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OWCP Schedule Award Explained: Steps to Claim Your Benefits

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For federal employees in Mississippi living with chronic pain from a workplace injury, understanding the benefits available through the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is essential. One such benefit is the Schedule Award—a compensation designed to acknowledge permanent impairments resulting from job-related injuries. This article aims to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of Schedule Awards, helping you navigate the process and determine your eligibility.

What is a Schedule Award and How It Helps Federal Workers

A Schedule Award is a lump-sum payment granted to federal workers who have sustained permanent impairment to specific body parts due to work-related injuries. The OWCP maintains a schedule listing various body parts and the corresponding number of weeks of compensation allocated for total loss or loss of use. For instance, the loss of an arm is compensated for 312 weeks, while the loss of a leg is compensated for 288 weeks. The award is calculated based on the percentage of impairment to the affected body part.

It’s important to note that not all body parts are included in the OWCP schedule. For example, injuries to the back, heart, or brain are not directly compensable under a Schedule Award. However, if such injuries result in permanent impairment to a scheduled body part, you may still be eligible for compensation. 

Eligibility Criteria: Are You Qualified for an OWCP Schedule Award?

To qualify for a Schedule Award, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Work-Related Injury: The injury must have occurred in the course of your federal employment and be accepted by the OWCP.
  • Permanent Impairment: The injury must result in a permanent loss or loss of use of a body part listed in the OWCP schedule.
  • Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI): You must have reached a state where your condition is stable, and no further improvement is expected.
  • Impairment Rating: A qualified physician must provide a medical evaluation assigning a percentage of impairment, following the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition.

It’s also crucial to understand that you cannot receive a Schedule Award concurrently with wage-loss compensation for the same injury. However, if you have multiple injuries affecting different body parts, you may be eligible for both benefits simultaneously.

How to Calculate Your OWCP Schedule Award Accurately

The calculation of a Schedule Award involves the following formula:

Schedule Award = (OWCP Compensation Rate) × (Number of Weeks for the Body Part) × (Percentage of Impairment)

The OWCP Compensation Rate is typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage if you have no dependents, or three-fourths if you have dependents. 

For example, if you have a 20% impairment to your arm, and your weekly compensation rate is $1,000:

  • 312 weeks (maximum for arm) × 20% (impairment) = 62.4 weeks of compensation
  • 62.4 weeks × $1,000 (weekly rate) = $62,400 Schedule Award

This calculation ensures that the compensation reflects the severity of the impairment and its impact on your ability to work.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Schedule Award

Applying for a Schedule Award involves several steps:

  1. Medical Evaluation: Obtain a medical examination from a physician experienced in federal workers’ compensation cases. The physician will determine your impairment rating based on the AMA Guides.
  2. Form CA-7: Complete and submit Form CA-7, “Claim for Compensation,” indicating that you are requesting a Schedule Award.
  3. Submission: Submit the completed form and medical evaluation to your employing agency, which will forward the documents to the OWCP within five working days.
  4. OWCP Review: The OWCP will review your claim, and if necessary, may request additional information or a second medical opinion.

It’s advisable to keep copies of all submitted documents and maintain communication with your agency and the OWCP throughout the process.

Important Considerations to Maximize Your OWCP Benefits

While pursuing a Schedule Award, consider the following:

  • Concurrent Benefits: You may receive a Schedule Award while also receiving other benefits, such as retirement annuities, provided they are for different conditions or body parts. 
  • Supplemental Awards: If your condition worsens over time, leading to increased impairment, you may be eligible for a supplemental Schedule Award.
  • Legal Assistance: Navigating the complexities of OWCP claims can be challenging. Seeking assistance from a federal injury center experienced in federal workers’ compensation can help ensure that your claim is accurately and efficiently processed.

Understanding and applying for a Schedule Award can provide much-needed financial support for federal employees dealing with chronic pain from work-related injuries. By following the outlined steps and considerations, you can better navigate the process and secure the benefits you are entitled to.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Nope — schedule awards under OWCP are not taxable. They’re part of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which treats them as compensation for personal injury or sickness—and those payments are not taxed at the federal level. 

There are a couple of exceptions to keep in mind:

  • If you receive Continuation of Pay (COP) for up to 45 days after a traumatic injury, that’s counted as regular income and is taxable. 

  • Sick leave pay while your claim is being processed is also considered taxable income. 

But the schedule award itself—the lump-sum compensation for permanent impairment—is tax-free. 

Not always. OWCP does not automatically grant a schedule award. Whether you get one depends on meeting specific criteria. Here’s what matters:

  • The injury must be permanent—like loss of use or lasting impairment of a body part listed under FECA. 

  • Your doctor must confirm you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and give an impairment rating using the AMA Guides (typically the 6th Edition). 

  • Your condition must involve a body part covered by the schedule (e.g., arm, finger, eye)—not things like back or knee unless the impairment affects a listed part. 

  • You must apply for the schedule award—usually using Form CA-7 marked for “Schedule Award” or via other claim filing channels. OWCP doesn’t issue awards unless you’ve gone through this process. 

  • If you’ve already received a schedule award for the same impairment, applying for another might cause an overpayment or be denied. 

  • You cannot receive both wage-loss compensation and a schedule award concurrently for the same injury/body part. However, you can get a schedule award for one body part while still receiving wage-loss compensation for a different body part.