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OWCP Injury Claims: Forms, Deadlines & Next Steps for Federal Employees
Hurt at work as a federal employee? OWCP injury claims run on deadlines and forms: a CA-1 or CA-2 from you and your agency, and medical reports from your doctor. This guide walks you through every step. When you need an OWCP doctor in New Jersey, FedMed Care in Edison treats your injury and completes the medical side of the claim for you.
- CA-1 · CA-2 · CA-16 · CA-17 · CA-20 · CA-7
- Filed through ECOMP
- Medical forms handled for you
How do I file an OWCP injury claim?
To file an OWCP injury claim, report the injury to your supervisor, then file Form CA-1 (traumatic injury) or Form CA-2 (occupational disease) through the Department of Labor's ECOMP portal. File a CA-1 within 30 days to protect Continuation of Pay. Get treated by a provider of your choice, who sends OWCP medical reports such as the CA-17 and CA-20. OWCP's claims examiner then decides whether to accept the claim and which conditions are covered.
- Report the injury to your supervisor right away.
- File a CA-1 or CA-2 in ECOMP; your agency completes its section.
- Ask your agency for a CA-16 after a traumatic injury.
- See an OWCP-enrolled provider of your choice.
- Your provider submits medical evidence to OWCP.
- OWCP decides the claim; file a CA-7 for wage loss if needed.
OWCP deadlines every injured federal worker should know
Miss one of these and you can lose pay protections or delay your claim.
File your CA-1
Written notice of a traumatic injury within 30 days of the injury is required to receive Continuation of Pay.
Continuation of Pay
COP continues your regular pay for up to 45 calendar days of disability after a traumatic injury.
Claim time limit
A FECA claim generally must be filed within 3 years of the injury or of when you realized your condition was work-related.
USPS waiting period
Postal Service employees have a 3-day waiting period before COP begins; those days count toward the 45.
The OWCP injury claim process, from injury to recovery
Report the injury and get care
Tell your supervisor as soon as possible. If it is an emergency, get emergency care first. Write down the date, time, place and how the injury happened, and the names of any witnesses.
File a CA-1 or CA-2 in ECOMP
Use a CA-1 for a traumatic injury from a single event or shift, or a CA-2 for an occupational disease caused by work over more than one shift. File through the Department of Labor's ECOMP website; your agency completes its portion and forwards it to OWCP.
Request a CA-16 (traumatic injuries)
For a traumatic injury, your agency can issue a Form CA-16 authorizing your initial examination and treatment by the provider you choose. Bring it to your first appointment. CA-16s are not issued for occupational disease claims without OWCP approval.
Choose your OWCP doctor
FECA lets you choose your initial treating provider. Pick one who is enrolled with OWCP and experienced with federal claims. After that first choice, changing providers generally requires OWCP approval.
Your doctor submits medical evidence
Your provider sends OWCP the CA-17 duty status report, the CA-20 attending physician's report or a narrative report, and progress notes. This medical evidence — especially a clear explanation of how your work caused the injury — is what OWCP relies on.
OWCP decides your claim
A claims examiner reviews the evidence and accepts or denies the claim, listing the specific accepted conditions. Treatment for accepted conditions is paid by OWCP. If more evidence is needed, OWCP will send a letter with a deadline to respond.
File a CA-7 for lost wages
If you remain off work after COP ends, or for occupational disease claims, you and your agency file Form CA-7 to claim wage-loss compensation, supported by your doctor's reports.
Recover and return to work
Your doctor updates your restrictions on the CA-17 as you improve, so your agency can offer suitable duty. If symptoms of an accepted condition return later, a CA-2a reports the recurrence.
Traumatic injury or occupational disease? Which form to file
Filing the wrong form is one of the most common reasons OWCP injury claims stall. Here's how to tell them apart.
| CA-1 · Traumatic injury | CA-2 · Occupational disease | |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | A single event or one work shift | Exposure or activity over more than one shift |
| Examples | Slip and fall, lifting injury, vehicle accident, dog bite | Repetitive strain, carpal tunnel, cumulative back or shoulder injury |
| Continuation of Pay | Eligible, if filed within 30 days | Not available; wage loss is claimed on a CA-7 |
| CA-16 authorization | Agency can issue for initial care | Generally not issued without OWCP approval |
| Medical evidence | Diagnosis linked to the specific incident | Detailed rationale linking work duties over time to the condition |
OWCP forms list: what each form does and who completes it
Most forms are filed through ECOMP. The ones marked "Provider" are completed by your OWCP doctor — at FedMed Care, we handle those for you.
