Part 725 - Claims for Benefits Under Part C of Title Iv of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, as Amended  


Subpart A - General
§ 725.1 - Statutory provisions.
§ 725.2 - Purpose and applicability of this part.
§ 725.3 - Contents of this part.
§ 725.4 - Applicability of other parts in this title.
§ 725.101 - Definition and use of terms.
§ 725.102 - Disclosure of program information.
§ 725.103 - Burden of proof.
Subpart B - Persons Entitled to Benefits, Conditions, and Duration of Entitlement
§ 725.201 - Who is entitled to benefits; contents of this subpart.
Conditions and Duration of Entitlement
Conditions and Duration of Entitlement: Miner'S Dependents (Augmented Benefits)
§ 725.204 - Determination of relationship; spouse.
§ 725.205 - Determination of dependency; spouse.
§ 725.206 - Determination of relationship; divorced spouse.
§ 725.207 - Determination of dependency; divorced spouse.
§ 725.208 - Determination of relationship; child.
§ 725.209 - Determination of dependency; child.
§ 725.210 - Duration of augmented benefits.
§ 725.211 - Time of determination of relationship and dependency of spouse or child for purposes of augmentation of benefits.
§ 725.212 - Conditions of entitlement; surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse.
§ 725.213 - Duration of entitlement; surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse.
§ 725.214 - Determination of relationship; surviving spouse.
§ 725.215 - Determination of dependency; surviving spouse.
§ 725.216 - Determination of relationship; surviving divorced spouse.
§ 725.217 - Determination of dependency; surviving divorced spouse.
§ 725.218 - Conditions of entitlement; child.
§ 725.219 - Duration of entitlement; child.
§ 725.220 - Determination of relationship; child.
§ 725.221 - Determination of dependency; child.
§ 725.222 - Conditions of entitlement; parent, brother, or sister.
§ 725.223 - Duration of entitlement; parent, brother, or sister.
§ 725.224 - Determination of relationship; parent, brother, or sister.
§ 725.225 - Determination of dependency; parent, brother, or sister.
§ 725.226 - “Good cause” for delayed filing of proof of support.
§ 725.227 - Time of determination of relationship and dependency of survivors.
§ 725.228 - Effect of conviction of felonious and intentional homicide on entitlement to benefits.
§ 725.229 - Intestate personal property.
§ 725.230 - Legal impediment.
§ 725.231 - Domicile.
§ 725.232 - Member of the same household - “living with,” “living in the same household,” and “living in the miner's household,” defined.
§ 725.233 - Support and contributions.
Terms Used in This Subpart
Survivors’ Entitlement
Conditions and Duration of Entitlement: Miner
§ 725.202 - Miner defined; condition of entitlement, miner.
§ 725.203 - Duration and cessation of entitlement; miner.
Benefits on Account of Living Dependents (Augmented Benefits)
Subpart C—Filing of Claims
Subpart C - Filing of Claims
§ 725.301 - Who may file a claim.
§ 725.302 - Evidence of authority to file a claim on behalf of another.
§ 725.303 - Date and place of filing of claims.
§ 725.304 - Forms and initial processing.
§ 725.305 - When a written statement is considered a claim.
§ 725.306 - Withdrawal of a claim.
§ 725.307 - Cancellation of a request for withdrawal.
§ 725.308 - Time limits for filing claims.
§ 725.309 - Additional claims; effect of prior denial of benefits.
§ 725.310 - Modification of awards and denials.
§ 725.311 - Communications with respect to claims; time computations.
Subpart D - Adjudication Officers; Parties and Representatives
§ 725.350 - Who are the adjudication officers?
§ 725.351 - Powers of adjudication officers.
§ 725.352 - Disqualification of adjudication officer.
§ 725.360 - Parties to proceedings.
§ 725.361 - Party amicus curiae.
§ 725.362 - Representation of parties.
§ 725.363 - Qualification of representative.
