Minds → Workers Comp → What disability compensation is payable under federal workers compensation? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

US Federal

What disability compensation is payable under federal workers compensation? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

Under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq., wage-loss compensation is payable only for periods during which a work-related medical condition prevents the employee from earning pre-injury wages, per 20 CFR 10.500. Benefits are also available for additional periods of disability following the initial injury, claimed via Form CA-7 every two weeks, per 20 CFR 10.102. Medical benefits are payable for all treatment necessary due to a work-related medical condition, without regard to ability to work.

Last verified: 2026-08-27 · Sources checked: 3/3 resolving · Next scheduled review: 2026-11-25

Details / How it works

FECA disability compensation is available only while the effects of a work-related condition continue. Wage-loss compensation covers periods during which the employee's work-related medical condition prevents earning pre-injury wages, and also covers additional periods of disability following the initial injury. Claims for wage loss not covered by Continuation of Pay (COP) are filed on Form CA-7, which the employee completes and submits to the employer for transmission to OWCP, and the employee must submit a new claim every two weeks while disability continues. The employee is also responsible for submitting medical evidence (Form CA-20a) establishing that disability continues and is due to the work-related injury.

Numbers & thresholds

Item	Threshold / Number
Minimum disability before wage-loss claim is required	Loss of pay for more than 3 calendar days
Deadline to submit Form CA-7 after pay stops	No more than 14 calendar days
Frequency of Form CA-7 submissions while disability continues	Every 2 weeks
Deadline to file notice of traumatic injury (injuries on/after Sept. 7, 1974)	Within 3 years of the injury
Filing-deadline exception: notice/actual knowledge by employer	Within 30 days after occurrence

Exceptions & edge cases

An employee is not entitled to compensation for wage loss claimed on Form CA-7 to the extent that contemporaneous evidence shows the employee had medical work restrictions, that light duty within those restrictions was available from the employing federal agency, and that the employee was previously notified in writing that such duty was available. A disabled employee who refuses to seek or accept suitable employment under 5 U.S.C. § 8106(c)(2) forfeits compensation. OWCP may excuse failure to meet the three-year notice deadline for truly exceptional circumstances (e.g., being held as a prisoner of war).

Sources

[1]U.S. Government Publishing Office / Department of Labor / OWCP — 20 CFR 10.500 — What compensation is payable for disability under FECA · as of 2026-08-27
[2]U.S. Government Publishing Office / Department of Labor / OWCP — 20 CFR 10.102 — How to file a claim for wage loss compensation under FECA · as of 2026-08-27
[3]U.S. Government Publishing Office / Department of Labor / OWCP — 20 CFR 10.100 — How to file a notice of traumatic injury under FECA · as of 2026-08-27

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