation previously refused or discontinued.
(b)The action of the Secretary or his designee in allowing or denying a payment under this subchapter is—
(1)final and conclusive for all purposes and with respect to all questions of law and fact; and
(2)not subject to review by another official of the United States or by a court by mandamus or otherwise.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large (a)5 U.S.C. 787.Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 37, 39 Stat. 749.
June 5, 1924, ch. 261, § 1, 43 Stat. 389. (b)5 U.S.C. 793 (penultimate sentence of 5th par.).
July 28, 1945, ch. 328, § 4 (penultimate sentence), 59 Stat. 504. In subsection (a), the words “If the original claim for compensation has been made within the time specified in section 770 of this title” are omitted as surplusage. The words “an award for or against payment of compensation” are coextensive with and, for clarity and consistency with section 8124, substituted for “the award”. The second sentence of former section 787 is omitted as included in the penultimate sentence of former section 793, which is carried into subsection (b). The last sentence of former section 787 is omitted as executed. In subsection (b), the word “official” is substituted for “officer” because of the definition of “officer” in section 2104 which excludes a member of a uniformed service. Administration of this subchapter was transferred to the Secretary of Labor by section 1 of 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 19, 64 Stat. 1271 (see section 8145). Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface of the report.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8128

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73