OWCP Form CA-7a is the Time Analysis Form used with Form CA-7 when a federal employee claims intermittent wage loss—scattered full days, partial days, or reduced hours—rather than one continuous period. It gives the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) a date-by-date breakdown of the time involved. It does not replace Form CA-7 or the medical evidence supporting disability.
What is Form CA-7a?
Form CA-7a is a supporting time-analysis sheet for a federal employee’s wage-loss claim under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). The current official Form CA-7 instructions (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/owcp/regs/compliance/ca-7.pdf) expressly direct the claimant to complete CA-7a when a period of wage loss is intermittent. The employing-agency section gives the same direction for intermittent continuation of pay or other pay-status periods.
The federal regulations also identify CA-7a by name as the “Time Analysis Form.” See 20 CFR 10.7 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFRcfe02f1155bb37e/section-10.7).
Important: CA-7a is not a stand-alone compensation claim. Form CA-7 is the claim for compensation; CA-7a supplies the detailed time breakdown when the claimed loss is intermittent.
When is CA-7a used?
CA-7a is generally relevant when the time claimed cannot be described accurately as one uninterrupted date range. Common examples include:
- scattered full days missed because of an accepted work injury;
- partial workdays or individual hours missed for treatment;
- a medically supported reduced work schedule;
- intermittent leave without pay;
- intermittent continuation of pay reported by the agency; or
- a leave-repurchase request that needs a clear date-and-hour breakdown.
The Department of Labor’s FECA Procedure Manual notes that CA-7a may be optional when an equally clear breakdown of leave used is otherwise provided. Because Form CA-7 itself directs claimants to use CA-7a for intermittent periods, follow the instructions on the current form and any direction from the employing agency or OWCP.
Who completes and submits the forms?
The employee completes the employee portion of Form CA-7 and provides accurate information for the claimed periods. The employing agency completes its portion and promptly forwards the claim to OWCP. The Department of Labor’s current FECA forms page describes CA-7a as available to authorized employing-agency personnel, so employees should obtain the current version through their agency’s workers’ compensation contact or the applicable electronic workflow rather than relying on an old saved copy.
Employees can use ECOMP (https://www.ecomp.dol.gov/) to access their case and submit documents when that function is available for the claim. Follow the delivery instructions in the OWCP decision, form, or portal for the specific filing.
How to prepare an accurate time analysis
1. Use the exact dates and scheduled hours
List each date separately. Record the hours you were scheduled to work, the hours actually worked, and the hours of wage loss or leave claimed. Avoid combining several scattered dates into one broad range.
2. Identify the pay or leave status consistently
Use the same description across CA-7, CA-7a, agency time records, and supporting documents. A mismatch between leave without pay, sick leave, annual leave, continuation of pay, or hours worked can create avoidable questions.
3. Match the totals to Form CA-7
Before submission, compare the total hours and dates on CA-7a with the periods entered on CA-7. If the claim covers more than one kind of wage loss, keep the categories clear.
4. Keep supporting records
Retain copies of timecards, leave statements, pay records, treatment attendance records, work-status notes, and everything submitted. These records help explain the date-by-date calculation if OWCP requests clarification.
5. Use the current form and instructions
Federal forms and electronic workflows can change. Use the current materials supplied by the Department of Labor or the employing agency rather than a copy saved from an earlier claim.
Medical evidence must support the claimed time
CA-7a explains when wage loss occurred. It does not establish why the employee was medically unable to perform the job during those hours.
Under 20 CFR 10.330 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR338a018bf0394b2), the attending physician’s report should include examination and treatment dates, history, physical findings, test results, diagnosis, treatment, a reasoned opinion about causal relationship, the extent of disability affecting work, and prognosis.
For an intermittent claim, the medical record should clearly address the specific dates or reduced schedule being claimed. A general note that does not connect the work limitations to the relevant period may not answer OWCP’s questions.
Common CA-7a problems to avoid
- Dates on CA-7a do not match CA-7.
- The time analysis lists broad ranges instead of date-by-date hours.
- Partial-day absences are not supported by work-status documentation.
- Agency time records show a different leave category.
- The claim number or identifying information is missing from an attachment.
- CA-7a is submitted without the related CA-7 claim.
- An outdated form is used when a current agency-provided version is available.
