NOTICE REGARDING THE BENEFITS REVIEW BOARD'S NEW ELECTRONIC FILING AND SERVICE RULE
The Department of Labor recently published a final rule that requires electronic filing (e-filing), and makes acceptance of electronic service (e-service) automatic, by attorneys and lay representatives who represent parties in proceedings before the Benefits Review Board (BRB). See 89 Fed. Reg. 8,533 (Feb. 8, 2024). The rule provides an exception to the requirements for good cause shown and self-represented parties.
This new rule is effective on March 11, 2024. By this date, "attorneys and lay representatives must be registered with the BRB's eFile/eServe system [EFS]—and file all pleadings, exhibits, and other documents through this system ..." 89 Fed. Reg. at 8,535 (emphasis added). E-filed documents must be in Portable Document format (PDF), and pleadings should be text searchable. Unless the BRB asks for them, paper copies of e-filed documents are not required.
If you do not yet have an EFS account, you may create one at https://efile.dol.gov.
