NALC's Compensation Department provides information on the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and its administration by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), assists national business agents and through them branch officers who represent members before OWCP and/or the Postal Service on FECA issues, and provides direct representation to those members who appeal the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board. 

Department head Coby Jones is unable to respond to inquiries from individual letter carriers except those with ECAB appeals. NALC members with questions about workers' compensation must contact their NALC National Business Agents. 

ECOMP: A new OWCP web-based portal

OWCP has implemented ECOMP, an on-line portal that allows claimants, representatives and others to use the Internet to 1) upload documents into existing claim files and 2) file new claims (CA-1’s and CAs-2’s) and claims for wage-loss compensation and schedule awards (CA-7’s).

The portal is accessed at this address: https://www.ecomp.dol.gov/

ECOMP is separate from and in addition to Claimant Query System (CQS), Agency Query System (AQS) and the ACS bill-pay portal. OWCP has been planning to implement this new portal since at least December 2009. (Click here for background information.)

Initial attempts by letter carriers to use ECOMP demonstrate that the portal can be used by postal employees to upload documents into an existing case file, but that it is not activated yet for filing new claims or claims for wage-loss compensation (CA-1s, CA-2’s, CA-7s).

Uploading documents to the case file

Filing CA-1’s and CA-2’s (new claims) and CA-7s using the ECOMP portal

Align Networks

The Postal Service has established a business relationship with Align Networks to set up a program that provides physical therapy network services for employees with work related injuries and illnesses.

The Postal Service has held mandatory service talks around the country to pitch the program on the workroom floor.

The NALC is in the process of finding out more about both the program and the Service’s relationship with Align Networks. In the meantime, injured letter carriers should remember that the program is strictly voluntary.

If you are an injured letter carrier, high-quality physical therapy may significantly speed up your recovery and improve your prospects for long-term rehabilitation. While there are many excellent physical therapists, there are also many mediocre physical therapists. Often the physical therapist rather than the referring physician determines the actual therapeutic regimen to treat the accepted condition. Once OWCP authorizes physical therapy, it is important for you to choose a skilled physical therapist that will provide the proper course of therapy. In making the important choice of selecting a physical therapist, you are not required to go to any therapist in the Align Network. You and your doctor should make the choice that best serves you.

The Compensation Department will update this page as more information about Align Networks and its program with the Postal Service becomes available.

OWCP corrects confusion caused by USPS/Align Networks

Central Case Create: OWCP’s new procedure

OWCP has implemented new procedures for employing agencies (including USPS) regarding submission of certain forms when claims are filed. It became effective Oct. 1, 2011. OWCP calls the new system Central Case Create. NALC anticipates unintended consequences that may create problems for claimants. Therefore, NALC recommends that branches take certain steps to prevent those problems.

Click here for recommended branch actions.

Click here for background information.

Click here for explanation of anticipated problems.

Click here for OWCP guidance to employers on the Central Case Create system.

Click here for Central Case Create address.

Latest information

New FECA regulations (effective August 29, 2011)

Claimant Query System (CQS) now available

Change in ECAB Appeal Time Limits

Increasing federal employment of individuals with disabilities - Executive Order

Information for injured workers and representatives

Laws, Publications and Manuals

Columns by the Director of Compensation printed in The Postal Record

Release to represent - NALC form for letter carriers' use

Bill-pay portal

NALC Injury Compensation CD

What's New archive

OWCP-related information for contract enforcers

Central Case Create

March 2008 Activist - An entire issue devoted to "Protecting Medical Privacy"

Guide to NRP

NALC Injury Compensation CD

Spring 2004 Activist

What's New archive