Your OWCP Claim Didn’t End When You Returned to Work

Not all, but many federal employees assume their OWCP claim ends once they return to work. The thinking is understandable: if you’re back on the job, the case must be over, right? But that’s not always how federal workers’ compensation works.

Returning to work does not automatically eliminate your right to future compensation. In many cases, injured federal workers may still qualify for additional benefits if their injury resulted in permanent impairment (as outlined in FECA). Unfortunately, many workers never realize that those benefits may still be available to them.

Returning to Work Doesn’t Automatically End an OWCP Claim

A federal worker can return to duty and still experience permanent loss of function involving a shoulder, knee, arm, hand, hearing, vision, or other covered body part. That’s where an impairment rating often becomes important.

An impairment rating measures the permanent loss of function resulting from an accepted work-related condition. Even if you’re earning a paycheck again and performing your job duties, a lasting impairment may still have value under federal workers’ compensation laws.

Many workers first learn about this distinction while looking into Schedule Awards benefits and how they fit into the larger picture of their OWCP claims. Some workers mistakenly believe OWCP can deny future compensation simply because they resumed working. That’s not how permanent impairment is evaluated.

Long-Term Impairment Often Shows Up Later

Many federal workers continue doing their jobs while quietly dealing with:

• Chronic joint pain
• Reduced mobility
• Nerve damage
• Loss of strength
• Lingering surgical complications

Over time, those conditions may entitle you to additional compensation if they result in measurable permanent impairment. In some cases, workers don’t fully realize the extent of that impairment until months or even years after the initial injury.

Why an OWCP Impairment Rating Matters

An OWCP impairment rating is performed using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 6th Edition.

The percentage assigned to the affected body part can directly affect compensation. Strong medical documentation and properly performed evaluations can make a significant difference in the outcome. Some federal workers simply accept the first impairment rating they receive without realizing it may sometimes be clarified or supplemented through additional medical evidence. We’ve seen situations where workers assumed the first number was final, only to later discover that important medical information had not been fully considered.

Strong Documentation Matters

Even after returning to work, strong medical evidence remains critical. The records still need to clearly establish:

• The accepted condition
• Permanent impairment
• Functional limitations
• Proper impairment calculations

Workers with strong OWCP claim documentation established early often place themselves in a much stronger position later. Documentation issues that seem minor during the initial claim can become much more important when an impairment rating is eventually performed.

Our Guidance Can Help You

Most workers understandably want to focus on recovering and getting back to work. But returning to work doesn’t necessarily mean your compensation rights have ended. Working with an experienced team of federal workers’ compensation attorneys can help ensure that an OWCP impairment rating is properly evaluated and that available benefits aren’t overlooked simply because you resumed working!

Contact our team of OCWP lawyers to learn more.