As I stated in my previous blog, OWCP is not a retirement system. Instead, it is meant to return an injured worker back to productivity with his or her agency. This is done through means of providing for medical treatments; paying the Federal employee temporary total disability benefits during the time of treatment and recuperation; then, if the Federal or Postal employee is unable to return to the former position in full capacity, to offer a “modified position” to the employee. At each step in the process of OWCP/DOL, the onerous and burdensome hand of the process becomes clear — for, if at any time, the employee refuses to follow the mandates given by OWCP, the real threat of having one’s temporary compensation suddenly terminated is always a possibility.
Thus, in accepting OWCP benefits, there is a clear trade-off: tax free compensation for the price of being completely governed by OWCP. Then, when the modified job offer is given, you have no choice but to accept it, in whatever form, and must be accepted “as is” — otherwise, your temporary total disability payments will be terminated. Remember, however, that accepting such a position does NOT preclude you from filing for disability retirement benefits, because the case-law governing Federal Disability Retirement has a “safety” feature: in order to be considered a legally viable “accommodation” under the law, the modified job that is offered and accepted must have been one which was previously in existence, and vacant. It cannot be your old job slot, modified by a piece of paper prepared by your agency and the Department of Labor. It must be a true job.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
Filed under: Accommodation and Light Duty, OPM Disability & OWCP Workers Comp Filings | Tagged: accepting a modified position, disability federal workers, federal owcp, Federal Worker's Comp is not a retirement system, federal workers comp, FERS Disability, injured federal employee, invasive surgery, medical condition modified job offer, modified position has to be a real job, offer of modified assignment (limited duty) ps form 2499x, OPM disability doesn't have to be job-related, OWCP benefits for federal workers, OWCP case manager, OWCP disability, OWCP doctors, OWCP has to be job-related, postal service actions against the postal worker, resources for injured federal workers, stress in federal jobs, the OWCP/DOL process, USPS disability retirement, USPS Workers Comp, work-place accident in a federal or Postal job, Worker's Comp for Federal and Postal workers, Workers Comp disability | 2 Comments »
