COVID-19 News and Information
America’s Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and OWCP Claims for COVID-19
Thanks to the legislation of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Letter Carriers that believe they have contracted COVID-19 at work can file a OWCP claim. The American Rescue Act Plan, signed into law last March, provides that federal employees whose job requires contact with the public are automatically approved for “causal relationship”. As a result, a Letter Carrier filing a COVID-19 claim only has to prove two things:
That he/she performed his/her assignment at some time during the 21-day period prior to testing positive for COVID-19; and
Documentary evidence of the positive test result. (PCR or Antigen)
The Branch also recommends that you provide documentation of doctor’s instructions to quarantine for a specific time period.
Here are basic instructions on how to file a claim. First register for an ECOMP account, and then file a claim electronically:
Go to www.ecomp.dol.gov
On the right side of the screen near “Need an Account?” click on Register
Fill out all fields including your SS# (If you don’t’ have a SS# check box)
Provide an email address that you can use to communicate to the Department of Labor from home.
Create a password, follow prompts and click “Create Account”. ECOMP will send you a confirmation email, click the link.
Return to www.ecomp.dol.gov and sign into your account. Follow additional prompts to verify your identity.
TO FILE A CA-1 for COVID-19
To file a COVID-19 claim click the “New Claim” icon on the top right side of the screen
Select United States Postal Service as your Government Organization, then choose the Agency Group. The Agency Group for all areas Long Island Merged Branch 6000 represent is ATLANTIC AREA and NEW YORK 2 District. After choosing these selections, the address below should appear as the “Duty Station”.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CLAIMS OFFICE, 160 DURYEA RD, MELVILLE, NY 11747
Click the File CA-1 COVID-19 button on the bottom of the screen.
Complete all the fields of the CA-1
When filing, you will need to know your Grade Level and Step. You can find this information on your paystub. If you are unsure, you can leave those 2 blocks blank at this time.
You will need to know the physical address of the Post Office you work at, as well as your Immediate Supervisor's email address. If you do not know their email address, contact your office to request it. If there is an issue, please contact your Steward or the Branch 6000 office so they can retrieve that information for you.
Block 12 the drop-down menu (Employee’s Occupation), is USPS Carrier (City), USPS Carrier Technician, or USPS City Carrier Assistant
You need to post when the injury occurred, both the date and time. It is not necessary for a claimant to identify a specific source of COVID-19 exposure but rather explain why/how the aspects of the Letter Carrier job put a Carrier at risk for exposure, including exposure to other co-workers and/or members of the public.
Witness/Optional
Upload a document click the “choose a file-button” and attach similarly as if you were emailing a file. Typically: positive test results and Doctors stay orders for quarantine. You may not be able to add any documents until you get a case number. You will be able to upload attachments after the claim is filed as well.
Choose Continuation of Pay (if it is within 30 days from injury date) and not the box for Sick/Annual leave.
Review, Sign, and File!
Your claim will be sent to your Supervisor for review and then on to the Occupational Health Processing Specialist. Once it is processed and sent to the DOL you will receive an email with the case number.
You may return to ECOMP dashboard at any time to track the status of your claim.
United States Department of Labor FECA Claim for COVID-19 informational poster
Is your office..
failing to supply essential PPE, including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, or cleaning supplies?
failing to follow CDC social distancing or face covering guidelines whenever possible?
failing to regularly clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces?
If so, please contact your steward and/or call us immediately at (631) 789-1616.
A PS Form 1767 - Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition, or Practice should also be completed and submitted to your supervisor.
Updated Postal Service Face Covering Policy dated March 29th, 2022
Maintenance Management Order (MMO-031-20) Influenza and Coronavirus Cleaning Contingency
Standard Work Instruction for Conducting a PS Form 3999 Route Examination in LLV
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) COVID-19 Guidance
KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE! WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THE SPREAD!
Current Relevant Memorandums regarding COVID-19
M-01979 – March 24, 2022 - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the agreement of the national parties to allow regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement to carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2022 to leave year 2023. Provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) regarding payment of accumulated leave are not changed as a result of this MOU, which expires December 31, 2023.
M-01978 – March 24, 2022 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two-week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire May 6, 2022.
M-01977 – March 24, 2022 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure and appeals to arbitration will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on April 9, 2022, upon the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until May 6, 2022.
M-01976 – March 24, 2022 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01913, M-01915, M-01916, and M-01965) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01965 – September 30, 2021 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reinstating M-01911 Re: Temporary Additional Paid Leave for CCAs and it will be administered as if it had been in effect without interruption since the original effective date of March 18, 2020. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01916 – March 30, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which allows the Postal Service to employ Temporary Carrier Assistants (TCA’s) during the period between March 30, 2020, and May 27, 2020, as operationally necessary to replace city letter carriers absent due to COVID-19. The MOU includes restrictions about when TCA’s can be utilized in regard to current CCA’s and ODL employees. The Postal Service will provide NALC with reports on the number of temporary carrier assistants hired. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01915 – March 30, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) implementing temporary workplace changes to promote social distancing amongst city letter carriers. The MOU commits the parties to limiting individuals to working in their employing facilities to the extent possible. The MOU also directs the local parties to immediately discuss potential scheduling and office setup changes such as staggered start times, scheduling letter carriers to begin tours in groups of 10 or less, the manner in which stand-up talks are given, break locations and times, etc. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01914 – March 23, 2020 – Letter from Postal Service Vice President, Labor Relations Doug Tulino to the management in the field regarding recent agreements, leave policy and approval of requests for changes of schedule due to childcare needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The attached memorandum and its provisions are extended through April 18, 2022.
M-01913 – March 23, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) instituting the use of Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) Section 432.53, City Letter Carriers (7:01 Rule). A city letter carrier who actually works more than 7 hours but less than 8 hours of a regular scheduled day will, upon his/her request, be officially excused from the completion of the 8-hour tour and still credited with 8 hours of work time for pay purposes. Any hours not worked between the seventh and eighth hour of a regular scheduled day pursuant to ELM 432.53 are included in an employee's regular rate of pay pursuant to ELM 443.212.g. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01911 – March 18, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing temporary additional paid leave for City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For 60 days beginning March 18, 2020, CCAs will be permitted to use up to 80 hours of paid leave for use in certain circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leave used for the purposes described in detail in the MOU will be coded as TACS Code 086, Other Paid Leave. This MOU was reinstated with M-01965 and shall be administered as if it had been in effect without interruption since the original effective date of March 18, 2020. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
M-01910 – March 18, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing a temporary expansion of sick leave for dependent care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 60 days beginning March 18, 2020, employees may use sick leave for dependent care in the event they must care for a child as a result of daycare closures, school (Pre-K through Grade 12) closures, or the unavailability of a child’s primary caregiver as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MOU does not change the 80-hour-limit for this category of leave that may be used in any leave year. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829)
Find an appointment at a New York State-operated vaccination site: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
Nassau County Vaccine Information and Appointments: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/5126/COVID-19-Vaccine-Information
Suffolk County Vaccine Information and Appointments: https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/vaccine
New York City Vaccine Locations and Appointments: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page#elgproof
Suffolk County Department of Health: Call 311
Nassau County Coronavirus Hotline: 516-227-9570
Free NYS COVID-19 Testing: 1-888-364-3065 or visit https://covid19screening.health.ny.gov
COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline: 1-844-863-9314