Injury Compensation
Claims under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 makes it easier for federal workers diagnosed with COVID-19 to establish coverage under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA).
File a FECA Claim for COVID-19
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that President Biden signed on March 11, 2021, makes it much easier for federal workers diagnosed with COVID-19 to establish coverage under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.
How to File a Claim
Important information about what to do if you are injured at work, to include how to file a claim.
ECOMP Employee FAQs
Comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions for employees related to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.
ECOMP Employee Training
This training provides employees with the steps necessary to submit CA-1/CA-2 forms using the Employees' Compensation Operations & Management Portal (ECOMP) application.
ECOMP Filing Fact Sheet 2019
Steps to file a new claim using the Employees' Compensation Operations & Management Portal (ECOMP) application.
ECOMP Supervisor FAQs
Comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions for supervisors related to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.
- Report to Supervisor
Every job-related injury should be reported as soon as possible to your supervisor. Injury also means any illness or disease that is caused or aggravated by the employment as well as damage to medical braces, artificial limbs and other prosthetic devices. (See important Note on how to access Video Tools) - Obtain Medical Care
Before you obtain medical treatment, ask your supervisor to authorize medical treatment by use of form CA-16. You may initially select the physician to provide necessary treatment. This may be a private physician or, if available, a local Federal medical officer/hospital. Emergency medical treatment may be obtained without prior authorization. Take the form CA-16 and form OWCP-1500/HCFA-1500 to the provider you select. The form OWCP-1500/HCFA 1500 is the billing form physicians must use to submit bills to OWCP. Hospitals and pharmacies may use their own billing forms. On occupational disease claims form CA-16 may not be issued without prior approval from the Army Benefits Center-Civilian, Injury Compensation Center of Excellence (ABC-C, ICCoE). - File Written Notice
In traumatic injuries, complete the employee's portion of Form CA-1 by going to www.ecomp.dol.gov, register for an account and then fill out the form, the form will then be routed to your supervisor. Please be sure to answer each block with enough information so the Supervisor, Agency Representative or the Claims Examiner at the Department of Labor can process your claim effectively. For occupational disease, use form CA-2 instead of form CA-1. For more detailed information carefully read the "Benefits ..." and "Instructions ..." sheets which are attached to the Forms CA-1 and CA-2 - Obtain Receipt of Notice
You will receive an ECOMP DCN number when you file a claim that is your “receipt number” for when you file your claim, this is not your claim number. - Submit Claim For COP/Leave and/or Compensation for Wage Loss
If disabled due to traumatic injury, you may claim continuation of pay (COP) not to exceed 45 calendar days or use leave. A claim for COP must be submitted no later than 30 days following the injury (the form CA-1 is designed to serve as a claim for continuation of pay). If disabled and claiming COP, submit to your employing agency within 10 workdays medical evidence that you sustained a disabling traumatic injury. If disabled beyond the COP period, or if you are not entitled to COP, you may claim compensation on form CA-7 or use your own sick/annual leave that you may be able to buy back later. If disabled due to occupational disease, you may claim compensation on form CA-7 or use your own sick/annual leave that you may be able to buy back later. A claim for compensation for disability should be submitted as soon as possible after it is apparent that you are disabled and will enter a leave-without-pay status (LWOP).
Note: First, you may visit the DOL ECOMP page at www.ecomp.dol.gov On the top right corner you will see a topic under Help titled, "User Guides" and a clickable link titled, "Injured Worker", on the next screen you will select the appropriate Form for Filing (Filing Form CA-1, or CA-2). It is recommended that you select Click here to view a video tutorial. The CA-1 and CA-2 videos are about 7 minutes. You may pause the video as you work through each step of the process.
Questions or concerns about your Workers' Compensation Claim should first be handled with your First Line Supervisor. Remember, the Supervisor and the ABC-C, ICCOE are the Agency, if you require assistance with what you should be including in your claim submission you will need to speak to your employee representative. Neither the Supervisor nor the ABC-C, ICCOE may provide guidance on what you should do, they may only provide the tools necessary for filing your claim.
