Follow the Wage-Loss Path
The route differs depending on whether the claim is traumatic injury or occupational disease, whether COP applies, and whether the lost time is continuous or intermittent.
Which Form Does What?
COP
Continuation of Pay may apply to qualifying traumatic injuries. FECA limits COP to no more than 45 calendar days.
CA-1 / COP →CA-7
Used to claim wage-loss compensation, leave buyback, and other applicable lost-pay elements.
CA-7 GUIDE →CA-7a
Time Analysis Form used when the claimed wage loss is intermittent rather than one continuous block.
INTERMITTENT CLAIMS →CA-7b
Leave Buy Back Worksheet / Certification and Election used with CA-7 when an agency permits repurchase of leave.
LEAVE BUYBACK →CA-17
Communicates restrictions and helps distinguish total disability from the ability to perform some work.
CA-17 GUIDE →CA-20 / Narrative
Medical evidence should support why the accepted condition caused disability for the period claimed.
MEDICAL EVIDENCE →A Diagnosis Does Not Automatically Establish Wage Loss
For compensation, the medical evidence should connect the accepted condition to the employee's inability to perform the relevant job duties—or to medically necessary time away from work for treatment—during the dates claimed.
Accepted Condition
The disability opinion should be tied to the condition OWCP has accepted, not merely to an unrelated diagnosis.
Dates Matter
The report should support the actual period or intermittent hours being claimed, not simply state that the employee is “disabled.”
Explain Why
Continuing disability is stronger when the physician explains the medical findings and rationale supporting inability to work or the stated restrictions.
Partial Days and Scattered Hours Need a Clear Time Analysis
DOL's current FAQ says that when the period claimed on CA-7 is intermittent, CA-7a should also be completed. The factual record should clearly identify the dates and hours lost, while the medical evidence supports why those periods were related to the accepted condition.
Daily Roll vs. Periodic Roll
These terms describe OWCP payment mechanisms. They are not different types of injuries.
Shorter or Intermittent Disability
DOL's Procedure Manual says the Daily Roll is generally used when the anticipated period of disability is unclear or expected to last fewer than roughly 60–90 days.
- One-time payments.
- Also used for intermittent hours of wage loss.
- Daily-roll payments are released weekly.
- OWCP identifies the beginning and ending dates of each payment period.
Extended Disability
When medical evidence indicates disability is expected to continue for more than roughly 60–90 days, DOL says compensation should usually be paid on the Periodic Roll.
- Ongoing compensation payments.
- Paid every 28 days under the FECA compensation schedule.
- Continues until OWCP takes action affecting entitlement.
- Placement does not eliminate continuing obligations concerning work status and entitlement.
When Annual or Sick Leave Was Used Instead of LWOP
If an employee used leave for disability caused by an accepted injury, DOL says the employee may apply to the employing agency to repurchase that leave if the agency permits leave buyback. The process uses CA-7 and CA-7b, plus CA-7a when the claimed period is intermittent.
FECA Compensation Is Not the Same as Regular Salary
66⅔% or 75%
DOL's current claimant FAQ explains that disability compensation is generally paid at 66⅔% of the applicable pay rate when there are no eligible dependents, or 75% when there is at least one eligible dependent. The actual compensation calculation can involve additional FECA rules, so these percentages are a starting point rather than a case-specific payment calculation.
Total Disability Can Become Partial Capacity—or End
Still Totally Disabled
Continuing medical evidence should support why the accepted condition still prevents the employee from working.
MEDICAL EVIDENCECan Work With Restrictions
The physician should describe specific functional limits so work capacity can be evaluated.
CA-17Returned to Work
Returning to full or modified duty can change wage-loss entitlement and the type of compensation issue involved.
CLAIM ROADMAP