§ 913. Filing of claims

Statutory text

Time to file

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the right to compensation for disability or death under this chapter shall be barred unless a claim therefore is filed within one year after the injury or death. If payment of compensation has been made without an award on account of such injury or death, a claim may be filed within one year after the date of the last payment. Such claim shall be filed with the deputy commissioner in the compensation district in which such injury or death occurred. The time for filing a claim shall not begin to run until the employee or beneficiary is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the relationship between the injury or death and the employment.

Failure to file

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) failure to file a claim within the period prescribed in such subsection shall not be a bar to such right unless objection to such failure is made at the first hearing of such claim in which all parties in interest are given reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), a claim for compensation for death or disability due to an occupational disease which does not immediately result in such death or disability shall be timely if filed within two years after the employee or claimant becomes aware, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence or by reason of medical advice should have been aware, of the relationship between the employment, the disease, and the death or disability, or within one year of the date of the last payment of compensation, whichever is later.

Effect on incompetents and minors

If a person who is entitled to compensation under this chapter is mentally incompetent or a minor, the provisions of subsection (a) shall not be applicable so long as such person has no guardian or other authorized representative, but shall be applicable in the case of a person who is mentally incompetent or a minor from the date of appointment of such guardian or other representative, or in the case of a minor, if no guardian is appointed before he becomes of age, from the date he becomes of age.

Tolling provision

Where recovery is denied to any person, in a suit brought at law or in admiralty to recover damages in respect of injury or death, on the ground that such person was an employee and that the defendant was an employer within the meaning of this chapter and that such employer had secured compensation to such employee under this chapter, the limitation of time prescribed in subsection (a) shall begin to run only from the date of termination of such suit.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1927
Pub. L. 69–509 § 13 · 44 Stat. 1424
Enacted · 33 U.S.C. § 913
Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, § 13, 44 Stat. 1432
Source evidence
Code source credit
Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, § 13, 44 Stat. 1432
1972
Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act Amendments of 1972
Pub. L. 92–576 § 12(b) · 86 Stat. 1251
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 913(a)
Pub. L. 92–576 inserted “Except as otherwise provided in this section” and provided that the time for filing a claim shall not begin to run until the employee or beneficiary is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the relationship between the injury or death and the employment
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–576 inserted “Except as otherwise provided in this section” and provided that the time for filing a claim shall not begin to run until the employee or beneficiary is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the relationship between the injury or death and the employment.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(b) Section 13(a) of such Act is amended to read as follows: 33 USC 913. “Sec. 13. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the right to compensation for disability or death under this Act shall be barred unless a claim therefore is filed within one year after the injury or death. If payment of compensation has been made without an award on account of such injury or death, a claim may be filed within one year after the date of the last payment. Such claim shall be filed with the deputy commissioner in the compensation district in which such injury or death occurred. The time tor filing a claim shall not begin to run until the employee or beneficiary is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the relationship between the injury or death and the employment.”
1984
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act Amendments of 1984
Pub. L. 98–426 § 12 · 98 Stat. 1639
1. Amended · 33 U.S.C. § 913(b)
  Pub. L. 98–426 designated existing provisions as par. (1)
2. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 913(b)
  Pub. L. 98–426 added par. (2)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–426 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 12. time for filing claim based on occupational disease Section 13(b) is amended by inserting “(1)” after “(b)” and 33 USC 913. adding at the end thereof the following: “(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), a claim for compensation for death or disability due to an occupational disease which does not immediately result in such death or disability shall be timely if filed within two years after the employee or claimant becomes aware, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence or by reason of medical advice should have been aware, of the relationship between the employment, the disease, and the death or disability, or within one year of the date of the last payment of compensation, whichever is later.”.
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–426 effective Sept. 28, 1984, and applicable both with respect to claims filed after such date and to claims pending on such date, see section 28(a) of Pub. L. 98–426, set out as a note under section 901 of this title.

3 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments1972–1984 · 2 rounds

1984

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–426 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

1972

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–576 inserted “Except as otherwise provided in this section” and provided that the time for filing a claim shall not begin to run until the employee or beneficiary is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the relationship between the injury or death and the employment.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–426 effective Sept. 28, 1984, and applicable both with respect to claims filed after such date and to claims pending on such date, see section 28(a) of Pub. L. 98–426, set out as a note under section 901 of this title.

Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–576 effective 30 days after Oct. 27, 1972, see section 22 of Pub. L. 92–576, set out as a note under section 902 of this title.

Credits

1927–1984 · 3 acts

1927Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, § 13, 44 Stat. 1432
1972Pub. L. 92–576, § 12(b), Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1259
1984Pub. L. 98–426, § 12, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1649.

Show as published

(Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, § 13, 44 Stat. 1432; Pub. L. 92–576, § 12(b), Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1259; Pub. L. 98–426, § 12, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1649.)