Sample Questions About Feca
Question:
After a traumatic injury is there any form I need to file right away?
Answer:
Yes, a CA-1 with the box for “continuation of pay” checked. If this form is not signed and given to your supervisor within 30 days of the injury you will lose the important right of having your regular pay continued while you’re off work — instead of using up your sick leave or annual leave or just losing pay.
Question:
After contracting an occupational disease, is there any form I need to file right away?
Answer:
No, but you should file a form CA-2 as soon as you can to give your employer notice of the claim along with medical documentation and a statement from you about how you got the disease (see instructions on the multipart CA-2 form itself).
Question:
How long do I have to file a claim?
Answer:
For traumatic injuries, you have three years from the date of the injury to file a CA-7 claim form. For occupational diseases, you have three years from the last date of exposure to the harmful condition causing an occupational disease, or three years from the date you first knew about the work-relatedness of the condition, whichever is later, to file a CA-2 claim form. But if your last exposure was before September 7, 1974 you have only one year from the date you first knew about the work-relatedness of the condition.
Question:
What form do I use to file a claim for money benefits?
Answer:
For both traumatic injuries or occupational diseases, use form CA-7.
Question:
How do I get authorization to see a doctor at government expense?
Answer:
Tell your supervisor you need medical treatment. He should immediately issue form CA-16 for you to take to the doctor.
Question:
Can I choose which doctor I can see for the injury or disease?
Answer:
Yes, but you only get one choice. Try to choose a doctor you trust, and if possible one whose specialty is in the type of medicine needed to treat your condition. Do not choose a chiropractor, as this will create problems with your claim being approved (you may later see a chiropractor if, for example, your medical doctor recommends it). Do not believe anyone who tells you that you must go to see any particular doctor such as one chosen by the employer.
Question:
If OWCP denies my claim, do I have any legal recourse?
Answer:
Yes, there are various legal procedures you can use to contest the decision, including appeal to the ECAB, all of which should be outlined for you in an attachment to the decision letter itself.