OWCP Form CA-7b is the Leave Buy Back Worksheet/Certification and Election used when a federal employee asks to repurchase sick or annual leave used for disability or medical care related to an accepted FECA condition. The employee generally files Form CA-7, adds Form CA-7a when the claimed leave covers intermittent periods, and signs CA-7b after the employing agency completes its calculations. Agency participation and timelines vary, and medical evidence must support the claimed period.
What is OWCP Form CA-7b?
The U.S. Department of Labor identifies CA-7b as the Leave Buy Back Worksheet/Certification and Election. It accompanies a claim for compensation when an employee asks to restore annual or sick leave used because of an accepted work injury or occupational disease.
Leave buyback does not create a new injury claim and does not by itself establish entitlement to compensation. Form CA-7 is the compensation claim, while CA-7b records the agency calculation and the employee’s election. OWCP decides compensation under FECA based on the accepted condition, the claimed dates, and the supporting evidence.
Who decides whether leave buyback is available?
The Department of Labor’s current FECA FAQ says each employing agency sets its own rules about whether leave buyback is allowed and the time limits for requesting it. Employees should obtain the current procedure and deadline from their agency’s workers’ compensation or human-resources office rather than rely on a universal deadline.
If the agency allows leave buyback, the DOL FAQ directs the employee to complete Form CA-7 and select the leave-buyback option. The agency completes its portions and forwards the claim materials to OWCP.
How CA-7, CA-7a, and CA-7b work together
| Form | Main role | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| CA-7 | Claim for compensation | Identifies the compensation period and benefit being claimed. |
| CA-7a | Time Analysis Form | Lists separate periods when claimed leave or wage loss is intermittent. |
| CA-7b | Leave Buy Back Worksheet/Certification and Election | Records the agency calculation and the employee’s election. |
Current 20 CFR 10.102 identifies CA-7 as the form used to claim compensation for periods of disability not covered by Continuation of Pay. If the claimed time is intermittent rather than one continuous period, CA-7a supplies the date-by-date breakdown.
What the employing agency completes
CA-7b requires employing-agency information about the leave used, the value of the leave to be restored, and the amount the employee must repay to the agency. The employee should not guess these figures or alter the agency’s calculations.
After the agency completes the worksheet, the employee reviews the calculation and signs the election section if choosing to proceed. The agency then follows its process for forwarding the forms and restoring leave after the compensation payment and repayment requirements are resolved.
Why the employee usually owes a difference
An employee who used paid annual or sick leave generally received full salary for that period. FECA compensation is calculated under federal benefit rules and may be less than the salary already paid. The DOL FAQ explains that the employee repays the employing agency the difference between the leave pay received and the compensation awarded so that the agency can restore the corresponding leave.
The actual figures are case-specific. Employees should use the agency’s completed CA-7b calculation and OWCP’s compensation determination rather than estimate the repayment amount themselves.
Medical evidence for leave buyback
Leave buyback is still a claim for wage-loss compensation. Under current 20 CFR 10.115(f), a claimant seeking wage-loss benefits must submit medical evidence showing that the accepted work-related condition was disabling during the period claimed.
Useful medical documentation ordinarily identifies the accepted condition, the dates of disability or treatment, relevant findings, work restrictions, and the physician’s medical reasoning. The claimed dates on CA-7 and CA-7a should be consistent with the medical record. A form alone does not replace the evidence needed for the individual claim.
Leave buyback is different from changing leave to COP
Leave buyback under CA-7b should not be confused with asking an employing agency to convert annual or sick leave used during an eligible Continuation of Pay period back to COP. Those are different processes with different rules. Employees should identify which benefit they are requesting and follow the written instructions from their agency and OWCP.
