Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP)

The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) is administered by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). All civilian employees (including Auxiliarists) are covered under the Act. Employees are provided compensation benefits for disability due to personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty or due to employment-related disease. The FECA also provides for the payment of benefits to dependents if the injury or disease causes the employee's death.

The U.S. Coast Guard nor any of its management officials have authority to approve or deny any employee's claim for compensation benefits. This authority lies solely within DOL.

• An employee should report every job-related injury to his/her supervisor as soon as possible.
• Traumatic Injury - A traumatic injury is a wound or other condition caused by external forces including physical stress and strain. The injury should be identifiable as to the time and place of occurrence and the member or function of the body affected. Additionally, it must be caused by a specific event or incident or series of events or incidents within a single work shift.
  • An employee must submit claims within 3 years of occurrence.
  • A supervisor must file claims within 10 working days after receiving the claim form from an employee and provide the employee with the CA-16.
  • In order to qualify for continuation of pay (COP), the claim must be filed on a CA-1 within 30 days of occurrence. See Continuation of Pay section for additional information.
  • To claim wage loss beyond the 45 days of COP, an employee should file a CA-7 by the 40th day of the COP period.
• Occupational Disease - An occupational disease is an illness produced by systemic infections, continued or repeated stress or strain, exposure to toxins, poisonous fumes, noise, etc., in the work environment over a period longer than 1 work day or shift.
  • An employee must submit claims within 3 years of occurrence.
  • A supervisor must file claims within 10 working days after receiving the claim form from employees.
  • An employee who is absent due to an occupational disease is ineligible for COP. He/she may use annual leave, sick leave or leave without pay (LWOP).
• Recurrence - A recurrence is when an employee has additional time lost from work and incurs a wage loss, or if the employee experiences a renewed need for treatment after previously being released from care and there was no intervening injury or new exposure to the work environment.
  • Regardless of the type of injury, the same rules as stated above apply. However, for recurrence of traumatic injury, an employee does not receive a new 45 day COP allowance, but is permitted to use any remaining COP days from the original submission.