§ 725.364 - Authority of representative.
§ 725.365 - Approval of representative's fees; lien against benefits.
§ 725.366 - Fees for representatives.
§ 725.367 - Payment of a claimant's attorney's fee by responsible operator or fund.
Adjudication by the Deputy Commissioner
Parties and Representatives
Subpart E - Adjudication of Claims by the District Director
§ 725.401 - Claims development - general.
§ 725.402 - Approved State workers' compensation law.
§ 725.403 - [Reserved]
§ 725.404 - Development of evidence - general.
§ 725.405 - Development of medical evidence; scheduling of medical examinations and tests.
§ 725.406 - Medical examinations and tests.
§ 725.407 - Identification and notification of responsible operator.
§ 725.408 - Operator's response to notification.
§ 725.409 - Denial of a claim by reason of abandonment.
§ 725.410 - Submission of additional evidence.
§ 725.411 - Initial adjudication in Trust Fund cases.
§ 725.412 - Operator's response.
§ 725.413 - Disclosure of medical information.
§ 725.414 - Development of evidence.
§ 725.415 - Action by the district director after development of evidence.
§ 725.416 - Conferences.
§ 725.417 - Action at the conclusion of conference.
§ 725.418 - Proposed decision and order.
§ 725.419 - Response to proposed decision and order.
§ 725.420 - Initial determinations.
§ 725.421 - Referral of a claim to the Office of Administrative Law Judges.
§ 725.422 - Legal assistance.
§ 725.423 - Extensions of time.
§ 725.453A - Time and place of hearing.
§ 725.459A - Oral argument and written allegations.
Subpart F - Hearings
§ 725.450 - Right to a hearing.
§ 725.451 - Request for hearing.
§ 725.452 - Type of hearing; parties.
§ 725.453 - Notice of hearing.
§ 725.454 - Time and place of hearing; transfer of cases.
§ 725.455 - Hearing procedures; generally.
§ 725.456 - Introduction of documentary evidence.
§ 725.457 - Witnesses.
§ 725.458 - Depositions; interrogatories.
§ 725.459 - Witness fees.
§ 725.460 - Consolidated hearings.
§ 725.461 - Waiver of right to appear and present evidence.
§ 725.462 - Withdrawal of controversion of issues set for formal hearing; effect.
§ 725.463 - Issues to be resolved at hearing; new issues.
§ 725.464 - Record of hearing.
§ 725.465 - Dismissals for cause.
§ 725.466 - Order of dismissal.
§ 725.475 - Termination of hearings.
§ 725.476 - Issuance of decision and order.
§ 725.477 - Form and contents of decision and order.
§ 725.478 - Filing and service of decision and order.
§ 725.479 - Finality of decisions and orders.
§ 725.480 - Modification of decisions and orders.
§ 725.481 - Right to appeal to the Benefits Review Board.
§ 725.482 - Judicial review.
§ 725.483 - Costs in proceedings brought without reasonable grounds.
General Provisions
Subpart G - Responsible Coal Mine Operators
§ 725.490 - Statutory provisions and scope.
§ 725.491 - Operator defined.
§ 725.492 - Successor operator defined.
§ 725.493 - Employment relationship defined.
§ 725.494 - Potentially liable operators.
§ 725.495 - Criteria for determining a responsible operator.
§ 725.496 - Special claims transferred to the fund.
§ 725.497 - Procedures in special claims transferred to the fund.
Benefit Rates
Increases and Reductions of Benefits
Special Provisions for Operator Payments
Overpayments; Underpayments
§ 725.503A - Payments to a claimant employed as a miner.
Subpart H - Payment of Benefits
Overpayments; Underpayments
§ 725.540 - Overpayments.
§ 725.541 - Notice of waiver of adjustment or recovery of overpayment.
§ 725.542 - When waiver of adjustment or recovery may be applied.
§ 725.543 - Standards for waiver of adjustment or recovery.
