How Federal Employees can File Workers Comp Claims?

Employees who work for the US government are covered under the FECA or the Federal Employee Compensation Act. Under this act they are entitled to benefits if they have suffered work-related injuries. FECA is different from the state worker’s compensation system which provides benefits to workers employed in private companies and those providing service to local and state governments. Compensation under FECA is strictly available to those who are working for the federal government which according to the national debt and many tax payers, is far too many.

FECA Basics

Louisville, KY workers’ compensation lawyers explain that federal employees must file a claim to get compensation if they are injured on a job. They cannot sue the government for their injury. The Division of Federal Employee’s Compensation or DFEC handles the FECA claims. DFEC is a wing of the Department of Labor’s Office of Worker’s Compensation program or OWCP. It has a total of 12 district branches that can handle FECA claims.

It is amazing how thick this bureaucracy is. America is not supposed to be this way, this is how they do it in England and other socialistic countries.

Who is Qualified for Damages Under FECA?

People working for federal agencies such as the FBI, IRS, and the Postal Service can utilize compensation under FECA, say Kentucky, workers’ compensation attorneys. Other full time permanent federal employees, part time and temporary employees, seasonal and probationary workers are also entitled to the benefits. Remember, certain jobs are contracted out to private companies by federal agencies.

In the movie Point Break, Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves), reinjures his knee when chasing Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) after Bodhi and his team just robbed another bank. Utah would qualify for worker’s comp since this was certainly work related and it happened while performing his duties.

People working for these companies are not covered under FECA but can claim from the state’s worker’s compensation system for ailments and injuries suffered at the workplace.

FECA does not provide cover to certain types of federal employees such as maritime workers, military personnel, harbor workers, and longshoremen. They have a separate claim system.

But Utah was working for the FBI so he would be covered.

Injuries and Ailments Covered by FECA

Louisville, KY workers’ compensation attorneys reiterate that federal employees can claim benefits for traumatic injuries they sustain while on the job. For instance, if someone slips and hurts their back while chasing a suspect then he/she can claim benefits which Utah was doing. If an employee is affected by work-related ailments, for instance, if someone is reeling from carpal tunnel syndrome due to typing for long hours or has developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, they will be entitled to receive compensation.

Filing for Compensation

The OWCP has two different types of claim forms for traumatic injuries and work-related diseases. If you have suffered trauma then you will require form CA1 better known as Federal Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay Compensation. If you are reeling from an Occupational Disease then you need form CA2 which is known as Notice of Occupational Notice and Claim for compensation.

You must fill out the details of the form and submit it to your supervisor within 30 days of your injury. In the event you need prolonged medical treatment your supervisor will do the paperwork and submit the claim on your behalf so that you get compensated for your medical treatment.

Payments and Benefits

Workers who have experienced trauma will receive full wages for 45 days known as continuation of pay. This benefit is not provided to employees who suffered from occupational diseases.

You will get 2/3^rd of your wages if you are single. If you are married you will get 3/4^th of your wages. Workers with work-related injuries get the benefits after the continuation of pay runs out i.e. after 45 days from the date of the injury. Workers with occupational diseases start getting the benefits immediately.

If you are facing a gamut of issues with your worker’s compensation claim make sure to consult a Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyer to make sure your rights are protected and you receive the compensation that you rightly deserve.

Utah would even qualify again for worker’s comp when he hurt the same knee when colliding with the ground after jumping out of the airplane without a parachute. Perhaps this knee injury is why he quit the FBI after he finally caught Bodhi and then let him die trying to surf a massive wave. 

That was before the Internet. This is the Internet age now. Sometimes your employer does not want to cover you when they should. Perhaps they do not understand that catching the bad guy sometimes requires risk. This is where this site (Workers-Comp.USAttorneys) comes into the picture. If you need legal help, this site will help you find the legal counselor you need to turn the tables on your employer and their insurance company.