The schedule award refers to a set schedule of monetary damages for impairment of an extremity or a body part recognized by Federal Workers’ Compensation Act. Payments are based on impairment to certain body parts. Claimants are entitled to an award based on a set number of weeks to their impairment or loss. OWCP (Office of Workers Compensation Program) has very specific criteria for establishing the right to a damage award.
What does an injured Federal worker need for a Schedule Award?
The schedule award is similar to money damages for impairment of an extremity or a body part recognized by 5 U.S.C. § 8107 of the FECA act (Federal Workers’ Compensation Act). OWCP (Office of Workers Compensation Program) has very specific criteria for establishing the right to a damage award. You can not sue the Government for a Federal Workers Compensation damage award. You must work through the Department of Labor (OWCP). OWCP requires a sophisticated medical report. The medical report must comply with the A.M.A. Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition and the July/August 2009 edition of the guide’s newsletter published by the A.M.A. Also note that certain OWCP regional offices have hired an outside contractor in an attempt to diminish any recovery for this damage award (schedule award)
Please note the following information which is exceptionally important:
- If the examining physician will not bill OWCP for the report Attorney Alan Shapiro will advance the cost of the report for the schedule award.
- OWCP has hired outside medical contractors to render alleged IME (Independent Medical Exam) reports. These reports are neither independent or actual exams.
- OWCP does not automatically grant a schedule award.
- OWCP is now attempting to contest the right to a schedule award.
Alan Shapiro recently prevailed in the case of R.L. vs US Post Office 61 ECAB 09-1948 June 29 2010. This decision expands the right to a schedule award.
Federal Workers Compensation lawyer Alan Shapiro is available at all stages of the procedure
- Many injured Federal workers want to know if there is a set amount for an injury. The answer sadly is NO.
- Injured workers want to know if the number of operations they have had makes a difference. The answer is sadly NO.
- Injured workers want to know if the length of time they are off work makes a difference. The answer is NO.
- Injured workers want to know if destruction of their life because of their injury makes a difference in their schedule award recovery. Again, answer is NO.
- Federal injured workers want to know if attorney representation makes a difference. The answer is YES.