TIME FOR REPORTING OWCP INJURIES
Too often, federal employees are told they have a very short time period to report injuries. We’ve heard everything from 72 hours to 3 weeks to 30 days. Those are all false. Federal Employees have 3 years to report OWCP injury claims. If you were hurt at work, chances are it’s not too late to report your OWCP workers comp injury.
Laws Related to Reporting Injuries
20 CFR 10.100
How and when is a notice of traumatic injury filed?
(b) For injuries sustained on or after September 7, 1974, a notice of injury must be filed within three years of the injury. (The form contains the necessary words of claim.) The requirements for filing notice are further described in 5 U.S.C. 8119. Also see § 10.205 concerning time requirements for filing claims for continuation of pay.
(1) If the claim is not filed within three years, compensation may still be allowed if notice of injury was given within 30 days or the employer had actual knowledge of the injury or death within 30 days after occurrence. This knowledge may consist of written records or verbal notification. An entry into an employee’s medical record may also satisfy this requirement if it is sufficient to place the employer on notice of a possible work-related injury or disease.
5 U.S. Code § 8122
Time for making claim
An original claim for compensation for disability or death must be filed within 3 years after the injury or death. Compensation for disability or death, including medical care in disability cases, may not be allowed if claim is not filed within that time unless—
(1) the immediate superior had actual knowledge of the injury or death within 30 days. The knowledge must be such to put the immediate superior reasonably on notice of an on-the-job injury or death; or
(2) written notice of injury or death as specified in section 8119 of this title was given within 30 days.
(b) In a case of latent disability, the time for filing claim does not begin to run until the employee has a compensable disability and is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, of the causal relationship of the compensable disability to his employment. In such a case, the time for giving notice of injury begins to run when the employee is aware, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence should have been aware, that his condition is causally related to his employment, whether or not there is a compensable disability.