Definitions

• Assingment
• Beneficiary
• Benefits
• Burden of Proof
• Chargeback
• Claim
• Claimant
• Claims Examiner
• Compensation
• COP
• Contract Medical Provider
• Controversion
• Daily Roll
• Damages
• Fitness-for Duty
• First-Aid Injury
• Injury
• Labor Distribution Code (LDC)
• Lien
• Light Duty
• Limited Duty
• Medical Emergency
• Modified Assignment
• Monthly Pay
• Occupational Illness
• OWCP
• Periodic Roll
• Physician
• Prima Facie
• Recurrence
• Subrogation
• Third Party Liability
• Tort
• Traumatic Injury

Assingment

A written agreement whereby the injured employee or beneficiary transfers his/her right to recover damages from a third party to the USPS and such offer is accepted by the USPS.

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Beneficiary

An individual who is entitled to certain benefits under the ACT when the employee dies as a result of a job-related injury.

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Benefits

Any of the following:

1. Continuation of pay (COP) paid by USPS (COP is not considered compensation by the OWCP.)
2. Money paid to claimants by the OWCP because of loss of wages or earning ability.
3. Money paid in the form of schedule awards (e.g., loss of finger).
4. Money paid as reimbursement for medical diagnostic and treatment services supplied under FECA.
5. Money paid to survivors of employees whose death is job-related.
6. Certain payments to individuals who are participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program.

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Burden of Proof

The claimant's responsibility to provide evidence to substantiate the following five features of the claim:

1. The time
2. The fact of USPS employment
3. The fact of injury
4. The fact of performance of duty
5. The existence of causal relationship between job and injury

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Chargeback

The system of billing Postal Service Headquarters for payments related to OWCP approved claims and then having them charged to the local USPS installation having jurisdiction over the employee at the time of the injury or illness.

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Claim

An assertion, in writing, of an individual's entitlement to benefits under FECA. This claim must be submitted on the required form.

1. A claim may be filed for a traumatic injury (Form CA-1), and occupational illness or disease (Form CA-2), or death (Form CA-5 or 5b).
2. A claim for injury may include reimbursement for the replacement or repair of medical braces, artificial limbs, and other prosthetic devices, and for such time lost while such devices or appliances are being replaced or repaired. However, a claim is not appropriate for the replacement or repair of eyeglasses and hearing aids unless the damage or destruction is a direct result of a personal job-related injury requiring medical services.

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Claimant

An individual whose claim for benefits and/or compensation has been filed in accordance with FECA.

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Claims Examiner

An OWCP employee possessing special training and experience in claims adjudication.

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Compensation

Compensation refers to all listed items except COP.

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COP

A benefit a traumatically injured employee may request, i.e., continuation of his/her regular pay with no charge to sick leave or annual leave for the first 45 calendar days of disability. COP is subject to taxes and all other usual payroll deductions. The 45-day calendar period begins at the start of the employee's first full tour following the day of injury, or the first day following the disability, whichever occurs sooner. COP can be received only if the disability begins within 90 days of the occurrence of the injury.

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Contract Medical Provider

Provider A duly licenses physician or medical facility under contract with the USPS and designated to perform specific medical duties.

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Controversion

The formal administrative procedure through which USPS management presents evidence to OWCP to dispute an employee's claim for COP.

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Daily Roll

A system used by OWCP for the payment of compensation payments when the term of disability is not likely to exceed 60 days, unless return to work is imminent. The employee must submit Forms CA-8 to support continued payment while on the daily roll system.

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Damages

A system used by OWCP for the payment of compensation payments when the term of disability is not likely to exceed 60 days, unless return to work is imminent. The employee must submit Forms CA-8 to support continued payment while on the daily roll system.

1. Special damages (or specials), damages to which an exact amount can be assigned, e.g., medical expenses.
2. General damages, those to which an exact dollar amount cannot be assigned, e.g., pain and suffering.

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Fitness-for Duty

A physical examination conducted by a physician for the USPS (i.e., contract medical provider) to determine the employee's current medical status. The results of the FFD are documented on Form 2485, which becomes part of the OWCP case file. A copy is also maintained in the employee's official medical folder. The purposes of a FFD are to evaluate medical status, to confirm or verify limited duty capabilities,and/or to assist in the rehabilitation effort.

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First-Aid Injury

A work-related minor injury that requires no more than two medical visits, the second of which is to confirm full recovery, and no lost time.

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Injury

Traumatic or occupational injury. Includes damages to or destruction of medical braces, artificial limbs, and other prosthetic devices. The term does not include damage or destruction of eyeglasses and hearing aids, unless the damage is a direct result of a personal job-related injury requiring medical services.

