Key Takeaways
- File Form CA-1 for a traumatic injury from one event or work shift, and Form CA-2 for an occupational disease that developed over more than one shift.
- File a CA-1 within 30 days to protect up to 45 days of Continuation of Pay. Every FECA claim must be filed within 3 years.
- Your agency issues the CA-16. Your doctor completes the CA-17, CA-20 and medical reports.
- Most OWCP forms are filed online in ECOMP.
- Every doctor in our directory offers free claims assistance, including help with OWCP forms. Call 888-610-6515.
Which OWCP Form Do You Need?
The OWCP form you need depends on what happened. File Form CA-1 for a traumatic injury caused by one event or within one work shift, Form CA-2 for an occupational disease caused by work conditions over more than one shift, Form CA-2a if an accepted injury comes back, and Form CA-7 to claim lost wages.
- Hurt in one incident or one shift? Form CA-1, Notice of Traumatic Injury.
- Condition built up over time? Form CA-2, Notice of Occupational Disease.
- Accepted injury came back? Form CA-2a, Notice of Recurrence.
- Still out of work after Continuation of Pay ends? Form CA-7, Claim for Compensation.
- Paid for covered care or medical travel yourself? Forms OWCP-915, OWCP-957A and OWCP-957B.
Form CA-1: Notice of Traumatic Injury
Form CA-1 is the Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation. Use it when an injury is caused by a specific event or series of events within a single workday or shift: a fall, a lifting injury, a dog bite on a mail route, or a vehicle accident while on duty.
You complete the employee section, then your supervisor completes the agency section. File it within 30 days of the injury to protect your right to Continuation of Pay (COP), up to 45 calendar days of your regular salary from your agency (20 CFR 10.205). COP is only available for traumatic injuries, so it can't be claimed on a CA-2.
For a traumatic injury, also ask your agency for Form CA-16 so your first exam and treatment are authorized.
Form CA-2: Notice of Occupational Disease
Form CA-2 is the Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation. Use it when your condition was caused or made worse by work conditions over more than one workday or shift: carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive-strain injuries, hearing loss, or back and joint conditions from years of lifting and carrying.
A CA-2 claim needs a clear description of the work duties or exposures you believe caused your condition, plus a medical report from your doctor explaining how those duties caused or aggravated it. That medical opinion usually decides the claim. File within 3 years of when you became aware your condition was related to your work (5 U.S.C. 8122).
Continuation of Pay doesn't apply to occupational disease, and your agency can't issue a CA-16 for one without OWCP's prior permission (20 CFR 10.300).
CA-1 vs. CA-2: Side by Side
| CA-1 (traumatic injury) | CA-2 (occupational disease) | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | One event, or events within one shift | Work conditions over more than one shift |
| Examples | Fall, lifting injury, dog bite, vehicle accident | Carpal tunnel, repetitive strain, hearing loss |
| Continuation of Pay | Up to 45 days, if filed within 30 days | Not available |
| Treatment authorization | CA-16 from your agency | CA-16 only with OWCP's prior permission |
| Filing deadline | 30 days to protect COP; 3 years overall | 3 years from when you knew it was work-related |
| Who completes it | You, then your supervisor | You, then your supervisor |
Picking the wrong form leads to development letters and delays. If you aren't sure which one fits, read how OWCP injury claims work or ask a doctor experienced with OWCP claims.
OWCP Forms Every Injured Federal Worker Should Know
| Form | What it's for | Who completes it |
|---|---|---|
| CA-1 | Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation. Report an injury caused by one event or within one work shift, and claim Continuation of Pay. | You, then your supervisor |
| CA-2 | Notice of Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation. Report a condition caused by work conditions over more than one shift, such as repetitive strain. | You, then your supervisor |
| CA-2a | Notice of Recurrence. Report that an accepted injury or illness has come back and caused new disability or a need for treatment. | You, then your supervisor |
| CA-7 | Claim for Compensation. Claim wage loss after Continuation of Pay ends, leave buy-back, or a schedule award. | You, then your agency |
| CA-16 | Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment. Authorizes your first exam and treatment after a traumatic injury, for up to 60 days from the date of injury. | Your agency, then your doctor |
| CA-17 | Duty Status Report. Tells your agency what work you can do while you recover. | Your supervisor (side A) and your doctor (side B) |
| CA-20 | Attending Physician's Report. Your doctor's report of diagnosis, cause and treatment. | Your treating doctor |
| OWCP-5a | Work Capacity Evaluation: Psychiatric/Psychological Conditions. Documents work restrictions for a psychiatric or psychological condition. | Your doctor |
| OWCP-5b | Work Capacity Evaluation: Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Conditions. Documents work restrictions for a heart or lung condition. | Your doctor |
| OWCP-5c | Work Capacity Evaluation: Musculoskeletal Conditions. Documents physical work restrictions for a return to work. | Your doctor |
| OWCP-915 | Claim for Medical Reimbursement. Get repaid for medical costs you paid yourself on an accepted claim. | You |
| OWCP-957A | Medical Travel Refund Request (Mileage). Get repaid for mileage driving to medical appointments for your accepted condition. | You |
| OWCP-957B | Medical Travel Refund Request (Expenses). Get repaid for other medical travel costs, such as parking or fares. | You |
| CA-1032 | Request for Information on Earnings, Dual Benefits, Dependents, and Third Party Settlements. Yearly questionnaire for people receiving long-term compensation. Return it within 30 days or benefits may be suspended. | You (OWCP mails it) |
Form links open the official PDFs on dol.gov. The CA-16 isn't posted publicly: only your employing agency can issue it. OWCP mails the CA-1032 to people receiving long-term compensation. Providers enroll with OWCP on Form OWCP-1168.