You may also contact the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C), Injury Compensation Center of Excellence (ICCoE) at 1-866-792-7620.
If you have filed a Form CA-1 for a traumatic injury, and have not lost time from work, limited medical expenses may be paid by OWCP without a formal review of your claim being conducted. In such case, you will not receive a written decision on your claim and may not receive any further correspondence. Your agency representative may be able to advise you in this situation.
A Traumatic Injury is defined as a wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain. The injury must be identifiable as to time and place of occurrence and member or function of the body affected. It must be caused by a specific event or incident or series of events or incidents during a single day or work shift. 20 CFR 10.5 (ee).
The following are examples of a traumatic injury: dog bite, knee strain after a trip and fall, neck strain after an auto accident, or a broken ankle after a slip on ice.
If OWCP makes a formal review of your case, you are responsible for providing enough factual and medical information for OWCP to decide whether you are entitled to benefits. OWCP will help you to meet this responsibility by asking you for the information they need that is not already included in your file. You should send any additional information in writing.
If you are claiming an occupational disease, make sure that you provide all information outlined in the instructions included with Form CA-2, as soon as possible. If OWCP approves your case after formal review and you have lost time from work due to the injury, they will advise you in writing of the acceptance and send you further information about your benefits.
An Occupational Disease is defined as a condition which is produced by continued or repeated exposure to elements of the work environment such as noxious substances or damaging noise levels over a period longer than one work day or shift.
If OWCP denies your case, they will provide you with an explanation of why your claim is denied and advise you fully of your appeal rights, including the time frames for exercising these rights and the offices you should contact.
If a work-related injury results in an employee's death, a claim for survivor's benefits may be filed on Form CA-5 or 5b. The survivor(s), the employing agency on behalf of the survivor(s), or the estate may file the claim for benefits. These sensitive cases are processed expeditiously by an experienced claims examiner.
If you are claiming a traumatic injury, your employing agency may have issued you a Form CA-16 so that you could obtain medical treatment right away. This authorization covers non-surgical treatment and continues for up to 60 calendar days from the date of injury.
If your case is approved, you will remain entitled to medical treatment for your accepted condition. However, if your case is denied, the authorization provided by Form CA-16 will not be valid after the date of denial.
Form CA-16 is not issued for occupational disease cases.
You have the right to select the first doctor who treats you for your injury. If that physician refers you to a specialist, OWCP will honor that referral as long as it is for the work-related condition. If you are first seen by a physician designated by your employer, you still have the right to choose your treating physician. If you wish to change physicians from this initial choice, you must request approval from OWCP. Send a letter stating your reasons for wanting this change, along with the name, address and specialty of the physician to whom you wish to change. OWCP will advise you of their decision in this matter. OWCP will only pay bills from the physician you chose first, until a change in physician is approved.
The FECA recognizes chiropractors as physicians only to the extent that their treatment consists of manual manipulation of the spine and only where the accepted condition is a subluxation of the spine. This subluxation must be shown by x-ray to exist. The x-ray must be taken shortly after the claimed injury. The chiropractor's report must provide an exact diagnosis of your condition based upon this x-ray and explain how the subluxation is related to the claimed injury. Referrals by a chiropractor for other treatment must be approved by OWCP in advance.
If your injury requires physical therapy, it is usually authorized for the first 120 days from the date of injury. OWCP will need further medical support for physical therapy beyond 120 days. OWCP must approve in advance any surgery or procedure other than emergency surgery (that is, a procedure which must be performed right away to preserve life or the function of an organ or body part). You (or your medical provider) should contact OWCP for authorization at least 30 days before the intended date of the procedure. OWCP will advise you of the information needed to determine whether they can pay for the requested procedure.
Automated bill and authorization status is available via OWCP's toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at 866-335-8319.
To speak to a customer service representative regarding medical authorizations or bills, call toll free at 1-844-493-1966.
Send all bills for Federal workers' compensation cases to:
U.S. Department of Labor
DFEC Central Mailroom
PO Box 8300
London, KY 40742-8300
Please be sure to include the claim number on every page sent.
