Ten Little Things You Should Know To Avoid Losing Substantial Rights Under FECA.
You need to know your rights. Below is a list of ten important things to know to avoid losing Substantial rights.
1. Form CA-1 – obtain and file within 30 days of a traumatic injury or lose Continuation of Pay rights
2. Scheduled Awards (for permanent injury to certain parts of the body) – OWCP often forgets to pay, plus these are payable even while working or on retirement.
3. Disability retirement + workers’ compensation – apply for both rather than choosing one before leaving
4. Chiropractors – the law limits reimbursable medical treatment to manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation shown by x-ray, and limits the usefulness of their reports
5. First choice of doctors – can be critical to success of your claim
6. Referrals by authorized treating physician – important for receiving best medical care
7. Relatively minor role of employing agency – deal direct with OWCP on all important questions
8. Medical and medical-related expenses – make sure to claim as soon as possible or OWCP may not pay (travel vouchers, auto or home modifications, medical bills incurred by employee, etc.)
9. Light duty offers – always attempt to perform this duty unless completely impossible, to preserve workers’ compensation rights, and always ask your doctor to review the job offer for suitability
10. Help is available – call an attorney specializing in this type of workers’ comp if you meet an impasse.