| Form | What it's for | Who completes it |
|---|---|---|
| CA-1 | Notice of traumatic injury and claim for Continuation of Pay / compensation. | Employee & agency |
| CA-2 | Notice of occupational disease and claim for compensation. | Employee & agency |
| CA-2a | Notice of recurrence of disability from a previously accepted condition. | Employee & agency |
| CA-16 | Authorization for examination and/or treatment after a traumatic injury. | Agency issues · Provider completes Part B |
| CA-17 | Duty status report — physical restrictions and ability to work. | Agency · Provider |
| CA-20 | Attending physician's report — diagnosis, treatment and whether work caused the condition. | Provider |
| CA-7 | Claim for compensation — wage loss, leave buy-back or a schedule award. | Employee & agency |
| OWCP-915 | Claimant medical reimbursement — out-of-pocket costs for medications, supplies or services. | Employee |
| OWCP-957A / B | Medical travel refund — mileage (A) or other travel expenses (B) to medical appointments. | Employee |
Your OWCP claim is only as strong as your medical evidence
OWCP claims examiners are not doctors, and they cannot accept a condition on your word alone. They decide based on what your doctor writes. Vague notes like "back pain, off work two weeks" are one of the top reasons claims are delayed or denied.
As your OWCP doctor in Edison, Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C., documents your injury the way the claims process requires, and our team follows up when OWCP asks for more.
What a strong OWCP medical report includes
- An accurate history of how the injury happened at work.
- A specific diagnosis, not just a symptom like "pain."
- Objective findings from the exam and imaging, such as x-rays.
- A causation rationale explaining how your job duties caused or aggravated the condition.
- Clear work restrictions and expected duration on the CA-17.
- A treatment plan with timely progress updates.
Your appeal options after an OWCP decision
Every OWCP decision letter lists your appeal rights and deadlines. In general, you can choose one of three routes.
Hearing or review of the written record
Request an oral hearing or a review of the written record with OWCP's Branch of Hearings and Review.
Reconsideration
Ask OWCP to reconsider, usually with new and relevant evidence — often an updated medical report.
ECAB appeal
Appeal to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board, which reviews the existing record.
This is general information, not legal advice. Always follow the deadlines in your own decision letter.
OWCP doctor in Edison, New Jersey
Need a provider who will treat your injury and handle the OWCP medical forms? FedMed Care serves federal employees across Middlesex County and Central New Jersey.
FedMed Care — Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C.295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 738-1800
| Monday – Thursday | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday – Sunday | Call for availability |
OWCP injury claim questions, answered
How long do I have to file an OWCP injury claim?
File a CA-1 within 30 days of a traumatic injury to remain eligible for Continuation of Pay. In general, a FECA claim must be filed within 3 years of the injury, or of when you first realized your condition was caused by your work.
Where do I file OWCP forms?
Most claim forms, including the CA-1, CA-2 and CA-7, are filed electronically through the Department of Labor's ECOMP website. Your agency completes its portion of each form. Medical forms such as the CA-17 and CA-20 are completed by your treating provider.
What is Continuation of Pay (COP)?
Continuation of Pay is your regular salary, paid by your agency for up to 45 calendar days of disability after a traumatic injury. You must file a CA-1 within 30 days of the injury to qualify. Postal Service employees have a 3-day waiting period before COP begins.
Which OWCP forms does my doctor fill out?
Your doctor completes Part B of the CA-16 when your agency issues one, the CA-17 duty status report and the CA-20 attending physician's report, along with narrative medical reports OWCP requests. At FedMed Care in Edison, NJ, we complete these for you.
Why was my OWCP claim delayed or denied?
The most common reasons are missing forms, filing the wrong form, and medical reports that do not clearly explain how your work caused the condition. OWCP usually sends a development letter listing what it needs and a deadline to respond.
What can I do if OWCP denies my claim?
Your decision letter lists your appeal rights. In general, you can request a hearing or review of the written record within 30 days, request reconsideration within 1 year, or appeal to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board within 180 days.
Can I get reimbursed for mileage to medical appointments?
Yes, for travel to treatment of an accepted condition. Use Form OWCP-957A for mileage or OWCP-957B for other travel expenses. Out-of-pocket medical costs are claimed on Form OWCP-915.
Where can I find an OWCP doctor near me in New Jersey?
FedMed Care, led by Dr. Douglas J. Zimmel, D.C., treats federal employees with OWCP injury claims at 295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101, Edison, NJ 08837. Call (732) 738-1800 to schedule.
Let us handle the medical side of your OWCP claim.
Call our Edison office. We'll check where your OWCP claim stands, tell you which forms you still need and get you in with Dr. Zimmel.
(732) 738-1800295 Pierson Ave, Suite 101
Edison, NJ 08837
Mon – Thu: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
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