Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

33 U.S.C. § 918

Collection of defaulted payments; special fund

(a)
1
1 So in original. Probably should be “for”.
section 919 of this title In case of default by the employer in the payment of compensation due under any award of compensation for a period of thirty days after the compensation is due and payable, the person to whom such compensation is payable may, within one year after such default, make application to the deputy commissioner making the compensation order or  a supplementary order declaring the amount of the default. After investigation, notice, and hearing, as provided in , the deputy commissioner shall make a supplementary order, declaring the amount of the default, which shall be filed in the same manner as the compensation order. In case the payment in default is an installment of the award, the deputy commissioner may, in his discretion, declare the whole of the award as the amount in default. The applicant may file a certified copy of such supplementary order with the clerk of the Federal district court for the judicial district in which the employer has his principal place of business or maintains an office, or for the judicial district in which the injury occurred. In case such principal place of business or office or place where the injury occurred is in the District of Columbia, a copy of such supplementary order may be filed with the clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Such supplementary order of the deputy commissioner shall be final, and the court shall, upon the filing of the copy, enter judgment for the amount declared in default by the supplementary order if such supplementary order is in accordance with law. Review of the judgment so entered may be had as in civil suits for damages at common law. Final proceedings to execute the judgment may be had by writ of execution in the form used by the court in suits at common law in actions of assumpsit. No fee shall be required for filing the supplementary order nor for entry of judgment thereon, and the applicant shall not be liable for costs in a proceeding for review of the judgment unless the court shall otherwise direct. The court shall modify such judgment to conform to any later compensation order upon presentation of a certified copy thereof to the court.
(b)
section 944 of this titlesection 907 of this titlesection 921 of this title In cases where judgment cannot be satisfied by reason of the employer’s insolvency or other circumstances precluding payment, the Secretary of Labor may, in his discretion and to the extent he shall determine advisable after consideration of current commitments payable from the special fund established in , make payment from such fund upon any award made under this chapter, and in addition, provide any necessary medical, surgical, and other treatment required by in any case of disability where there has been a default in furnishing medical treatment by reason of the insolvency of the employer. Such an employer shall be liable for payment into such fund of the amounts paid therefrom by the Secretary of Labor under this subsection; and for the purpose of enforcing this liability, the Secretary of Labor for the benefit of the fund shall be subrogated to all the rights of the person receiving such payment or benefits as against the employer and may by a proceeding in the name of the Secretary of Labor under this section or under subsection (c) of , or both, seek to recover the amount of the default or so much thereof as in the judgment of the Secretary is possible, or the Secretary may settle and compromise any such claim.

Mar. 4, 1927, ch. 509, § 1844 Stat. 1434June 25, 1936, ch. 80449 Stat. 1921June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 32(b)62 Stat. 991May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 12763 Stat. 107July 26, 1956, ch. 735, § 670 Stat. 655Pub. L. 98–426, § 27(b)98 Stat. 1654(, ; , ; , ; , ; , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

As originally enacted, subsec. (a) contained a reference to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Act , substituted “the district court of the United States for the District of Columbia” for “the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia”, and act , as amended by act , substituted “United States District Court for the District of Columbia” for “district court of the United States for the District of Columbia”.

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–426section 917 of this title1984—Subsec. (b). struck out “, including the right of lien and priority provided for by ,” after “shall be subrogated to all the rights of the person receiving such payment or benefits”.

1956—Act , designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–426section 28(e)(1) of Pub. L. 98–426section 901 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .