In cases of disability all claims for compensation shall be forever barred, unless, within sixteen months after compensable disability begins, the parties shall have agreed upon the compensation payable under this article, or unless, within sixteen months after compensable disability begins, one of the parties shall have filed a petition as provided in article four hereof.¹ Where, however, a person is receiving benefits pursuant to the act of June 28, 1935 (P.L. 477, No. 193), referred to as the Heart and Lung Act,² the sixteen-month period in which parties must agree on compensation payable or file a petition for compensation in cases of personal injury or cases of death, shall not begin to run until the expiration of the receipt of benefits pursuant to the Heart and Lung Act. In cases of death all claims for compensation shall be forever barred, unless, within sixteen months after the death, the parties shall have agreed upon the compensation payable under this article, or unless, within sixteen months after the death, one of the parties shall have filed a petition as provided in article four hereof. Where, however, payments of compensation have been made in any case, said limitations shall not take effect until the expiration of sixteen months from the time of the making of the most recent payment made prior to the date of filing such petition.

In cases of total disability from silicosis, anthraco-silicosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, and asbestosis where the claim is allowed, compensation shall be payable and commence as of the date the claim is filed.