§ 725.544 - Collection and compromise of claims for overpayment.
§ 725.545 - Underpayments.
§ 725.546 - Relation to provisions for reductions or increases.
§ 725.547 - Applicability of overpayment and underpayment provisions to operator or carrier.
§ 725.548 - Procedures applicable to overpayments and underpayments.
Increases and Reductions of Benefits
§ 725.533 - Modification of benefits amounts; general.
§ 725.534 - Reduction of State benefits.
§ 725.535 - Reductions; receipt of State or Federal benefit.
§ 725.536 - Reductions; excess earnings.
§ 725.537 - Reductions; retroactive effect of an additional claim for benefits.
§ 725.538 - Reductions; effect of augmentation of benefits based on subsequent qualification of individual.
§ 725.539 - More than one reduction event.
Benefit Rates
§ 725.520 - Computation of benefits.
§ 725.521 - Commutation of payments; lump sum awards.
§ 725.522 - Payments prior to final adjudication.
Special Provisions for Operator Payments
§ 725.530 - Operator payments; generally.
§ 725.531 - Receipt for payment.
§ 725.532 - Suspension, reduction, or termination of payments.
General Provisions
§ 725.501 - Payment provisions generally.
§ 725.502 - When benefit payments are due; manner of payment.
§ 725.503 - Date from which benefits are payable.
§ 725.504 - Payments to a claimant employed as a miner.
§ 725.505 - Payees.
§ 725.506 - Payment on behalf of another; “legal guardian” defined.
§ 725.507 - Guardian for minor or incompetent.
§ 725.510 - Representative payee.
§ 725.511 - Use and benefit defined.
§ 725.512 - Support of legally dependent spouse, child, or parent.
§ 725.513 - Accountability; transfer.
§ 725.514 - Certification to dependent of augmentation portion of benefit.
§ 725.515 - Assignment and exemption from claims of creditors.
Subpart I - Enforcement of Liability; Reports
§ 725.601 - Enforcement generally.
§ 725.602 - Reimbursement of the fund.
§ 725.603 - Payments by the fund on behalf of an operator; liens.
§ 725.604 - Enforcement of final awards.
§ 725.605 - Defaults.
§ 725.606 - Security for the payment of benefits.
§ 725.607 - Payments of additional compensation.
§ 725.608 - Interest.
§ 725.609 - Enforcement against other persons.
§ 725.620 - Failure to secure benefits; other penalties.
§ 725.621 - Reports.
§ 725.701A - Claims for medical benefits only under section 11 of the Reform Act.
Subpart J - Medical Benefits and Vocational Rehabilitation
§ 725.701 - What medical benefits are available?
§ 725.702 - Who is considered a physician?
§ 725.703 - How is treatment authorized?
§ 725.704 - How are arrangements for medical care made?
§ 725.705 - Is prior authorization for medical services required?
§ 725.706 - What reports must a medical provider give to OWCP?
§ 725.707 - At what rate will fees for medical services and treatments be paid?
§ 725.708 - How are payments for professional medical services and medical equipment determined?
§ 725.709 - How are payments for prescription drugs determined?
§ 725.710 - How are payments for outpatient medical services determined?
§ 725.711 - How are payments for inpatient medical services determined?
§ 725.712 - When and how are fees reduced?
§ 725.713 - If a fee is reduced, may a provider bill the claimant for the balance?
§ 725.714 - How do providers enroll with OWCP for authorizations and billing?
§ 725.715 - How do providers submit medical bills?
§ 725.716 - How should a miner prepare and submit requests for reimbursement for covered medical expenses and transportation costs?
§ 725.717 - What are the time limitations for requesting payment or reimbursement for covered medical services or treatments?
§ 725.718 - How are disputes concerning medical benefits resolved?
§ 725.719 - What is the objective of vocational rehabilitation?
§ 725.720 - How does a miner request vocational rehabilitation assistance?