Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-110
§902 Definitions
Title 30 › CHAPTER 22 — MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH › SUBCHAPTER IV — BLACK LUNG BENEFITS › Part A — General Provisions › § 902
Summary
Defines key words used for the black lung benefit rules. It explains who counts as a dependent, what lung disease counts, who the “Secretary” and “miner” are, and how terms like widow, child, total disability, fund, and “claim denied” are used. Dependent: either a child (see child) or a wife who lived with or got regular support from the miner, or who meets certain Social Security-style tests, including some divorced wives who got large or court-ordered support. Pneumoconiosis: a chronic lung disease from coal dust and its aftereffects. Secretary: the Secretary of Labor unless the law says otherwise. Miner: anyone who works or worked in or around a coal mine or coal preparation facility, including some construction or transport workers exposed to coal dust. Widow: a wife dependent on the miner when he died, including some surviving divorced wives who got substantial support. Total disability: defined by rules in effect November 2, 2002 (HHS rules for part B and Labor rules for part C) with added protections about what counts as disability; Labor must set medical-test rules and cannot use standards stricter than those from June 30, 1973 for certain claims. Child: an unmarried child or stepchild under 18, or a disabled child or student under the age rules. Fund: the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. 9501). Claim denied: a part B claim denied by the responsible official, or a claim the Department notified as denied more than 1 year before March 1, 1978 and for which no hearing or new evidence was sought within 1 year, or a claim denied under the law in effect before March 1, 1978 after formal review.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §902
Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
For purposes of this subchapter—
(a)The term “dependent” means—
(1)a child as defined in subsection (g) without regard to subparagraph (2)(B)(ii) thereof; or
(2)a wife who is a member of the same household as the miner, or is receiving regular contributions from the miner for her support, or whose husband is a miner who has been ordered by a court to contribute to her support, or who meets the requirements of section 416(b)(1) or (2) of title 42. The determination of an individual’s status as the “wife” of a miner shall be made in accordance with section 416(h)(1) of title 42 as if such miner were the “insured individual” referred to therein. The term “wife” also includes a “divorced wife” as defined in section 416(d)(1) of title 42 who is receiving at least one-half of her support, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, from the miner, or is receiving substantial contributions from the miner (pursuant to a written agreement), or there is in effect a court order for substantial contributions to her support from such miner.
(b)The term “pneumoconiosis” means a chronic dust disease of the lung and its sequelae, including respiratory and pulmonary impairments, arising out of coal mine employment.
(c)The term “Secretary”, except where expressly otherwise provided, means the Secretary of Labor.
(d)The term “miner” means any individual who works or has worked in or around a coal mine or coal preparation facility in the extraction or preparation of coal. Such term also includes an individual who works or has worked in coal mine construction or transportation in or around a coal mine, to the extent such individual was exposed to coal dust as a result of such employment.
(e)The term “widow” includes the wife living with or dependent for support on the miner at the time of his death, or living apart for reasonable cause or because of his desertion, or who meets the requirements of section 416(c)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), and section 416(k) of title 42, who is not married. The determination of an individual’s status as the “widow” of a miner shall be made in accordance with section 416(h)(1) of title 42 as if such miner were the “insured individual” referred to therein. Such term also includes a “surviving divorced wife” as defined in section 416(d)(2) of title 42 who for the month preceding the month in which the miner died, was receiving at least one-half of her support, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, from the miner, or was receiving substantial contributions from the miner (pursuant to a written agreement) or there was in effect a court order for substantial contributions to her support from the miner at the time of his death.
(f)(1)The term “total disability” has the meaning given it by regulations of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which were in effect on November 2, 2002, for claims under part B of this subchapter, and by regulations of the Secretary of Labor for claims under part C of this subchapter, subject to the relevant provisions of subsections (b) and (d) of section 923 of this title, except that—
(A)in the case of a living miner, such regulations shall provide that a miner shall be considered totally disabled when pneumoconiosis prevents him or her from engaging in gainful employment requiring the skills and abilities comparable to those of any employment in a mine or mines in which he or she previously engaged with some regularity and over a substantial period of time;
(B)such regulations shall provide that (i) a deceased miner’s employment in a mine at the time of death shall not be used as conclusive evidence that the miner was not totally disabled; and (ii) in the case of a living miner, if there are changed circumstances of employment indicative of reduced ability to perform his or her usual coal mine work, such miner’s employment in a mine shall not be used as conclusive evidence that the miner is not totally disabled;
(C)such regulations shall not provide more restrictive criteria than those applicable under section 423(d) of title 42; and
(D)the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall establish criteria for all appropriate medical tests under this subsection which accurately reflect total disability in coal miners as defined in subparagraph (A).
(2)Criteria applied by the Secretary of Labor in the case of—
(A)any claim arising under part B of this subchapter or subject to a determination by the Secretary of Labor under section 945(a) 1 of this title;
(B)any claim which is subject to review by the Secretary of Labor under section 945(b) 1 of this title; and
(C)any claim filed on or before the effective date of regulations promulgated under this subsection by the Secretary of Labor;
shall not be more restrictive than the criteria applicable to a claim filed on June 30, 1973, whether or not the final disposition of any such claim occurs after the date of such promulgation of regulations by the Secretary of Labor.
