Appalachian Citizens' Law Center

We Fight for Justice in the Coalfields

Improvements to Federal Black Lung Benefits

Black Lung gathering

Benefits for coal miners with black lung falling behind

Congress must act!

Thousands of coal miners disabled by black lung disease rely on federal black lung benefits. Disabled miners received a small, monthly cash benefit and medical insurance to cover the healthcare costs associated with the disease. Benefits provide an important financial lifeline to affected families and support the local economy through spending at local businesses and medical facilities.

In 1969, when the federal black lung benefits program was created, a miner received $144.50 each month to help support their families once they were disabled and no longer able to work. In today’s currency, adjusting for inflation, that would equate to $1,269.48. Monthly benefit rates have not kept up with rising inflation, primarily because the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act tied black lung benefits to federal employee salaries, rather than national inflation indexes or cost of living needs. Today, miners receive nearly 40% less than the value of the original amount, just $785.70 a month.

Even in rural coal-producing communities, where the cost of living is often lower than the national average, federal benefits are still insufficient to cover basic expenses. Across many Appalachian counties the cost of living is over four times greater than what is provided by the monthly disability benefit. 

Community leaders across the region are urging Congress to do more to support mining families. At ACLC, we’ve joined with partner organizations to encourage elected officials in coalfield communities to add their voices to the call for federal action. So far, more than 80 local governments from across Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio have passed resolutions highlighting this cost of living crisis and are pushing Congress to increase benefit levels. These governments represent:

  • 10,028 mining families who currently receive federal black lung benefits
  • 316,344 Kentuckians and 2,912 mining families currently receiving benefits; 20 resolutions passed
  • 266,177 Ohioans and 211 mining families currently receiving benefits; 5 resolutions passed
  • 2,366,289 Pennsylvanians and 887 mining families currently receiving benefits; 15 resolutions passed
  • 179,254 Virginians and 2,472 mining families currently receiving benefits; 14 resolutions passed
  • 657,618 West Virginians and 3,546 mining families currently receiving benefits; 30 resolutions passed
  • 84 total resolutions passed as of October 1, 2025

If you sacrifice your health in the mines, you shouldn’t have to struggle to make ends meet. We’re proud to stand alongside these families and communities as they call for improvements to black lung benefits. 

Further Reading on Support for this Resolution: