feca.ai

Federal Employees' Compensation Act — since 1916

Injured or sick from your federal job? You have a right to compensation.

FECA provides medical care, wage replacement, and survivor benefits to civilian federal employees hurt or made ill by their work. We help you understand the program, check your eligibility, and file your claim correctly.

2.1 million

federal civilian workers covered

~130,000

new claims filed per year

$3.1 billion

in annual benefits paid

Since 1916

protecting workers for a century

Who is covered by FECA?

Nearly all civilian employees of the federal government are covered, regardless of how long they’ve been on the job. Coverage begins on your first day.

General Schedule (GS) employees

Administrative, professional, and technical staff across all federal agencies.

Wage Grade (WG) employees

Federal trade, craft, and labor workers — mechanics, electricians, custodians.

U.S. Postal Service employees

Letter carriers, mail handlers, clerks, and other USPS workers.

Federal law enforcement

FBI, CBP, ICE, Secret Service, marshals, BOP correctional officers.

Federal firefighters

Wildland (USFS, BLM, NPS), structural, and fire protection personnel.

VA healthcare workers

Doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff at VA facilities.

DOD civilian employees

Civilian workers on military bases — logistics, maintenance, admin, tech.

Temporary and part-time employees

Coverage regardless of appointment type — temp, term, part-time, seasonal.

What FECA provides

FECA is not a lawsuit — it’s a no-fault insurance program. You don’t need to prove your employer did anything wrong. If your injury or illness is connected to your work, you’re entitled to benefits.

What FECA provides

All doctors’ visits, hospital stays, surgery, prescriptions, physical therapy, durable medical equipment, and travel costs related to your accepted condition. You choose your own physician. No deductible or copay.

Wage replacement — two-thirds to three-quarters of your pay

If your injury prevents you from working, FECA pays 66⅔% of your salary (75% with dependents). This compensation is tax-free, so the effective replacement rate is close to your take-home pay. Benefits continue as long as the disability lasts.

Schedule awards — compensation for permanent impairment

Lasting loss of function in a body part — reduced grip strength, hearing loss, limited range of motion — may qualify for a lump-sum schedule award in addition to other benefits.

Vocational rehabilitation

If you can’t return to your previous job, OWCP may provide retraining, education, and job placement assistance to help you return to suitable employment.

Survivor benefits

If a federal employee dies from a work-related cause, eligible dependents receive ongoing compensation (up to 75% of salary) plus a funeral/burial allowance.

Check if you may be eligible

Four questions. This is not a legal determination — it helps you understand whether FECA likely applies to your situation.

Is your condition covered?

FECA covers any injury or illness caused or aggravated by federal employment. This list shows common conditions — if yours isn’t here, it may still qualify.

This list is not exhaustive. FECA covers any condition with a demonstrated connection to your federal employment. If you don't see your condition here, that does not mean it isn't covered.

Mistakes that get claims denied

Most denied FECA claims have a fixable problem. Avoid these.

Filing the wrong form

Using CA-1 for a condition that developed over time, or CA-2 for a single incident. OWCP may reject or delay a claim filed on the wrong form.

Weak medical evidence

A note that says “patient has back pain, possibly work-related” is not enough. You need a detailed narrative on the CA-20 explaining the diagnosis, work connection, and medical reasoning.

Missing deadlines

CA-1 within 30 days. CA-2 within 3 years. Hearing requests within 30 days of denial. Missing a deadline creates an additional burden to overcome.

Not keeping copies

OWCP and agencies lose paperwork. Keep copies of every form, record, and letter. Save ECOMP confirmation receipts.

Relying on your agency to advocate for you

Your agency processes paperwork but is not your advocate. Their interests and yours may not align in contested cases.

Ignoring development letters

When OWCP requests additional evidence, you typically have 30 days. Failing to respond is one of the most common reasons claims are denied.

How to file a FECA claim

Most claims stall because of missing paperwork, not because the injury isn’t real. Here’s the full sequence.

Immediately

Report the injury to your supervisor

Notify your supervisor in writing as soon as possible. For traumatic injuries, do this within 30 days. For occupational diseases, report when you become aware the condition is connected to your work. Ask your supervisor for a CA-16 authorization for medical treatment.

Within filing deadline

File your claim form with OWCP

Submit Form CA-1 (traumatic injury) or CA-2 (occupational disease). You can file through ECOMP (the electronic system) or on paper through your agency. Your employer must forward the form to OWCP within 10 business days. Keep copies of everything.

