‘Do you have to be dead?’: US coalminers plead for benefits as black-lung disease cases surge

In an alarming development, the number of black lung disease cases among US coal miners has surged to a nearly 50-year high, according to a recent report. The condition, medically known as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), is caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust, which irreversibly damages the lungs. Many miners, such as Josh Armes, are struggling with the lengthy and frustrating appeals process for federal black lung benefits.

Armes, a 74-year-old retired coal miner from Virginia, has required oxygen and frequent medical check-ups for years, limiting his ability to perform daily activities. His case has been in the appeals process for over a decade, and he and his family remain in limbo, unable to receive the benefits they need. The Trump administration's push to boost the coal industry and the surge in black lung cases have exacerbated the situation.

The federal black lung program, established in 1969, provides monetary compensation and medical benefits to disabled miners, but delays and appeals have left many families like the Armes in financial hardship. The government accountability office (GAO) reported that 7,709 miner beneficiaries were receiving black lung benefits in 2024, while about 22,500 beneficiaries and their dependents, survivors, and miners were receiving benefits in the fiscal year 2025.

However, between 2013 and 2024, 40% of approved claims by the Department of Labor were disputed, primarily by coal operators. The GAO report highlighted that miners have expressed concerns about coal operators waiting for them to die or give up before paying benefits. The median length of an appealed claim was three years or more, and in some cases, it took over a decade to close.

The Armes family, along with many others, are still waiting for their appeals to be resolved while not receiving the much-needed benefits. The National Institute for Safety and Occupational Health (Niosh) found that 32.5% of veteran underground coalminers in central Appalachia are suffering from black lung disease, a rate not seen since 1978.

This rise in cases has been linked to silica dust present in the contemporary coal seams. The Trump administration's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) delayed the enforcement of a silica dust rule, which could have protected miners, citing legal proceedings. However, due to a request for abeyance, the judicial review is currently on hold.