A. If any employer or his insurer fails or refuses to pay a worker any installment of benefits to which the worker is entitled under the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law, after notice has been given as required by Section 52-3-19 NMSA 1978, it is the duty of the worker insisting on the payment of benefits to file a claim therefor as provided in the New Mexico Occupational Disease Disablement Law not later than one year after the failure or refusal of the employer or insurer to pay benefits.

B. If the worker fails to give notice in the manner and within the time required by Section 52-3-19 NMSA 1978 or if the worker fails to file a claim for benefits within the time required by this section, his claim for benefits, all his right to the recovery of benefits and the bringing of any proceeding for the recovery of compensation are forever barred.

C. In case of the death of a worker who would have been entitled to receive benefits if death had not occurred, claim for benefits may be filed on behalf of his eligible dependents to recover benefits from the employer or his insurer.

D. Payment may be received or claim filed by any person whom the court may authorize or permit on behalf of the eligible beneficiaries.

E. No claim shall be filed, however, to recover benefits for the death of the worker unless he or someone on his behalf or on behalf of his eligible dependents has given notice in the manner and within the time required by Section 52-3-19 NMSA 1978 and unless the claim is filed within one year from the date of the worker's death.

History: 1953 Comp., § 59-11-15.1, enacted by Laws 1965, ch. 299, § 4; 1986, ch. 22, § 58; 1989, ch. 263, § 52.

Requirement that written claim be filed within 90 days is mandatory. Holman v. Oriental Refinery, 1965-NMSC-029, 75 N.M. 52, 400 P.2d 471 (decided under former law).

No provision for extension of time limit to file claim. — Section 37-1-17 NMSA 1978 prohibits Section 37-1-14 NMSA 1978 from applying in workmen's (workers') compensation and occupational disablement cases, since the Workmen's (Workers') Compensation Act and the Occupational Disablement Law contain specific statutes of limitations in Section 52-1-31 NMSA 1978 and this section, and neither act provides a saving clause allowing for an extension of the specified time limit for filing a claim. Ortega v. Shube, 1979-NMCA-130, 93 N.M. 584, 603 P.2d 323, overruled on other grounds by Bracken v. Yates Petroleum Corp., 1988-NMSC-072, 107 N.M. 463, 760 P.2d 155.