Every OWCP term, explained.

Form CA-1 is the official notice a federal employee files when injured by a single specific event during a single workday or shift — for example, a fall, a back strain lifting a package, or a vehicle accident on duty. It must be submitted within 30 days of the injury.

Once filed, the CA-1 entitles you to 45 days of Continuation of Pay (COP) for time lost from work due to the injury, plus medical care under OWCP. Filing is done through your supervisor or directly via the ECOMP portal.

Form CA-2 is filed when a federal employee's condition develops over time from repeated work exposure rather than a single traumatic event — for example, carpal tunnel syndrome from years of typing, hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure, or chronic respiratory disease from chemical exposure.

CA-2 claims require a stronger causation narrative than CA-1 because the link between work and disease is cumulative rather than incident-specific. This is where a treating physician's detailed medical reasoning becomes critical.

Form CA-2a is filed when symptoms from a previously accepted OWCP injury return after a period of recovery — for example, a back injury accepted two years ago that flares up again. The form re-establishes the causal connection to the original work injury without requiring a new claim.

Form CA-7 is filed to claim wage-loss compensation when you have used all 45 days of Continuation of Pay (COP) but are still unable to work due to your accepted OWCP injury. It establishes ongoing TTD or TPD benefits.

Form CA-16 is an authorization your supervisor issues — typically within 4 hours of a reported injury — that allows the first 60 days of medical treatment from the provider of your choice. It guarantees the chosen physician will be paid by OWCP regardless of the eventual claim decision.

CA-16 is critical: bring it (or have your supervisor send it) to your first OWCP visit so billing isn't disputed later. NuThera accepts CA-16 authorizations directly from federal supervisors.

Form CA-17 is completed by the treating physician at every OWCP visit, documenting the employee's current work restrictions, what physical activities they can and cannot perform, and whether they can return to full or modified duty. It drives wage-loss benefit decisions.

Gaps in CA-17 documentation are one of the most common reasons OWCP pauses or denies benefits. NuThera produces an updated CA-17 at every visit so the file stays current.

Form CA-20 is a detailed clinical progress report the treating physician provides to OWCP — typically when requested by the claims examiner. It documents diagnosis, treatment plan, response to care, prognosis, and the medical reasoning that ties the condition to work.

Form OWCP-957 is used to claim reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while obtaining authorized medical care for an OWCP-accepted condition — including mileage, parking, and overnight lodging when treatment requires travel.

ECOMP is the U.S. Department of Labor's online portal where federal employees file OWCP claims (CA-1, CA-2), upload supporting medical documentation, check claim status, and communicate with claims examiners. It replaces the older paper-only filing process.

All new OWCP claims should be filed through ECOMP at ecomp.dol.gov. Your supervisor's signature is captured electronically. Acceptance into the system creates your claim number (also called an ICN).

Forms EE-1 (employee) and EE-2 (survivor) are the initial claim forms for the DEEOIC program — used by Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers, uranium workers, and their survivors to apply for compensation for radiation-induced or toxic-exposure illnesses.

COP is up to 45 calendar days of paid leave that a federal employee can take after a traumatic injury (CA-1) without using personal sick or annual leave. Pay continues at the regular rate from the employing agency. After COP expires, wage-loss benefits transition to OWCP via Form CA-7.

TTD is wage-loss compensation paid by OWCP when an injured worker cannot perform any work at all due to their accepted condition. Paid at 66.67% of pre-injury wage (75% if the worker has dependents). Continues until the worker can return to some form of work or reaches MMI.

TPD is wage-loss compensation paid when an injured worker can perform some work at reduced capacity or hours due to their accepted condition. OWCP pays 66.67% (or 75% with dependents) of the difference between the pre-injury wage and current earning capacity.

PPD describes a permanent impairment that does not totally disable the worker — for example, partial loss of use of a hand or chronic limited range of motion. PPD typically results in a Schedule Award rather than ongoing wage-loss benefits.

LWEC is OWCP's calculation of how much an injured worker's earning ability has been permanently reduced by an accepted condition. The LWEC determination drives long-term wage-loss compensation. It compares the pre-injury job to the worker's post-injury capacity.

A reconsideration is a request that OWCP review and reverse a previous claim decision based on new evidence (typically updated medical documentation or a supplemental causation narrative). Must be filed within 1 year of the original decision. The same OWCP office that issued the original decision conducts the review.

Reconsideration is the most common appeal pathway because new medical evidence is often available after the original denial. Strong supplemental causation narratives are central to successful reconsiderations.

ECAB is the federal appeals body that conducts the final administrative review of OWCP claim decisions. Appeals must be filed within 180 days of the final OWCP decision. ECAB review is based on the existing record — no new evidence is permitted at this stage.

An oral hearing is an appeal option where the claimant appears (in person or by phone) before an OWCP hearing representative to present their case and submit additional evidence. Must be requested within 30 days of the original denial and is conducted by OWCP's Branch of Hearings and Review.

A review of the written record is an appeal option similar to an oral hearing but conducted entirely on the documents submitted — no in-person testimony. Must be requested within 30 days of the denial. Useful when the case turns on documentation rather than testimony.

Your ICN is your unique OWCP claim identifier — a 9-digit number assigned when your CA-1 or CA-2 is accepted into the OWCP system via ECOMP. Bring your ICN to every medical visit and reference it on every form, letter, or upload to OWCP.