The three-day waiting rule is not universal
Current 20 CFR 10.111(d) specifically applies the first-three-day compensation/COP waiting restriction to Postal Service employees. It also provides that, when disability exceeds 14 days, a Postal Service employee may have annual or sick leave reinstated or receive pay for time spent on leave without pay, subject to the regulation. The waiting period does not apply to medical care, and treatment-only time loss without work-related disability does not count as part of that waiting period.
A practical CA-7b preparation checklist
- Confirm that OWCP has accepted the condition connected to the leave period.
- Ask the employing agency whether it permits leave buyback and request its current procedure and deadline.
- Complete Form CA-7 and select the leave-buyback option as instructed by the agency.
- Add Form CA-7a when the claimed leave covers more than one separate period.
- Make sure the claimed dates match agency leave records and the supporting medical evidence.
- Allow the employing agency to complete the pay and leave calculations on CA-7b.
- Review the completed calculation before signing the employee election.
- Keep copies of the forms, medical evidence, agency calculation, and OWCP decision.
How NuThera supports medical documentation
NuThera provides clinical evaluation and documentation for the care it delivers. The clinical team can document examination findings, diagnoses, work capacity, treatment dates, and a medically reasoned opinion when supported by the evaluation. NuThera does not decide leave-buyback eligibility, calculate repayment amounts, or guarantee a compensation outcome.
Sources
- Federal Employees’ Compensation Act — Frequently Asked Questions, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; publication date not listed; accessed September 17, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/fec-faq
- 20 CFR 10.102, 10.111, and 10.115, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations; Title 20 current through September 15, 2026 and last amended September 9, 2026; accessed September 17, 2026: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-20/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-10/subpart-B
- Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; accessed September 17, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/owcp/regs/compliance/ca-7.pdf
- Form CA-7a, Time Analysis Form, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; accessed September 17, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/owcp/regs/compliance/ca-7a.pdf
- Form CA-7b, Leave Buy Back Worksheet/Certification and Election, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs; accessed September 17, 2026: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/owcp/regs/compliance/ca-7b.pdf
This article is educational and does not provide individualized medical, legal, employment, or benefits advice.
Keep exploring.
- NuThera OWCP resource center
Federal workers’ compensation care and education.
- OWCP forms directory
Official DOL form links and plain-language guides.
- OWCP Form CA-7a guide
Understand the time-analysis form used for intermittent wage-loss periods.
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OWCP-focused care at the Rainbow Boulevard clinic.
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Common questions.
What is OWCP Form CA-7b used for?
CA-7b is the Leave Buy Back Worksheet/Certification and Election. It is used with a compensation claim when an employee asks to restore annual or sick leave used for an accepted FECA condition.
Does every federal agency allow leave buyback?
No universal agency rule applies. The DOL FECA FAQ says each employing agency sets its own rules about whether leave buyback is allowed and the applicable time limits.
Do I file Form CA-7 with CA-7b?
Yes. CA-7 is the compensation claim. CA-7b supplies the leave-buyback calculation and election information that accompanies that claim.
When is Form CA-7a also needed?
CA-7a is used when the claimed wage loss or leave covers intermittent periods rather than one continuous period. Its dates should match the other claim materials and supporting medical evidence.
Why might I have to repay part of my leave pay?
Paid leave generally represents full salary, while FECA compensation is calculated under federal benefit rules and may be lower. The agency uses CA-7b to calculate the difference the employee must repay before the corresponding leave is restored.
What medical evidence is needed?
The evidence must support that the accepted work-related condition caused disability or covered medical-care time during the dates claimed. The physician’s report should address the relevant dates, findings, diagnosis, work capacity, and medical reasoning.
Is CA-7b the same as switching leave to Continuation of Pay?
No. CA-7b leave buyback is tied to a claim for compensation. Converting leave used during an eligible COP period back to COP is a separate employing-agency process.
Does the three-day waiting period apply to every federal employee?
No. Current 20 CFR 10.111(d) specifically states the first-three-day restriction for Postal Service employees. Eligibility and payment for any individual period depend on the governing rule and case facts.