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Labor Distribution Code (LDC)

A payroll code number that identifies the major work assignment of the employee. The LDC's pertaining to injury compensation are:

1. LDC 68: LIMITED DUTY work hours of injured employee who is temporarily working in a modified assignment, either part- or full-time. LDC 68 should not be used when injured employee is performing:
   1. Core duties of regular assignment with minor modification or accommodation.
   2. Full duties of existing position other than his/her regular assignment.
   3. Same duties as those of regular positions at another location.
2. LDC 69: REHABILITATION PROGRAM work hours of injured employee who is permanently working in a modified assignment, either part- or full-time. LDC 69 should not be used when injured employee is permanently assigned to:
   1. Core duties of regular assignment with minor modification or accommodation.
   2. Another existing position for which he/she can perform core duties.
   3. Residual vacancy for which he/she can perform the core duties.

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Lien

A claim on the recovery of damages in order to satisfy a debt.

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Light Duty

An assignment (temporary or permanent) of an employee partially disabled from a non-job-related injury or illness. Light duty assignments are subject to the "Light Duty" provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement and must be initiated by the employee in writing.

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Limited Duty

A temporary assignment to accommodate a temporary partial disability as a result of a job-related injury (employee is expected to return to full duty or prognosis not yet determined; employee has not been declared permanently partially disabled).

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Medical Emergency

An injury or sudden and unexpected onset of a condition requiring immediate medical care. Some problems are emergencies because if not treated promptly they might become more serious (e.g., animal bites, eye injuries, deep cuts, broken bones). Others are emergencies because they are potentially life-threatening (e.g., heart attacks, strokes weapon wounds, sudden inability to breathe).

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Modified Assignment

A temporary or permanent assignment designed to accommodate the specific medical restrictions of an injured employee. Normally, individual tasks are identified and combined to develop a modified assignment. These tasks are usually subfunctions and may be from multiple positions. Assigned tasks must be fully consistent with the physical limitations specified by the appropriate medical authority.

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Monthly Pay

The greatest of the following:

1. Monthly pay at the time of injury.
2. Monthly pay at the time disability begins.
3. Monthly pay at time compensable disability recurs if the recurrence begins more than 6 months after the injured employee resumes regular full-time employment with the USPS or other government agency.

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Occupational Illness

An illness or disease produced by one of the following:

1. Systemic infections
2. Continued or repeated stress and strain
3. Exposure to toxins, poisons, fumes, etc.
4. Other continued and repeated exposure to conditions of the work environment over a longer period of time than a single day or work shift.

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OWCP

The Office of the Department of Labor (DOL) that has overall responsibility for the administration of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act.

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Periodic Roll

A system utilized by OWCP whereby the US Treasury pays prolonged disability cases each 28 days and death cases each month automatically until advised otherwise by OWCP.

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Physician

Any surgeon, podiatrist, dentist, clinical psychologist, optometrist, chiropractor, or osteopathic practitioner used within the scope of his or her practice as defined by state law.

1. Chiropractors, if their reimbursable services are other than treatment consisting of manual manipulation of the spine to correct subluxation as demonstrated to exist by X ray.
2. Naturopaths, faith healers, and other practitioners of the healing art, as they are not recognized as physicians within the meaning of FECA.

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Prima Facie

Evidence that "on it's face" supports the employee's contention.

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Recurrence

The reappearance of the original symptoms or pains of a previously reported and accepted injury. The recurrence must not have been caused by a specific act or series of acts.

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Subrogation

The acquisition by one person of the rights of another person to bring a claim. This can occur only if the person making payment is legally obligated to do so. Technically, the USPS is not subrogated to an injured employee's rights against the third party. Rather, it has a lien against any recovery that is made.

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Third Party Liability

Those instances in which an injury or illness suffered by an employee is caused by a person or organization not in the employee of the USPS or any branch of the federal government.

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Tort

A wrongful act committed intentionally or negligently that causes injury. Third-party tort claims involve such acts resulting in injury to an employee.

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Traumatic Injury

A wound or other condition of the body caused by external force, including stress or strain. The injury:

1. Must be identifiable as to time and place of occurrence and member or function of the body affected.
2. Must be caused by a specific event or incident or series of events or incidents within a single day or work shift.
3. May also include damage to or destruction of prosthetic devices or appliances.

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NRLCA Magazine

Since its inception in 1903, The National Rural Letter Carrier magazine has been providing timely information to members of the NRLCA. The magazine is published on a monthly basis and is mailed to all members as a benefit of union membership... read more