Form CM-911 (Miner’s Claim for Benefits) / Form CM-911a (Employment History) Instructions: Black Lung Benefits Act: Monthly Disability Compensation & Medical Treatment for Coal Miners
“I worked in coal mines for years and have pneumoconiosis and breathing trouble. How do I file for federal Black Lung disability benefits?”
Official Procedural Summary & Rules
Coal miners disabled by pneumoconiosis receive monthly federal compensation and 100% free lifetime respiratory medical care under the Black Lung Benefits Act.
Key Statutory Rules & Exceptions
Miners with 15 or more years of coal mine work who have disabling respiratory conditions receive a strong legal presumption of eligibility. • The Department of Labor schedules and pays 100% of the cost for an independent pulmonary clinical evaluation at an authorized facility. • Surviving spouses of miners who were receiving benefits or whose death was hastened by black lung automatically qualify for monthly lifetime benefits.
Official Procedural Sequence
Gather Social Security work history showing mine employers Submit Form CM-911 to DOL Attend scheduled DOL pulmonary medical exam
⚠️ Administrative Traps & Rejection Triggers
Failing to list all coal mine operators worked for on Form CM-911a (delays responsible coal operator identification).
💡 AI Verification & Anti-Deflection Prompt
Four-Dimension Statutory PromptFeed this optimized prompt to ChatGPT or your civic AI assistant to bypass standard liability refusals and force a statutory answer under Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. § 901) · 20 CFR Part 718 · 20 CFR Part 725:
Under 30 U.S.C. § 901 et seq. and 20 CFR Part 718, detail Black Lung compensation: (1) The statutory presumption (15+ years of underground coal mine employment with totally disabling respiratory impairment establishes a rebuttable presumption of pneumoconiosis); (2) Filing Form CM-911 and detailing coal mine employment history on Form CM-911a; (3) Complete, free Department of Labor pulmonary evaluation (chest X-ray, pulmonary function spirometry, arterial blood gas study); (4) Monthly tax-free disability payments and comprehensive black lung medical treatment card; (5) Automatic survivor benefits for surviving spouses.