Continuation of Pay (COP)

The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) provides that an employee’s regular pay may continue for up to 45 calendar days of wage loss due to disability and/or medical treatment after a traumatic injury claim. The intent of this provision is to avoid interruption of the employee’s income while the case is being adjudicated. When a traumatic injury occurs during the workday, and the employee is incapable of completing the rest of the workday, they should be granted administrative leave for the balance of the shift (See: Recording Time and Attendance for proper coding). COP is paid by the agency through the regular payroll and is not considered compensation. Therefore, it is subject to the usual deductions from pay, such as income tax and retirement allotments. All instances of COP must be supported by medical documentation.  After entitlement to COP ends, the employee may apply for OWCP compensation, as noted in the Wage Loss section, or use their personal sick or annual leave.

Wage Loss

When an employee elects LWOP related to a work-related injury or illness they may file for wage loss compensation by completing Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation and Form CA-7a, Time Analysis Form (if LWOP is intermittent). Forms CA-7 & CA-7a should be completed bi-weekly in alignment with established pay periods.  All absences must be supported by medical documentation and no time loss can be claimed in advance.  Compensation payments are tax-free and paid at a rate of 66 2/3% of the employee’s salary if there are no dependents and 75% with dependents. Wage loss compensation may not be less than 75% of the basic monthly salary of a GS-2 step 1 or higher than that of a GS-15 step 10, regardless of the employee’s pay level at the time of the injury. For routine medical appointments, the time allowed includes actual travel time to and from the medical appointment and time spent obtaining treatment; up to (4) four hours of compensation per day for appointments is usually allowed.  When completing and submitting the initial CA-7/CA-7a forms, the employee should additionally complete and submit Standard Form 1199A , Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form, to OWCP to allow for electronic deposit of compensation payments.

Note: OWCP will only pay compensation when a claim has an accepted status.

Schedule Awards

Compensation is provided for the permanent loss or loss of use of certain members and functions of the body.  Partial loss or loss of use of these members and functions is compensated on a proportional basis.  Before DOL-OWCP can consider payment of a schedule award, the condition of the affected part of the body must reach maximum medical improvement.  This determination involves a medical determination that the condition has permanently stabilized.  In most cases, the percentage of impairment is determined by the treating physician and in accordance with the 6^th Edition American Medical Association’s Guide to Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. A form CA-7, Claim for Compensation, initiates a Schedule Award claim.

Last Update: July 2024