(g)The term “child” means a child or a step-child who is—
(1)unmarried; and
(2)(A)under eighteen years of age, or
(ii)which began before the age specified in section 402(d)(1)(B)(ii) of title 42, or, in the case of a student, before he ceased to be a student; or
(C)a student.
The term “student” means a “full-time student” as defined in section 402(d)(7) of title 42, or a “student” as defined in section 8101(17) of title 5. The determination of an individual’s status as the “child” of the miner or widow, as the case may be, shall be made in accordance with section 416(h)(2) or (3) of title 42 as if such miner or widow were the “insured individual” referred to therein.
(h)The term “fund” means the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund established by section 9501 of title 26.
(i)For the purposes of subsections (c) and (j) of section 932 of this title, and for the purposes of paragraph (7) of subsection (d) of section 9501 of title 26, the term “claim denied” means a claim—
(1)for benefits under part B of this subchapter that was denied by the official responsible for administration of such part; or
(2)in which (A) the claimant was notified by the Department of Labor of an administrative or informal denial more than 1 year prior to March 1, 1978, and did not, within 1 year from the date of notification of such denial, request a hearing, present additional evidence or indicate an intention to present additional evidence, or (B) the claim was denied under the law in effect prior to March 1, 1978, following a formal hearing or administrative or judicial review proceeding.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 416(c)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of title 42, referred to in subsec. (e), was redesignated section 416(c)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) by Pub. L. 108–203, title IV, § 414(a)(2), (4), Mar. 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 529. section 945 of this title, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A), (B), was repealed by Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(c)(1), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1926.
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(b)(1)(A), substituted “, except where expressly otherwise provided,” for “where used in part C”. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(b)(1)(B), inserted “, which were in effect on November 2, 2002,” after “Secretary of Health and Human Services”. Subsec. (f)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(b)(1)(C)(ii), struck out comma after “Secretary of Labor”. Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(b)(1)(C)(i), substituted “arising under part B of this subchapter” for “which is subject to review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services,”. Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 107–275, § 2(b)(1)(D), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “denied by the Social Security Administration; or”. 1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–296 substituted “where used in part C means the Secretary of Labor” for “where used in part B means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and where used in part C means the Secretary of Labor”. 1986—Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “title 26” thus requiring no change in text. 1981—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97–119, § 104(b)(1), substituted “by section 9501 of title 26” for “in section 934a(a)(1) of this title”. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 97–119, § 205(b), added subsec. (i). 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–239, § 2(a), substituted “a chronic dust disease of the lung and its sequelae, including respiratory and pulmonary impairments, arising out of coal mine employment” for “a chronic dust disease of the lung arising out of employment in a coal mine”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–239, § 2(b), substituted “any individual who works or has worked in or around a coal mine or coal preparation facility in the extraction or preparation of coal” for “any individual who is or was employed in a coal mine” and inserted provisions that extended to definition of the term “miner” so as to include also an individual who works or has worked in coal mine
Construction
or transportation in or around a coal mine, to the extent that such individual was exposed to coal dust as a result of such employment. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–239, § 2(c), designated existing provisions as pars. (1)(A) and (1)(C), inserted references in the provisions preceding par. (1)(A) to
Regulations
promulgated by the Secretary of Labor for claims under part C of this subchapter and to the relevant provisions of subsecs. (b) and (d) of section 923 of this title, and added pars. (1)(B), (1)(D), and (2). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 95–239, § 2(d), added subsec. (h). 1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–303, § 1(c)(2), expanded definition of “dependent” to include children and wife without reference to section 8110 of title 5. Subsecs. (b), (d). Pub. L. 92–303, § 3(b), substituted “a coal mine” for “an underground coal mine”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 92–303, § 1(c)(3), expanded definition of “widow” by reference to title 42 and provided procedure for the determination of the status. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 92–303, § 4(a), expanded definition of “total disability” to include a miner prevented from engaging in gainful employment by pneumoconiosis. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 92–303, § 1(c)(4), added subsec. (g).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsec. (f) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–275, § 4, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1928, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and sections 921 to 924, 925, 932a, and 936 of this title, repealing section 904, 924a, and 945 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 801 and 921 of this title], and the
Amendments
made by this Act, shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 2, 2002].”
Effective Date
of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103–296, set out as a note under section 401 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
Effective Date
of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by section 205(b) of Pub. L. 97–119 effective Jan. 1, 1982, except as otherwise provided, see section 206(a) of Pub. L. 97–119, set out as a note under section 901 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–239 effective Mar. 1, 1978, see section 20(a) of Pub. L. 95–239, set out as a note under section 901 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1972 AmendmentAmendment by section 3(b) of Pub. L. 92–303 effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 92–303, set out as a note under section 901 of this title. Amendment by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 92–303 effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 4(g) of Pub. L. 92–303, set out as a note under section 921 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 902
Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110