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“Well, Now Aren’t We Special!…”
That’s right! As Postal Employees, we are
special, in a bad way. The Postal Reform Bill
was passed on Dec. 9, 2006 by Congress. It was
signed into law by Pres. Bush on Dec. 20, 2006.
As Postal Employees we are singled out from
every other federal agency concerning the rules
on Continuation of Pay from the DOL/OWCP. Prior
to the Postal Reform Bill being passed, if you
received a traumatic injury on the job, you
filled out a CA-1 and COP was paid from the date
of injury. The carrier would normally check off
the Continuation of Pay box on the back of the
form, and pay would continue and not be
interrupted. Under OWCP rules, you then could be
paid up to 45 days by OWCP, and not use any of
your own leave.
The part where we are “special” is that there is
now a 3-day waiting period before you can
receive Continuation of Pay. If you are out for
more than 14 days, due to the on-the-job injury,
at the carrier’s request, the leave used for the
first 3 days can be converted to COP.
Anyone who is out for less than 14 days is out
the 3 days of leave!
veryone must remember that any injury must be
reported immediately to your supervisor. No
matter how slight, or insignificant. You have up
to 30 days to file a CA-1, and once you file a
CA-1, you have only 10 days to produce medical
documentation that supports your claim of injury
on the CA-1.
Be sure if you are filling out a CA-1 you
described what happened in detail what happened.
Do not just state, “I hurt my foot.” You will
want to state, “ I twisted my left ankle.” Be as
specific as possible.
You should get witness statements as soon as
possible, if there are any. Have them describe
what they saw, heard, or know about the injury
you sustained.
Remember that filling out the OWCP form CA-1,
you are filing a claim of injury on-the-job. If
you must be out of work for any period of time,
management should, and is required, to inform
you that you have a physician of YOUR choice.
You do not have to go see their Doctor at Centra
Care! Have a doctor see you that has YOUR HEALTH
at interest, instead of getting you back to work
as soon as possible!
They must also inform you that you can take
Continuation of Pay. Again, for the first 3
days, you must use your own sick, annual, or
LWOP, and then COP kicks in. COP will continue
for another 42 days, if needed. Be sure that you
fill out a PS form 3971 for the 3-day waiting
period.
If you select to use your own leave, you are
selecting to use it for the whole period of time
you are out. Why use your leave when you don’t
have to? Select COP anytime you are to be out
any length of time. Save your own leave to use
when you need it.
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So, you see as Postal Employees we are now separated from all other
federal agencies concerning OWCP rules and regulations. Be sure if you are
injured, you speak to your Steward immediately. This will insure that you
will be able to get all the information you will need to process your
claim properly, and especially see that management follows all the rules
and regulations to assist you in filing your claim.
Be sure that you ask for the a copy of the ENTIRE CA-1 claim form once
management completes it and get the CA-1 receipt. This is important to see
if they are trying to controvert your claim. This is provided for by the
CA-810 and Code of Federal Regulations 10.110.
An employee has up to 3 yrs to file a CA-1, Notice of Traumatic Injury, to
receive compensation for the claim. The first 30 days is to submit a claim
to receive COP, after 30 days, a CA-7, Claim for Compensation, will need
to be filed for time off from work due to the injury.
Remember, all accidents are to be reported to management immediately, and
as Postal Employees we are treated differently from all other agencies for
OWCP purposes. Now, “ain’t we special!”
Denny Belden
Aka-VetCarrier Orlando, FL - NALC Branch 1091
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