The Department of Labor's Benefits Review Board was created in 1972, by Congress, to review and issue decisions on appeals of worker's compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act and the Black Lung Benefits amendments to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.
NOTICE REGARDING ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS)
EFS LISTENING SESSIONS – MARCH 3 AND 5, 2023
On February 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor withdrew the Direct Final Rules on e-filing for the Benefits Review Board and the Office of Administrative Law Judges. See 86 Fed. Reg. 11425 (BRB) and 86 Fed. Reg. 11426 (OALJ).
In the withdrawal notices, the Department stated that “several comments raised concerns with the Department’s electronic filing system and not the requirements of the proposed or direct final rules. To better understand and address these concerns, the Department plans to hold listening sessions during the coming weeks for users to provide feedback on the system. Information about those sessions will be announced at https://efile.dol.gov.”
Accordingly, listening sessions will be conducted on these dates and times via WebEx:
Wednesday March 3rd at 3:00 p.m. to 4:40 p.m., EST
Meeting Link: https://usdolevents.webex.com/usdolevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=ece8831912d0b3c09781f4a62a46104c4
VoiP/Dial: 1-877-465-7975
Meeting Number: 199 185 6110
Password: Welcome!68
Friday March 5th at 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., EST
Meeting Link: https://usdolevents.webex.com/usdolevents/onstage/g.php?MTID=e434b5b11ed9c84dddd7db2b7fd6f4a22
VoiP/Dial: 1-877-465-7975
Meeting Number: 199 631 9442
Password: Welcome!68
PROCESSING OF APPEALS AND CORONAVIRUS
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Benefits Review Board (BRB) is experiencing delays in the processing of appeals and documents received by mail. To avoid delay, we strongly encourage all parties with appeals before the BRB and other filers to utilize the BRB’s Electronic Filing system to file new appeals, motions, briefs, and all other case-related documents to ensure the timely processing of their appeals. Documents that are not filed through the electronic portal may be delayed in processing. Documents filed through the electronic portal should not be submitted in paper, unless specifically requested. See below notice for specific details on this change.
NOTICE REGARDING CHANGE TO ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM
At 8:30 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) on December 7, 2020, the Benefits Review Board (BRB) will launch an updated eFile/eServe system (EFS). Like the BRB’s current Electronic File and Service Request (EFSR) system, EFS will allow parties to electronically file new appeals, briefs, motions, and other documents; receive electronic service of BRB-issued decisions and orders; and check the status of existing appeals via a web-based interface. EFS will be accessible 24 hours every day at https://efile.dol.gov. Beginning December 7, 2020 at 8:30 am EST, all parties who wish to electronically file appeals, pleadings, or other documents in pending cases must use EFS to do so.