OWCP Blog
What Is FECA? The Federal Employees' Compensation Act Explained
FECA stands for the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. It is the law that provides workers' compensation benefits to federal civilian employees who are injured on the job or develop an occupational disease. If you work for the federal government and you got hurt at work, FECA is the system that covers your medical treatment and lost wages. It is not state workers' comp. It is a completely separate federal program.
FECA vs State Workers' Comp: Two Different Systems
This is the most important distinction. State workers' compensation and federal workers' compensation are entirely separate systems with different laws, different agencies, different forms, and different rules.
State workers' comp is managed by each state's workers' compensation board. In New York, that is the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. It covers private sector employees and state/local government workers.
FECA is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor through the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). It covers federal civilian employees only. A doctor who handles state claims all day may have never filed a single OWCP report.
- ✓Different forms: FECA uses CA-1, CA-2, CA-7, CA-16, CA-17, CA-20. State uses C-3, C-4, and other state-specific forms.
- ✓Different billing: FECA bills the Department of Labor directly. State workers' comp bills through state insurance carriers.
- ✓Different documentation standards: FECA requires specific causal relationship language and functional capacity descriptions that state comp does not.
- ✓Different appeal processes: FECA appeals go through OWCP reconsideration, ECAB, or formal hearings. State appeals go through the state board.
- ✓Different physician choice: Under FECA, you can choose your own doctor from day one. Some state systems restrict your initial choice.
A state workers' comp doctor may be an excellent physician. But if they have never navigated OWCP paperwork, they can write a perfectly accurate medical report that still gets your federal claim denied for 'insufficient medical evidence.' The systems speak different languages.
What FECA Covers
FECA provides comprehensive benefits for federal employees injured at work or who develop work-related conditions.
- ✓Medical treatment: All reasonable and necessary medical care related to your work injury, including doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic care, medication, and diagnostic testing. Billed directly to DOL. No copays, no deductibles.
- ✓Continuation of Pay (COP): Up to 45 days of your full salary for traumatic injuries (CA-1 claims) while your claim is being processed.
- ✓Wage loss compensation: After COP ends, 75% of your salary with dependents or 66 2/3% without (tax-free). Filed through CA-7.
- ✓Schedule awards: Lump-sum compensation for permanent impairment to specific body parts (arms, legs, hands, feet, eyes, ears).
- ✓Vocational rehabilitation: Job retraining if you cannot return to your original position.
- ✓Death benefits: Survivor benefits for dependents of employees who die from work-related injuries or diseases.
Who Qualifies for FECA
Every federal civilian employee is covered by FECA, regardless of full-time, part-time, or temporary status. This includes every federal agency.
- ✓USPS: Letter carriers, clerks, mail handlers, vehicle operators, custodians, supervisors
- ✓TSA: Transportation security officers, screeners, Federal Air Marshals
- ✓VA: Doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, administrative staff, custodians
- ✓DOD: Civilian employees at military installations, defense agencies, and support operations
- ✓CBP, ICE, Secret Service, FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals: Federal law enforcement officers and civilian staff
- ✓IRS, SSA, HUD, EPA, DOJ, DOL, GSA: Administrative and field staff at every agency
- ✓Federal judiciary: Court staff, clerks, probation officers
- ✓Temporary and part-time federal employees: covered from day one
If you receive a paycheck from the United States government as a civilian employee, you are covered by FECA. No exceptions for agency, job title, or employment duration.
4How to File Under FECA
Filing a claim under FECA starts with identifying whether your injury was a single event or a condition that developed over time.
- 1Traumatic injury (single event): Report to your supervisor immediately. File Form CA-1 through ECOMP or on paper. Request a CA-16 authorization for initial treatment. See an OWCP credentialed doctor.
- 2Occupational disease (gradual condition): File Form CA-2 through ECOMP or on paper. You need a detailed medical narrative from an OWCP credentialed doctor connecting your work duties to your condition.
- 3Get medical treatment: Choose your own doctor. Under FECA, you have the right to pick your treating physician. Choose an OWCP credentialed provider who knows how to document for the Department of Labor.
- 4Follow your treatment plan: Attend all appointments. Every visit generates documentation that supports your claim.
- 5File CA-7 if you miss work: After your COP runs out (or if you are not COP-eligible), file CA-7 for wage loss compensation. Updated medical evidence is required for each filing period.
The Role of OWCP Under FECA
OWCP (Office of Workers' Compensation Programs) is the agency within the Department of Labor that administers FECA. When people say 'file an OWCP claim,' they mean file a claim under FECA through OWCP. The terms are used interchangeably, but technically FECA is the law and OWCP is the office that enforces it.
OWCP reviews your claim, decides whether to accept or deny it, authorizes treatment, processes compensation payments, and handles appeals. Every piece of medical documentation your doctor submits goes to an OWCP claims examiner. That examiner decides whether the documentation meets FECA requirements.
Why You Need an OWCP Credentialed Doctor Under FECA
FECA gives you the right to choose your own doctor. But choosing a doctor who does not understand FECA documentation is the most expensive mistake federal employees make.
- ✓FECA requires a 'rationalized medical opinion' linking your injury to your work duties. Most private doctors do not know what that means in OWCP terms.
- ✓Functional limitations must be expressed in measurable numbers (pounds, minutes, distances), not vague phrases like 'light duty.'
- ✓CA-17 duty status reports must be specific enough for your supervisor to assign appropriate modified duty.
- ✓CA-20 attending physician reports must follow a format that OWCP claims examiners are trained to evaluate.
- ✓Our practice maintains a 99% claim acceptance rate because we write every report specifically for the OWCP reviewer who reads it.
Dr. Moalemi treats federal employees under FECA at three locations: Manhattan (7 W 45th St), Brooklyn (640 Parkside Ave), and Woodbury, Long Island (99 Sunnyside Blvd Ext). Call (516) 400-4861. Direct billing to DOL. No out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FECA the same as OWCP?
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FECA is the law (Federal Employees' Compensation Act). OWCP is the office within the Department of Labor that administers the law. When people say 'OWCP claim,' they mean a claim filed under FECA. The terms are used interchangeably in practice.
Does FECA cover federal contractors?
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No. FECA covers federal civilian employees only. Federal contractors are covered under their employer's private workers' comp insurance, or in some cases under the Defense Base Act or Longshore Act. If you are unsure whether you are a federal employee or a contractor, check your pay stub for the employing agency.
Can I use my regular health insurance instead of FECA?
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You should not. FECA covers all treatment related to your work injury with no copays, no deductibles, and no out-of-pocket costs. Using your personal health insurance means you pay costs that FECA would cover entirely. File through OWCP and see an OWCP credentialed provider.
What if my FECA claim is denied?
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You have multiple appeal options: request reconsideration from OWCP within one year, request a hearing within 30 days, or appeal to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) within 30 days. Most denials are due to insufficient medical documentation, which an OWCP credentialed doctor can address with a supplemental report.
Does FECA cover me if I am injured while commuting to work?
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Generally no. FECA covers injuries that occur during the performance of your official duties. Commuting to and from work is usually not covered. However, if you are injured on federal property (parking lot, building entrance) or while performing a work-related errand during your commute, it may qualify. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
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