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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§1702 Application of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

Title 42 › CHAPTER 12 — COMPENSATION FOR INJURY, DEATH, OR DETENTION OF EMPLOYEES OF CONTRACTORS WITH UNITED STATES OUTSIDE UNITED STATES › SUBCHAPTER I — COMPENSATION, REIMBURSEMENT, ETC., BY SECRETARY OF LABOR › § 1702

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Use the payment rules from the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act instead of the regular federal employees' benefit rules for cases covered by the related provision. Medical benefits from the federal employees' system still apply. The total pay for an injury or death cannot be more than the cap set by the Longshore Act (as that cap is updated), but it also cannot be less than the original amount set when this law was first passed. When you figure how much to pay, follow the Longshore Act's rules for computing wages and benefits. However, the Longshore Act's minimum weekly disability amount and its minimum average weekly wage for death benefits do not apply here.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1702

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In the administration of the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5 with respect to cases coming within the purview of section 1701 of this title, the scale of compensation benefits and the provisions for determining the amount of compensation and the payment thereof as provided in section 908 and 909 of title 33, so far as the provisions of said sections can be applied under the terms and conditions set forth therein shall be payable in lieu of the benefits, except medical benefits, provided under subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5: Provided, That the total compensation payable under this subchapter for injury or death shall in no event exceed the limitations upon compensation as fixed in section 914(m) of title 33 as such section may from time to time be amended except that the total compensation shall not be less than that provided for in the original enactment of this chapter.
(b)For the purpose of computing compensation with respect to cases coming within the purview of section 1701 of this title, the provisions of section 906 and 910 of title 33 shall be applicable: Provided, That the minimum limit on weekly compensation for disability, established by section 906(b) of title 33, and the minimum limit on the average weekly wages on which death benefits are to be computed, established by section 909(e) of title 33, shall not apply in computing compensation under this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, referred to in section catchline, is act Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, 44 Stat. 1424, which is classified generally to chapter 18 (§ 901 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 901 of Title 33 and Tables. Subsection (m) of section 914 of title 33, referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by Pub. L. 92–576, § 5(e), Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1254. Codification “Subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5” substituted for references to Act of September 7, 1916, as amended, known as the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–426 substituted “Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act” for “Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act” wherever appearing. 1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–608 struck out proviso that required any amendment to the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act which increased the amount of benefits payable for injury or death to be applied in the administration of this section as if the amendment had been in effect at the time of the particular injury or death. 1948—Subsec. (a). Act July 3, 1948, inserted all text in proviso beginning “as fixed in section 914(m) of title 33”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–426 effective Sept. 28, 1984, see section 28(e)(1) of Pub. L. 98–426, set out as a note under section 901 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Effective Date

of 1958 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 85–608 effective
June 30, 1958, see section 402 of Pub. L. 85–608, set out as a note under section 1651 of this title. Benefits Adjudicated Prior to
August 8, 1958 Pub. L. 85–608, title I, § 102, Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 536, provided that the amendment made by that section shall not affect benefits adjudicated thereunder prior to Aug. 8, 1958.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1702

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110