Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Printer-Friendly Version

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP)

EEOICP Performance Results

Government Performance Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) has maintained a strong record of meeting its key performance goals under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). This demonstrates DOL’s commitment to assisting individuals who have become ill due to workplace exposures at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons facilities.

Reflecting its status as a “start-up” program, early GPRA performance priorities in EEOICPA were to improve processing efficiency to deliver decisions and benefits timely. For example, the goal in FY 2002, the program’s first full year, was to complete initial processing on 75% of claims by DOE or DOE contractor employees within 120 days, and to complete initial processing on 75% of claims filed by employees of atomic weapons employers and beryllium vendors within 180 days. In FY 2005, the first year Part E benefits were available, the goal was to make at least 1,200 payments under that emerging program. EEOICP successfully met, and exceeded that goal, completing 1,535 payments, totaling over $194.3 million, to ailing employees or their families.

In FY 2007, EEOICP began to measure average days for completion of initial processing because that measure is a better indicator of overall effectiveness in delivering initial services to claimants. FY 2008 goals were set to process initial claims within 226 days under Part B and 290 days under Part E. Both goals were exceeded. Use of an average days measure also facilitates setting specific targets for year to year improvement, and documents the amount of improvement over time (as indicated in the table below).

Timely processing also extends to Final Decisions by the EEOICP’s Final Adjudication Branch. The timeliness standards, for both Part B and Part E claims, are to complete final decisions within 180 days where there is a hearing and within 75 days where there is no hearing. EEOICP has consistently met or exceeded its Final Decision goals.