A federal employee is a worker that is paid by the federal government. This includes Postal Workers, Homeland Security Agents, Customs Agents, and other related government agencies. The federal government operates and manages its own Workers' Cmpensation program. This program has specific guidelines and regulations that differ from the myriad of different state programs.

The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) is managed by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). The OWCP provides four major disability compensation programs, which offer wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and other benefits to certain workers or their dependents who experience work-related injury or occupational disease.

Federal civilian employees of the United States are eligible for compensation benefits for disability due to personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty or to an employment-related disease. FECA also provides for the payment of benefits to dependents if the injury or disease causes the employee's death. Similar to most state statutes, benefits cannot be paid if the injury or death is caused by the willful misconduct of the employee or by the employee's intention to bring about his or her injury or death or that of another, or if intoxication (by alcohol or drugs) is the proximate cause of the injury or death.

A federal employee is entitled to medical, surgical and hospital services and supplies needed for treatment of an injury as well as transportation for obtaining care. The injured employee has the initial choice of physician and may select any qualified local physician or hospital to provide necessary treatment, or may use agency medical facilities if available. Except for referral by the attending physician, any change in treating physician after the initial choice must be authorized by OWCP. Otherwise, OWCP will not be liable for the expenses of treatment.

For a free evaluation of your federal workers' compensation claim and to determine if you meet the OWCP eligibility requirements click here.

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