The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) provides wage loss compensation and medical benefits to postal and federal employees who become injured or ill as a result of their duties.

Federal Injury Compensation Laws, Regulations and Policies

The Code of Federal Regulations (20 CFR Parts 10 and 25) provides specific instructions as to how FECA should be administered by the employing agency.

The US Postal Service has, as required, published specific instructions regarding the policies and procedures which it will utilize in administering federal injury compensation laws and regulations. This language can be found primarily in Chapter 540 of the Employee and Labor Relations (ELM) and in EL 505 Handbook, Injury Compensation.

Within the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC) is responsible for processing claims filed by Postal Service employees. The DFEC Web site provides very useful information regarding the claims process. Particularly useful are their publications “Questions and Answers About the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (CA 550), and Injury Compensation for Federal Employees (CA-810).

Even though the Postal Service has an obligation to provide to an employee the forms that are used to file OWCP claims, these forms are also available from this Web site (Forms). Also, provided is information regarding the recently implemented Consolidated Bill Processing and Medical Authorization System.

Those who want a deeper understanding of how OWCP Claims Examiners (CEs) adjudicate claims can review the Program Procedures, which CEs must follow.

Of particular interest will be Claims, FECA, Part 2, which describes the procedures for adjudicating, paying, and managing claims, including the appeals process and other specialized topics.

For more information go to APWU Human Relations Injury Compensation

When an employee is injured at work, many forms will be placed in front of the employee to sign.  Most will be the standard forms. 

One will be slipped in and it is PS Form 2488. 
 

This an authorization for medical report.  Under no circumstances should this form be signed.  It gives postal management the authority to dig into all your medical records from birth until today.  Most of this medical information postal management has no business knowing.  If management says an employee needs to sign this form in order to process their claim easier, this is totally false. 

This is your private record and management has no right to do it. DO NOT ALLOW THEM THIS ACCESS. 

If a compensation claim ensues from an injury, the inspection service would use this to pry into your private life in order to find something to get you, the employee. 

Remember, DO NOT SIGN PS FORM 2488.  An employee has a perfect right not to sign this form. 

As a reminder, it is always best for an employee to read any form placed in front of them by management.  If an employee has a concern, ask for a union steward to be present to answer your questions.