1. Continuation of Pay
If you’ve suffered a traumatic injury while on the job, you are entitled to continuation of pay for up to 45 days. You should receive 100 percent of your normal rate of pay at the time you suffered the injury. Interestingly, this is considered salary and not workers’ comp benefits, so this money will be taxed the same way as your normal wages are taxed. If you are out of work for longer than 45 days, it will be considered partial or total disability under FECA.
2. Partial Disability
If you’re unable to work full-time because of an injury you suffered on the job, but you are able to work part-time or you can switch to a lower paying position, you are considered partially disabled. You will be entitled to the following postal service workers’ compensation benefits:
- If you are single, you will receive a monthly benefit that is equal to 66 percent of the difference between your pay before you were injured and your pay after you were injured
- If you have at least one dependent or a spouse, you will receive monthly payments of seventy five percent of the difference between your pay before you were injured and your pay after you were injured
Benefits will be paid for as long as the disability exists, or for the life of the beneficiary.
3. Total Disability
If you are no longer able to work at all, then you are considered totally disabled. In this case, you are eligible for the following postal service workers’ compensation benefits:
- If you are single, you will receive a monthly payment of two thirds of your monthly wage before you were injured
- If you have at least one dependent, including a spouse, you will receive a monthly payment equal to seventy five percent of your monthly wage before you were injured
4. Death
If an employee dies while working, or passes away as a result of a latent condition that was caused by their employment, the employee’s survivors may be eligible for the following benefits:
- If the employee was married but had no children, the spouse can collect a monthly payment equal to fifty percent of the employee’s monthly wage at the time of their death
- If the employee had a spouse and children, the spouse is eligible to receive a monthly payment equal to forty five percent of the employee’s monthly wage at the time that they passed away. Additionally, each child can receive a monthly payment equal to 15 percent of the employee’s monthly wage at the time of their death
5. Medical Benefits
All medical costs that are associated with the treatment of an injury or illness that is covered by FECA will be paid in full by the federal government. An employee receiving benefits under FECA is not responsible for coinsurance or any other costs associated with their medical treatment. The employee does not have to use their personal insurance for any covered medical services. The medical provider that the employee uses must be authorized by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). If an employee is blind, paralyzed, or otherwise disabled to the extent that they need constant medical care, they may receive an additional $1,500 per month to help pay for their medical needs.
6. Vocational Rehabilitation
When an employee is injured on the job, the Secretary of Labor may require a FECA beneficiary to take part in vocational rehabilitation. This will be paid for by the federal government. While participating in vocational rehabilitation, the employee may also receive an additional $200 per month.
Additionally, while an injured employee is receiving FECA benefits and not working, they will not make any contributions to retirement. However, they continue to accrue time in service for the purpose of retirement eligibility.