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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 914. Payment of compensation
(a) Manner of payment
Compensation under this chapter shall be paid periodically,
promptly, and directly to the person entitled thereto, without an
award, except where liability to pay compensation is controverted
by the employer.
(b) Period of installment payments
The first installment of compensation shall become due on the
fourteenth day after the employer has been notified pursuant to
section 912 of this title, or the employer has knowledge of the
injury or death, on which date all compensation then due shall be
paid. Thereafter compensation shall be paid in installments,
semimonthly, except where the deputy commissioner determines that
payment in installments should be made monthly or at some other
period.
(c) Notification of commencement or suspension of payment
Upon making the first payment, and upon suspension of payment for
any cause, the employer shall immediately notify the deputy
commissioner, in accordance with a form prescribed by the
Secretary, that payment of compensation has begun or has been
suspended, as the case may be.
(d) Right to compensation controverted
If the employer controverts the right to compensation he shall
file with the deputy commissioner on or before the fourteenth day
after he has knowledge of the alleged injury or death, a notice, in
accordance with a form prescribed by the Secretary stating that the
right to compensation is controverted, the name of the claimant,
the name of the employer, the date of the alleged injury or death,
and the grounds upon which the right to compensation is
controverted.
(e) Additional compensation for overdue installment payments
payable without award
If any installment of compensation payable without an award is
not paid within fourteen days after it becomes due, as provided in
subsection (b) of this section, there shall be added to such unpaid
installment an amount equal to 10 per centum thereof, which shall
be paid at the same time as, but in addition to, such installment,
unless notice is filed under subsection (d) of this section, or
unless such nonpayment is excused by the deputy commissioner after
a showing by the employer that owing to conditions over which he
had no control such installment could not be paid within the period
prescribed for the payment.
(f) Additional compensation for overdue installment payments
payable under terms of award
If any compensation, payable under the terms of an award, is not
paid within ten days after it becomes due, there shall be added to
such unpaid compensation an amount equal to 20 per centum thereof,
which shall be paid at the same time as, but in addition to, such
compensation, unless review of the compensation order making such
award is had as provided in section 921 of this title and an order
staying payment has been issued by the Board or court.
(g) Notice of payment; penalty
Within sixteen days after final payment of compensation has been
made, the employer shall send to the deputy commissioner a notice,
in accordance with a form prescribed by the Secretary, stating that
such final payment has been made, the total amount of compensation
paid, the name of the employee and of any other person to whom
compensation has been paid, the date of the injury or death, and
the date to which compensation has been paid. If the employer fails
to so notify the deputy commissioner within such time the Secretary
shall assess against such employer a civil penalty in the amount of
$100.
(h) Investigations, examinations, and hearings for controverted,
stopped, or suspended payments
The deputy commissioner (1) may upon his own initiative at any
time in a case in which payments are being made without an award,
and (2) shall in any case where right to compensation is
controverted, or where payments of compensation have been stopped
or suspended, upon receipt of notice from any person entitled to
compensation, or from the employer, that the right to compensation
is controverted, or that payments of compensation have been stopped
or suspended, make such investigations, cause such medical
examinations to be made, or hold such hearings, and take such
further action as he considers will properly protect the rights of
all parties.
(i) Deposit by employer
Whenever the deputy commissioner deems it advisable he may
require any employer to make a deposit with the Treasurer of the
United States to secure the prompt and convenient payment of such
compensation, and payments therefrom upon any awards shall be made
upon order of the deputy commissioner.
(j) Reimbursement for advance payments
If the employer has made advance payments of compensation, he
shall be entitled to be reimbursed out of any unpaid installment or
installments of compensation due.
(k) Receipt for payment
An injured employee, or in case of death his dependents or
personal representative, shall give receipts for payment of
compensation to the employer paying the same and such employer
shall produce the same for inspection by the deputy commissioner,
whenever required.
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