The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) provides compensation benefits to civilian employees for disability due to personal injury or disease sustained while in the performance of duty.  The FECA also provides for payment of benefits to dependents if a work-related injury or disease causes an employee's death.  The FECA is intended to be remedial in nature and proceedings under it are non-adversarial. Benefits provided under FECA constitute the sole remedy against the United States.

Injury Compensation

If you are injured at work, you may be entitled to injury compensation benefits provided under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA).  Federal employees have certain rights and responsibilities in filing for these benefits.  What A Federal Employee Should Do When Injured At Work:

• Immediately report any work-related injury to your supervisor. If you require emergency medical treatment, obtain care first and then notify your supervisor as soon as possible after receiving treatment.
    

•  Request medical attention, either by going to the dispensary or a private doctor.
    

• How do I file a workers’ compensation claim?  Recommend electronic self-filing by the injured worker via ECOMP:
   

  • Register for an Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP) account at www.ecomp.dol.gov.  You can login using a government or personal computer.
     

  • Follow the Step by Step Guidance for Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim link below for instructions on selecting your command and duty station, this is what ensures that the claim comes to CNIC FECA Office for agency review.
     

  • Should I file CA-1 or CA-2?
     

    • CA-1 Notice of Traumatic Injury: a traumatic injury is defined as a wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain. The injury must be identifiable as to time and place of occurrence and member or function of the body affected, and it must be caused by a specific work event or incident or series of work events or incidents during a single day or work shift.  To file a claim for traumatic injury, you should complete a CA-1, Notice of Traumatic Injury via ECOMP.
    • CA-2 Notice of Occupational Disease: An occupational disease is defined as a condition which is produced by continued or repeated exposure to elements of the work environment over a period longer than one work day or shift. To file a claim for occupational disease, you should file a CA-2, Notice of Occupational Disease via ECOMP

• Complete the claim and submit it to supervisor review.
   

• If you can’t file on ECOMP, follow these steps to file by hard copy submission
   

  • Click here to download form CA1 or CA2.
     

  • Follow instruction to complete the employee section of the Form CA-1 or CA-2 and provide it to your supervisor as soon as possible, but not later than 30 days after your injury.  Complete these forms as precisely as possible in order to avoid delays caused by asking you for additional information.

     

• If your injury requires medical treatment, obtain care as soon as possible. If you sustain a traumatic injury, you may obtain a Form CA-16, Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment from your supervisor or other agency representative.
    

• You may be asked to provide additional information. Although your supervisor or other agency representative may assist you, it is your responsibility to obtain the information needed to support your claim.
    

• If you are temporarily unable to work because of your injury, you need to keep your supervisor informed about your medical condition, and return to work as soon as your physician allows you to do so. Light duty assignments may be available if you are not able to perform your regular job, and if so, you must advise your physician.
    

• Request continuation of regular pay (COP), sick leave, annual leave, or leave without pay.

If you experience a work-related injury, your supervisor will tell you who to contact for assistance and additional information.  To protect your rights and receive benefits as quickly as possible, please do not delay in reporting work-related injuries.

Additional Information

The Internet Sites listed below will provide you with information on the FECA Program, forms, and other useful information.  Additionally, the Computer/Electronic Accommodation Program (CAP) Internet Site provides information regarding a Department of Defense (DOD) program for people with disabilities.  The CAP's services make DOD work environments more accessible to DOD employees with visual, hearing, and dexterity impairments by providing equipment, such as voice activated computers and ergonomic keyboards.  The CAP services are free to DOD employees.

• CAP-Workplace Accommodation
• Department of Labor (DOL)
• Department of Labor (DOL) Forms
• Medical Referral Form (formerly called "Dispensary Permit")
• ECOMP
• Step by Step Guidance for Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim - CNIC FECA Office SEP 2024

ECOMP Training

• ECOMP for Employees

• ECOMP for Supervisors

Points of contact