Simplifying Federal Workers' Compensation
Understand what your claim status means and what to do next. Codes are below. Enter your claim code. Multiple choices may appear due to crossover in actions. Look for your specific code.
Category: Denial
Your claim is pending disallowance (denial).
You will receive a formal decision letter explaining the reason for the disallowance and your appeal rights.
No payments can be processed while in this status.
Category: Denial
Your claim has been denied because it was not filed within the required time limits.
You may request reconsideration with evidence showing the claim was timely filed or that there was a reasonable excuse for the delay.
Generally, claims must be filed within 3 years of the date of injury, or within 3 years of when you first became aware of the condition's relationship to your employment.
Category: Denial
Your claim has been denied because you were not a federal civilian employee at the time of injury.
If you believe this is an error, request reconsideration with evidence of your federal employment status at the time of injury.
Certain contractors, volunteers, and other non-federal employees are not covered under FECA.
Category: Denial
Your claim has been denied because the evidence does not establish that the injury or event occurred as described.
Submit additional evidence such as witness statements, incident reports, or other documentation that proves the injury or event happened as claimed.
This denial is often due to inconsistencies in the evidence or lack of sufficient proof that the incident occurred.
Category: Denial
Your claim has been denied because the injury did not occur while you were performing your official duties.
Submit evidence showing that the injury occurred while performing your job duties, during work hours, or in an activity that benefited your employer.
Activities outside the scope of employment, during commuting, or during unauthorized breaks are typically not covered.
Category: Denial
Your claim has been denied because the medical evidence does not establish that the condition is related to your federal employment, or disability due to the injury has ceased.
Obtain a comprehensive medical report from your physician that clearly explains how your work duties caused or aggravated your condition.
The medical report should include a definitive statement of causal relationship, not speculative language.
Category: Processing
Consideration for benefits has been suspended, typically for failure to report for an Office-directed medical exam or because the initial claim was withdrawn.
If due to missing a medical exam, contact OWCP immediately to reschedule the examination.
Continued failure to attend directed medical exams can result in denial of benefits.
Category: Processing
Your case has been created in the system but has not yet been reviewed by a Claims Examiner.
No action is needed at this time. Wait for OWCP to review your claim and request any additional information.
This status is automatically generated when a case is created and should change once the case is initially reviewed.
Category: Processing
Your claim is under development, meaning further information is needed before a decision can be made.
Respond promptly to any requests for information. You may also proactively submit relevant evidence to support your claim.
Failure to provide requested information within specified timeframes may result in denial of your claim.
Category: Closure
Your case is closed and accepted, but no further payments are anticipated because there was no time lost from work.
If your condition worsens and you need additional medical treatment, you can still submit bills for payment.
If you later experience disability due to this condition, contact OWCP to have your case reopened.
Category: Closure
Your case is closed and accepted. Time lost was covered by leave that has not been repurchased.
If you wish to buy back leave, contact your agency's HR department about leave buy-back procedures.
There is typically a one-year time limit for requesting leave buy-back.
Category: Closure
Your case is closed because benefits were denied. This is assigned with a "D_" adjudication code.
If you disagree with the denial, review your appeal rights as outlined in the decision letter.
Different appeal options have different deadlines: reconsideration (1 year), hearing (180 days), ECAB appeal (180 days).
Category: Closure
Your case is closed. Continuation of Pay (COP) was accepted and pay was continued for time lost from work, but no further payments are anticipated.
If your condition worsens and you need additional medical treatment or experience new disability, contact OWCP.
Medical benefits may still be available for your accepted condition if needed in the future.
Category: Closure
Your case is closed. It was previously accepted for benefits, and all benefits have been paid.
If your condition worsens and you need additional medical treatment or experience new disability, contact OWCP.
You may request reopening of your case if you have a recurrence of the accepted condition.
Category: Closure
Your case has been administratively closed.
No action is needed unless you believe this status is incorrect or you need to reopen your case.
This may be used when a claim is withdrawn or when there has been no activity for an extended period.
Category: Closure
You have retired or are awaiting retirement.
If you have questions about the interaction between FECA benefits and retirement benefits, contact OWCP or OPM.
You cannot receive both FECA wage-loss benefits and OPM retirement benefits for the same period, but must elect between them.
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) uses a combination of codes to indicate the status of a claim:
Your claim status can be found on ECOMP by logging into your account and viewing your case details, or on correspondence you receive from OWCP.
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