Office of Worker's Compensation Programs(OWCP)

• Receiving Benefits from the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)
• Approval of OWCP Benefits and Entitlement to FERS/CSRS Disability Benefit
• If you Begin to Receive Benefits From OWCP
• Contacting OWCP

Receiving Benefits from the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Generally, you cannot receive benefits for total or partial disability from the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWCP) and CSRS or FERS annuity payments at the same time.  You must decide which benefit is most advantageous and elect to receive that benefit.  If you decide to receive worker’s compensation benefits, payments from OPM will be suspended.  If your worker’s compensation benefit stops, you can ask us to pay your CSRS or FERS annuity.  You may receive concurrent payment of FERS annuity and OWCP benefits for the same period of time only if:

• You are receiving a scheduled award from OWCP. A scheduled award is usually paid when there is a disability resulting from the loss, or loss of use, of a function or member of the body (such as a hearing loss), or
• You are receiving OWCP benefits due to the death of another person and you are eligible for annuity on the basis of your own Federal service, or
• Your OWCP payments are suspended because you are receiving a financial settlement from the party directly responsible for the injury (a third party settlement). In this instance, your annuity may be paid during the period that your OWCP benefits are suspended.

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Approval of OWCP Benefits and Entitlement to FERS/CSRS Disability Benefit

The approval of a claim for benefits by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), U.S. Department of Labor for a work-related injury or illness, does not automatically entitle an employee to a FERS or CSRS disability retirement.  A claim for FERS or CSRS disability retirement must also be filed with the Office of Personnel Management.  If you are approved for disability retirement and elect to provide survivor protection, you will protect the rights of your eligible survivors to receive annuity benefits after your death.  In addition, this will protect your own annuity rights in the event you lose entitlement to benefits from OWCP.  Your application for FERS/CSRS disability retirement must be received by OPM within one year from the date of your separation by your agency.

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If you Begin to Receive Benefits From the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) While you are Receiving CSRS or FERS Retirement Benefits, or If your OWCP Award is Changed from a Scheduled Award to a Non-Scheduled Award

Contact Us to tell us if you are awarded worker’s compensation benefits and see if you need to make an election between benefits.

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Contacting the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP)

Contact the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) for additional information about workers’ compensation benefits.