Department of Labor's Worker's Compensation for Federal Employees

How to determine whether a non-custodial parent (NCP) is receiving worker's compensation as a Federal employee.

The federal Department of Labor (DOL) provides worker's compensation for Federal employees who are injured on the job. Although there are no matching mechanisms in place, the DOL reports approximately 45,000 Federal employees or former Federal employees now receiving worker's compensation benefits through the DOL: approximately $2.25 billion in worker's compensation annually. If a Federal employee with a child support order goes on worker's compensation, the child support office managing the obligation may not be aware of this until child support payments stop coming from the agency where the employee works. Worker's compensation was not included in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (welfare reform), so individuals who have applied for or who have been awarded worker's compensation are not reported by Federal agencies to the National Directory of New Hires. For more information about DOL's worker's compensation program, please contact Jay Mariani at (202) 693-1021 or Mariani.Jay@dol.gov.

Processing the income withholding order (IWO) when the NCP goes on worker's compensation.

The DOL's worker's compensation program is sometimes notified of an ongoing child support deduction. In order to make the deduction, DOL usually asks for a copy of the court order. It may come from the employing Federal agency, the court, or the custodial parent. However, DOL usually receives it from a court.

Coninuation of healthcare coverage for an NCP receiving worker's compsation.

Claimants have the right to continue health care coverage on worker's compensation for the first year. If beneficiaries stay on DOL's records longer than one year, they must meet the "Five Year Rule". This is an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) rule that states the the employee must have either been enrolled in a Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan for 5 years, or have been enrolled at their first opportunity, to remain covered by OWCP after one year. DOL's worker's compensation program also honors Spouse Equity, Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC), and the Child Equity Act of 2000 to ensure coverage for dependants.

Top of Page

Where to send the National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) when the NCP is receiving worker's compensation as a Federal employee.

Office of Worker's Compensation Program (OWCP)
P.O. Box 8300
London, KY 40742.

The claimant's OWCP claim number should be prominently displayed on any correspondence, so that the incoming mail can be correctly associated with the case file.

Top of Page

Where to send a termination of the IWO or NMSN for the attachment of worker's compensation.

Office of Worker's Compensation Program
P.O. Box 8300
London, KY 40742.