OWCP Forms Your Doctor Completes
Several of the most important OWCP forms come from your treating doctor, not from you. That's one reason to choose a doctor who takes DOL-OWCP claims and knows these forms well.
- CA-16 Part B: the attending physician's report on your agency's treatment authorization
- CA-17 side B: your work restrictions
- CA-20: diagnosis, cause and treatment
- OWCP-5a, 5b and 5c: work capacity evaluations
- Narrative reports explaining how your work caused your condition
How to File OWCP Forms in ECOMP
Most federal employees file OWCP forms online through ECOMP, the Department of Labor's Employees' Compensation Operations and Management Portal at ecomp.dol.gov.
- Register for an ECOMP account.
- Start the right form (CA-1, CA-2 or CA-7) and complete your section.
- Submit it. Your supervisor or agency completes its part and sends it to OWCP.
- Upload supporting documents, such as medical reports and responses to OWCP letters.
- Keep copies of everything you file and every letter OWCP sends you.
OWCP Form Deadlines
File your CA-1 to protect your right to Continuation of Pay after a traumatic injury.
The most Continuation of Pay you can receive. Time lost from work must also start within 45 days of the injury.
The general deadline to file any FECA claim, from the injury or from when you knew it was work-related.
Your agency should issue a CA-16 within 4 hours of a reported traumatic injury, and it authorizes treatment for up to 60 days from the date of injury unless OWCP ends it sooner (20 CFR 10.300).
Forms to Get Repaid for Medical Costs and Travel
If you paid for covered treatment or prescriptions yourself on an accepted claim, file Form OWCP-915, Claim for Medical Reimbursement. For travel to medical appointments, use Form OWCP-957A for mileage and Form OWCP-957B for other travel expenses.
Providers enrolled with OWCP bill OWCP directly, so the best way to avoid these forms is to avoid paying out of pocket in the first place.
Free Claims Assistance and Case Management
Every doctor in the Best DOL Doctors directory offers free claims assistance and case management to the injured federal employees they treat. So do the independent OWCP case managers we work with: federal workers' comp experts who coordinate claims across multiple providers. There's no cost to you, and you don't have to navigate OWCP alone.
That help can include choosing the right claim form, gathering the medical evidence OWCP asks for, answering development letters on time, and keeping your treatment, work restrictions and wage-loss paperwork in sync. Call 888-610-6515 or use the free search form to get started.
OWCP Forms FAQs
What OWCP form do I file for a work injury?
File Form CA-1 for a traumatic injury caused by one event or within one work shift, and Form CA-2 for an occupational disease caused by work conditions over more than one shift. Use Form CA-2a if an accepted injury comes back, and Form CA-7 to claim lost wages.
What's the difference between a CA-1 and a CA-2?
A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury, such as a fall or lifting injury, that happens in one event or one shift. A CA-2 is for an occupational disease, such as carpal tunnel or repetitive strain, caused by work over more than one shift. Only the CA-1 can carry Continuation of Pay.
Where do I get OWCP forms?
The official forms are posted on the Department of Labor's FECA forms page, and most claimants file online through ECOMP at ecomp.dol.gov. The CA-16 isn't available to download: only your employing agency can issue it.
How long do I have to file a CA-1 or CA-2?
File a CA-1 within 30 days of a traumatic injury to protect up to 45 days of Continuation of Pay. Any FECA claim, including a CA-2, must be filed within 3 years of the injury or of when you realized your condition was work-related.
Who fills out the CA-17 and CA-20?
Your supervisor completes side A of the CA-17 duty status report and your doctor completes side B with your work restrictions. The CA-20 attending physician's report is completed by your treating doctor.
Can I get a CA-16 for an occupational disease?
Only with OWCP's prior permission. A CA-16 is meant for traumatic injuries: your agency should issue it within 4 hours of a reported injury, and it authorizes treatment for up to 60 days from the date of injury.
Can I get free help with OWCP forms?
Yes. Every doctor in the Best DOL Doctors directory, and the independent OWCP case managers we work with, offer free claims assistance, including help choosing and completing OWCP forms. Call 888-610-6515 or use the free search form.