Concurrent with filing

Gather your medical evidence

See your doctor and request a detailed narrative medical report — ideally on Form CA-20. The report must include a diagnosis, a description of your job duties, and a reasoned medical opinion explaining how your work caused or aggravated your condition. This is the single most important factor in claim approval.

After submission

OWCP reviews and may request more information

A claims examiner reviews your file. They may send a development letter requesting additional evidence. Respond promptly and completely — delays here can stall your case for months.

Decision issued

Claim accepted or denied

If accepted, OWCP authorizes medical treatment and wage-loss compensation. If denied, the decision letter explains why. You have 30 days to request a hearing, one year for reconsideration, or 180 days for an ECAB appeal.

Ongoing

Manage your accepted claim

You may need to file for wage-loss compensation (CA-7), request authorization for treatments, apply for a schedule award, or respond to periodic reviews. Keep medical evidence current and contact information updated with OWCP.

What compensation looks like

FECA benefits are not taxable income. For many workers, the effective replacement is close to full take-home pay.

66⅔%

of salary, tax-free

Wage loss (no dependents)

75%

of salary, tax-free

Wage loss (with dependents)

100%

covered, no copay

Medical expenses

Varies

lump sum by body part

Schedule award

Up to 75%

of salary to dependents

Survivor benefits

$800

federal benefit

Burial allowance

OWCP claim forms

Official Department of Labor forms used in the FECA process. Forms marked critical are the ones most claims depend on.

CA-1

Notice of Traumatic Injury

Within 30 days of a specific workplace incident — a fall, vehicle accident, assault, or other one-time event.

CA-2

Notice of Occupational Disease

When you develop an illness or condition over time from your work.

CA-2a

Notice of Recurrence

When a previously accepted condition from working returns or gets worse after a period of improvement.

CA-5

Claim for Compensation — Death

Filed by surviving dependents when a federal employee dies from a work illness.

CA-16

Authorization for Examination / Treatment

Your employing agency issues this to authorize initial medical treatment. Ask your supervisor for it immediately.

CA-17

Duty Status Report

Your treating physician fills this out — it describes your work limitations and capacity to return to duty.

CA-20

Attending Physician’s Report

Detailed medical report from your doctor connecting your diagnosis to your federal employment. The most important evidence in your claim.

CA-7

Claim for Compensation — Wage Loss

After your claim is accepted, use this to request wage-loss payments for time you missed or cannot work.

Common questions

Answers to what federal employees ask most about FECA claims.

Can I choose my own doctor?

Yes. Under FECA, you have the right to choose your treating physician. OWCP cannot require you to see a specific doctor for treatment, though they can send you for a second-opinion examination. Choosing a doctor experienced with workers’ comp cases can make a significant difference in the quality of your medical evidence.

Will I lose my job if I file a FECA claim?

Federal law prohibits retaliation against employees who file workers’ compensation claims. Your agency cannot fire, demote, or discipline you for filing. If you believe you’ve experienced retaliation, that itself may be actionable. However, FECA does not guarantee your specific position will be held indefinitely — the interplay between FECA, FMLA, and agency policy matters here.

How long does it take to get a decision?

Traumatic injury claims (CA-1) are typically decided within 30 to 45 days if the paperwork is complete. Occupational disease claims (CA-2) often take longer — sometimes several months — because establishing the connection between your work and your condition requires more evidence. Incomplete submissions are the #1 cause of delays.

Is FECA compensation taxable?

No. FECA wage-loss benefits are not subject to federal income tax. However, you cannot receive both full FECA benefits and your regular federal salary at the same time, and there are offset rules if you also receive certain other federal benefits.

What if my claim was denied?

You have three main options: (1) request reconsideration from OWCP within one year, submitting new evidence or legal argument; (2) request an oral hearing before an OWCP hearing representative within 30 days; or (3) appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) within 180 days. Each path has different strategic advantages depending on why the claim was denied.

Can I file for a condition I've had for years?

Possibly. The statute of limitations for occupational disease claims is 3 years from when you knew (or should have known) the condition was related to your work — not from when symptoms first appeared. If you only recently learned the connection, you may still be within the filing window.

What's the difference between a schedule award and wage-loss compensation

Wage-loss compensation replaces your income while you can’t work. A schedule award is a separate, additional benefit for permanent impairment — permanent loss of use or function of a body part. You can receive a schedule award even if you’ve returned to work.

Does FECA cover mental health conditions?

Yes, if the condition arose from your work. PTSD from a workplace incident, depression caused by intolerable working conditions, and anxiety from occupational trauma can all be compensable. The evidentiary standard is higher — you’ll need clear medical evidence and a detailed factual statement — but these claims are routinely accepted when properly supported.