American Postal Workers Union
AFL-CIO
A
few tidbits you need to know once you have been injured on duty:
By
Sandy Schleher
Clerk
Craft Director
Trenton Metro Area Local
The Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) is a law that
provides benefits for civilian employees of the United States government who
have suffered work-related injuries or occupational diseases.
These benefits include payment of medical expenses and compensation for
wage loss.
FECA is administered by the Office of Workers Compensation
(OWCP), U.S. Department of Labor, who has the responsibility for
approving or disapproving your case once you have filed a timely claim as a
result of an on the job injury with the United States Postal Service.
The Department of Labor currently maintains a web site http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/CBPOutreach.htm
where you can freely
research and find the answer to almost any question or circumstance that may
arise as it relates to your obligations under the law when you are attempting to
file a claim.
In addition, the Department of Labor (DOL) also maintains
the ACS Web Portal at http://owcp.dol.acs-inc.com/portal/main.do
where you can track your claim once you have received a claim number
from the DOL. Information such as
eligibility, bill status, and medical authorization status can be accessed
through this portal, which can also be utilized by your treating physician and
pharmacy for more timely and efficient claims inquiries.
The use of this portal will save you the trouble of calling
your claims examiner at the Department of Labor, who currently may take up to a
week to return phone inquiries due to the volume of calls they receive.
This site is monitored daily, and you should encourage your physician and
pharmacy to utilize this option as well.
In the event you are unable to find the answer to your
question(s), the following officers may be able to assist you:
Robert Lauer – Vice President
Mike Strano – Motor Vehicle Craft Director
Sandy Schleher – Clerk Craft Director