OWCP Claims for COVID-19
The NALC and OWCP are working together to get all Letter Carriers who have tested positive for COVID-19, in the period from January 27, 2020 through January 27, 2023 to file claims. The American Rescue Plan that President Biden signed on March 11, 2021 gave presumptive exposure to all federal and postal employees who had direct contact with co-workers or the public. Meaning that if you’re Assignment places you in the proximity of someone that tested positive of COVID-19; OWCP assume that you meet the CDC guidelines for exposure.
OWCP has streamlined claim filing for COVID-19 claims. You can register and file a claim via OWCP's ECOMP web portal. The entire process takes less than an hour. There is little known about the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection, having an accepted claim will protect you from any future disabling conditions. If you are having trouble filing a claim contact your national business agent's office and ask for a referral to a Regional Workers' Compensation Assistant.
According to NALCs Kevin Card’s article in the June 2021 issue of the Postal Record, 15,000 Letter Carriers have tested positive for COVID-19. Kevin Card is the Workers’ Compensation Assistant to the NALC’s National President. According to Brother Cards’ article; a small fraction of that number has filed Workers’ Compensation claims. The small number of claims may be due to the fact that most people suffered light symptoms, used the corona virus leave and then returned to work. And while many feel just fine today, very little is known of the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection.
You should submit factual evidence concerning exposure as well as supporting medical evidence. The Postal Service will be expected to provide OWCP with any information they have concerning the alleged exposure and to indicate whether they are supporting or disputing the claim. If the Postal Service supports the claim including that the exposure occurred and the CA-1 is filed within 30 days, you are eligible to receive Continuation of Pay for up to 45 days.
OWCP will then develop the claim and review evidence provided by you and the Postal Service concerning work-related exposure and a COVID-19 diagnosis. Should the claim be accepted for COVID-19, you are entitled to receive all medical services, appliances or supplies which a qualified physician prescribes or recommends, and which OWCP considers necessary to treat the work-related injury.
Exposure to COVID-19 alone does not constitute a work-related injury. You must actually be diagnosed with COVID-19 to potentially be afforded coverage. To establish coverage, you must submit a medical report from a qualified physician reflecting a positive test result for COVID-19 based on established work-related exposure to COVID-19.
Letter Carriers claiming an injury due to contact with COVID-19 must be in the performance of duty when exposed to be covered. You have the same burden to establish the basic requirements of coverage as other injured workers and must submit medical evidence in support of an identifiable injury in the performance of your letter carrier duties, and any related period of disability.
OWCP requires Letter Carriers exposed to the COVID–19 virus provide a detailed statement that explains; How you were exposed to the virus, when the exposure occurred, how long and how frequently were you exposed and where and why the exposure occurred. You should also explain if other individuals and co-workers were exposed. You should provide a timeline of activities for the days leading up to your exposure or the onset of your symptoms.
The Postal Service will be required to provide similar documentation, such as comments from a knowledgeable supervisor on the accuracy of your statements, whether the agency concurs, and if possible, confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test results for any co-workers or customers. If exposure to COVID–19 arose out of and in the course of your employment, it is generally said to have occurred in the performance of duty. The facts in your case must show that your duties as a Letter Carrier gave rise to the resulting COVID-19 diagnosis.
Proof that you have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the office or out on the street will be necessary. Postal Service tracking data; TACS, RIMS and scan records should be requested and submitted to OWCP to support proof of exposure.
You will also need a medical report from a qualified physician reflecting that the positive COVID-19 diagnosis resulted from a work-related exposure while in the performance of your duties. You must explain the nature of your work exposure to your physician and make sure it is referenced in a medical report.
OWCP will only pay for the COVID - 19 test upfront (prior to accepting a case), if a claimant was exposed to a person with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the performance of duty. Otherwise, OWCP will pay for the test, if the case is accepted, through a reimbursement.
Due to the rapid onset of COVID-19 symptoms, it is in your best interest to register in OWCP’s electronic claim filing portal, ECOMP prior to exposure or diagnosis. You can register in ECOMP at https://www.ecomp.dol.gov/#/ and follow the directions on how to use the ECOMP web portal on the Injured on the Job page at nalc.org