CA-7a compared with related OWCP forms
| Form | Main purpose | How it relates |
|---|---|---|
| CA-7 | Claim for compensation | The primary claim for wage loss, leave repurchase, schedule award, or other compensation |
| CA-7a | Time Analysis Form | Adds a date-by-date breakdown when wage loss or leave is intermittent |
| CA-7b | Leave Buy Back worksheet | Supports the agency calculation and employee election for leave repurchase |
| CA-17 | Duty Status Report | Communicates work capacity and restrictions; it is not a wage-loss claim |
For a broader overview, see NuThera’s OWCP resource center (https://nuthera.us/owcp), OWCP forms directory (https://nuthera.us/owcp/forms), and wage-loss compensation guide (https://nuthera.us/blog/owcp-wage-loss-compensation-how-much-does-owcp-pay).
A practical pre-submission checklist
- Confirm that the claimed time is intermittent.
- Use the current CA-7 and agency-provided CA-7a.
- List every relevant date and number of hours.
- Match the time analysis to agency timekeeping records.
- Confirm that CA-7 and CA-7a totals agree.
- Make sure medical work-status documentation covers the claimed dates.
- Keep a complete copy of the submission.
- Respond to any OWCP request for clarification by its stated deadline.
Federal employees in Southern Nevada can receive injury-recovery care at NuThera’s Las Vegas location (https://nuthera.us/locations/las-vegas-rainbow) or North Las Vegas location (https://nuthera.us/locations/north-las-vegas-aliante). NuThera provides clinical documentation related to the care it delivers; it does not decide benefit eligibility or provide individualized legal advice.
Sources
- Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/owcp/regs/compliance/ca-7.pdf), U.S. Department of Labor, revision August 2020; accessed August 24, 2026.
- 20 CFR 10.7, FECA forms (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFRcfe02f1155bb37e/section-10.7), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, current through August 20, 2026; accessed August 24, 2026.
- 20 CFR 10.330–10.331, medical-report requirements (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR338a018bf0394b2), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, current through August 20, 2026; accessed August 24, 2026.
- FECA Forms (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/regs/compliance/forms), U.S. Department of Labor; accessed August 24, 2026.
- ECOMP (https://www.ecomp.dol.gov/), U.S. Department of Labor; accessed August 24, 2026.
- FECA Procedure Manual, Part 2 (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/regs/compliance/DFECfolio/FECA-PT2/group2), U.S. Department of Labor; accessed August 24, 2026.
Keep exploring.
- OWCP resource center
Start with NuThera’s federal workers’ compensation guide.
- OWCP forms directory
Find official forms and plain-language explanations.
- OWCP wage-loss compensation guide
Understand CA-7 wage-loss claims and supporting records.
- NuThera — Las Vegas
Federal injury care at 5765 S Rainbow Blvd Ste 111, Las Vegas NV 89118.
- NuThera — North Las Vegas
Federal injury care at 3880 W Ann Rd Ste 130, North Las Vegas NV 89031.
Common questions.
What is OWCP Form CA-7a?
CA-7a is OWCP’s Time Analysis Form. It provides a date-by-date and hour-by-hour breakdown when the wage loss claimed on Form CA-7 is intermittent.
Does CA-7a replace Form CA-7?
No. CA-7 is the claim for compensation. CA-7a is a supporting time-analysis sheet used when the claimed wage loss, leave, or continuation of pay is intermittent.
Do I need CA-7a for one continuous period of total wage loss?
Usually, CA-7a addresses intermittent time rather than one uninterrupted period. Follow the current CA-7 instructions and any case-specific direction from the employing agency or OWCP.
Who completes CA-7a?
The employee supplies accurate information about the claimed dates and hours, while the employing agency verifies pay and leave information as part of the compensation-claim process. The current DOL forms page says CA-7a is available to authorized employing-agency personnel.
Where can I get the current CA-7a?
Ask the employing agency’s workers’ compensation contact or use the applicable ECOMP workflow. This helps avoid relying on an outdated copy.
Is CA-7a enough to prove disability?
No. CA-7a documents time. Medical evidence must support how the accepted work injury affected the employee’s ability to work during the period claimed.
What if my timecard and CA-7a do not match?
Resolve the discrepancy before filing when possible. The dates, hours, leave categories, CA-7 entries, and agency records should tell a consistent story.