Report shows federal black lung disability benefits outpaced by inflation
BY Erin Kelly Washington, D.C.PUBLISHED 6:59 PM ET Feb. 20, 2026WASHINGTON — Bill Hatfield of Pike County, 69, was forced to quit mining nearly 30 years ago because of black lung disease and is now on a lung transplant list, he said.
“We die a slow death every day,” Hatfield told Spectrum News Friday. “I do black lung therapy four days a week. In the last year, we have lost about ten of the guys that was in my therapy class due to black lung.”
A new report from the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Appalachian Voices shows federal black lung disability benefits are not keeping up with inflation.
The cost of living in some coal-mining counties like Hatfield’s is about three-and-a-half to four times as much as the monthly benefit rate, the report said.
Hatfield, who also receives a miners’ pension and social security, said his black lung benefits are just under $1,200 a month for himself and his wife.
“I’m thankful for what we get, but no, with the cost of living, we’re a little behind and we’re hoping that we can get some support from D.C. to bring us more up to the pay scale,” said Hatfield.
Benefit payments are tied to federal employee pay rates, but under the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, benefits would automatically be adjusted for inflation.
“If there is a push to increase domestic coal production in the United States, then certainly there needs to be an added relief for coal miners, at least in this case, in the form of an increase in federal monthly benefits,” said Brendan Muckian-Bates, policy and advocacy associate for ACLC.
Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, is cosponsoring the legislation, which currently has no Republican cosponsors.
Lawmakers have been trying to advance the legislation for more than a decade, according to advocates.
Black lung disease is not a political issue, said Hatfield, who is calling on Republicans to support the bill.
