725.201—Who is entitled to benefits; contents of this subpart.

(a) Section 415 and part C of the Act provide for the payment of periodic benefits in accordance with this part to:
(1) A miner (see § 725.202) who is determined to be totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis; or
(2) The surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse or, where neither exists, the child of a deceased miner, where the deceased miner:
(i) Was receiving benefits under section 415 or part C of title IV of the Act as a result of a claim filed prior to January 1, 1982; or
(ii) Is determined as a result of a claim filed prior to January 1, 1982, to have been totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis at the time of death, or to have died due to pneumoconiosis. Survivors of miners whose claims are filed on or after January 1, 1982, must establish that the deceased miner's death was due to pneumoconiosis in order to establish their entitlement to benefits, except where entitlement is established under § 718.306 of this subchapter on a survivor's claim filed prior to June 30, 1982, or;
(3) The child of a miner's surviving spouse who was receiving benefits under section 415 or part C of title IV of the Act at the time of such spouse's death; or
(4) The surviving dependent parents, where there is no surviving spouse or child, or the surviving dependent brothers or sisters, where there is no surviving spouse, child, or parent, of a miner, where the deceased miner;
(i) Was receiving benefits under section 415 or part C of title IV of the Act as a result of a claim filed prior to January 1, 1982; or
(ii) Is determined as a result of a claim filed prior to January 1, 1982, to have been totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis at the time of death, or to have died due to pneumoconiosis. Survivors of miners whose claims are filed on or after January 1, 1982, must establish that the deceased miner's death was due to pneumoconiosis in order to establish their entitlement to benefits, except where entitlement is established under § 718.306 of this subchapter on a survivor's claim filed prior to June 30, 1982.
(b) Section 411(c)(5) of the Act provides for the payment of benefits to the eligible survivors of a miner employed for 25 or more years in the mines prior to June 30, 1971, if the miner's death occurred on or before March 1, 1978, and if the claim was filed prior to June 30, 1982, unless it is established that at the time of death, the miner was not totally or partially disabled due to pneumoconiosis. For the purposes of this part the term “total disability” shall mean partial disability with respect to a claim for which eligibility is established under section 411(c)(5) of the Act. See § 718.306 of this subchapter which implements this provision of the Act.
(c) The provisions contained in this subpart describe the conditions of entitlement to benefits applicable to a miner, or a surviving spouse, child, parent, brother, or sister, and the events which establish or terminate entitlement to benefits.
(d) In order for an entitled miner or surviving spouse to qualify for augmented benefits because of one or more dependents, such dependents must meet relationship and dependency requirements with respect to such beneficiary prescribed by or pursuant to the Act. Such requirements are also set forth in this subpart.