- Medical Authorization/Bill Pay for Injured Workers
- Medical Authorization/Bill Pay for Medical Providers
- Medical Authorization/Bill Pay for Employing Agencies
Information on Bills from Foreign Medical Providers
OWCP handles bills from foreign medical providers differently from U.S. territory and stateside medical providers.
Medical bills from foreign providers are sent directly to the special claims unit in OWCP's Cleveland District Office.
Foreign medical bills should be sent to:
- ATTN:David T. Woods
- United States Department of Labor
- 1240 East Ninth Street Room 851
- Cleveland, OH 44199
(Annotate the outside of the envelope with: DO NOT OPEN IN MAILROOM)
Foreign medical bills may also be faxed to OWCP at (216) 902-5601 or (216) 357-5464
Please be sure to include the claim number on every page sent as well as the claimant's current mailing address.
Medical Care Furnished by a Military Treatment Facility (MTF)
Department of Defense (DoD) appropriated fund employees are not billed for treatment at Military Treatment Facilities for initial or follow-up care for a work-related injury.
Please see HA Policy: 08-002 regarding care furnished by Military Treatment Facilities to Federal employees for on-the-job injuries and for occupational health.
Forms
OWCP's Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) has made a variety of forms available online. DFEC's online forms
- How and when is a claim for wage loss compensation filed? §10.102
- How and when is a claim for permanent impairment filed? §10.103
- How and when is a claim for recurrence filed? §10.104
- What evidence is needed to establish a claim? §10.115
- What happens if, in any claim, the employer contests any of the facts as stated by the claimant? §10.117
- How does OWCP determine entitlement to benefits? §10.125
- After selecting a treating physician, may an employee choose to be treated by another physician instead? §10.316
- What is total disability? §10.400
- When and how is compensation for total disability paid? §10.401
- What are the basic rules governing continuing receipt of compensation benefits and return to work? §10.500
- What actions must the employer take? §10.505
- May the employer monitor the employee's medical care? §10.506
- How should the employer make an offer of suitable work? §10.507
- What actions must the employee take with respect to returning to work? §10.515
While compensation is usually claimed in two-week increments to conform to standard Federal pay periods, compensation checks are issued on a weekly or four-weekly basis. Payments of compensation for brief periods of temporary total disability or schedule impairments are issued on a weekly basis, while longer-term payments for disability, schedule award and death are made every four weeks. Payments may be sent to the beneficiary or to a financial institution which he or she designates but they may not be sent in care of the employee's representative unless guardianship or conservatorship is established.
Compensation payments are based on a percentage of the employee's salary (or a statutory pay rate). Payments are computed by multiplying the applicable percentage by the wage rate and increasing the result by any cost-of-living increases to which the beneficiary is entitled.
For both disability and death claims, the pay rate used to compute payments is the one in effect on the date of injury, date of recurrence or date disability began, whichever is higher. Thus, the pay rate for compensation purposes may change over the life of a claim.The salary used to compute compensation is not affected, however, by general increases in the rate paid for the employee's grade and step.Moreover, the pay rate is not affected by any promotion or raise the employee might have received in the future.
Additional Elements of Pay included in the salary are: night shift; Sunday differential; holiday pay; hazard pay; dirty work pay; quarters allowance and post differential for overseas employees and extra pay authorized by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for employees who receive annual premium pay for standby duty and who also earn and use leave on the basis of their entire tour of duty, including periods of standby duty. Overtime pay is not included, except for administratively uncontrollable work covered under 5 U.S.C. 5545(c)(2).
Agency Responsibilities
Once the employer learns of a traumatic injury sustained by an employee, it shall provide a Form CA-1 and Form CA-16 to authorize medical care and advise and inform the employee
Continuation of Pay (COP)
For most employees who sustain a traumatic injury, the FECA provides that the employer must continue the employee's regular pay during any periods of resulting disability, up to a maximum of 45 calendar days. This is called continuation of pay, or COP.
Employee Responsibilities
An employee who sustains a traumatic injury which he or she considers disabling, or someone authorized to act on his or her behalf, must take certain actions to ensure continuing eligibility for COP.
