Law & Rules

The Law That Governs Federal Workers’ Compensation

Federal workers’ compensation cases operate inside a specific system. The rules do not all come from the same place. Some rules come from Congress. Others come from regulations, agency procedures, and administrative appeal decisions. This page is a practical guide to the hierarchy that governs claims under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 8101 et seq. It explains what each layer does and how the pieces fit together. FECA provides the workers' compensation system for covered federal employees, and it serves as the exclusive remedy against the United States for covered work-related injuries.

Federal Employee Compensation

What You’ll Learn

Understanding where a rule comes from helps distinguish legal requirements from agency processing instructions. It also helps identify which authorities matter when OWCP requests evidence, denies a benefit, or applies a disputed procedure.

Where to Read the Official Text

Detailed information about topics on this page can be found through the Department of Labor, which maintains public access to FECA materials, including the statute, Procedure Manual, program bulletins, and links to related resources. The electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) publishes the current text of 20 C.F.R. Part 10. OWCP and ECAB also publish decisions and guidance online. For most claim questions, you can start with FECA (5 U.S.C. §§ 8101 et seq.), 20 C.F.R. Part 10, DFEC Procedure Manual, OWCP Program Bulletins, and ECAB Decisions.

Start With FECA

The statute creates the benefits system and defines the authority that supports every OWCP claim.

Regulations Explain Operations

Part 10 provides the procedures for filing claims, presenting evidence, and obtaining review.

File Handling

DFEC procedures outline how claims are developed, evaluated, and processed day-to-day.

ECAB Review

ECAB acts as an appellate body that reviews OWCP decisions using the existing administrative record.

A Quick Glance

How the Authorities Fit Together

The statute and regulations establish the governing legal requirements. ECAB decisions interpret and apply those requirements and are binding on OWCP. The Procedure Manual and program bulletins guide OWCP’s administration of claims but cannot override the statute or regulations. Claims examiners and review bodies apply these authorities to the facts and evidence of each case.

Layer One: The Statute

The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA)

The statute is the top layer. Congress enacted FECA and placed it in 5 U.S.C. §§ 8101 et seq. The statute establishes who is covered, what benefits exist, how claims are filed, and the authority of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). When a question reaches the statutory level, the statute is the controlling authority.

Layer Three: The Procedure Manual

DFEC Procedure Manual and Program Bulletins

Claims Examiners (CEs) work from more than statutes and regulations. They also use the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) Procedure Manual and program bulletins. The Department of Labor identifies these materials as guidance used in administering FECA claims. The manual is important because it explains how OWCP staff are instructed to develop files, evaluate evidence, and process claims. It is neither a statute nor a regulation.

Layer Four: Administrative Decisions

Claims Examiner Decisions and ECAB Decisions

A CE applies the statute, regulations, and agency procedures to the facts in a specific file. The result is a formal decision. Those decisions may later be reviewed through the administrative review process. At the highest administrative level, the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) reviews final OWCP decisions. ECAB functions as an appellate body. It is not a jury and does not conduct a trial. ECAB’s decisions are binding on OWCP and provide precedent for interpreting and applying FECA and its regulations in later cases.

How a Decision Gets Reviewed

When OWCP issues a formal decision, available review options may include reconsideration, an oral hearing or review of the written record through the Branch of Hearings and Review (BHR), or an appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB). Both reconsideration and BHR review allow new evidence, subject to applicable requirements and deadlines. ECAB reviews the record that was before OWCP when it issued the decision under review and does not consider new evidence on the merits. The appropriate option depends on the decision, the issues and evidence, and which review rights remain available.

How to Use This Information

This web page explains how the FECA system behaves in practice. It discusses concepts that appear repeatedly in OWCP files, decisions, and claim development. It is not the DFEC Procedure Manual. It is not an official OWCP publication. It is not legal advice for a specific claim. Many federal employees arrive here because of a denial, a disputed element of proof, or an issue involving the employing agency. For practical guidance, continue to other resource pages to learn about Denials, Elements of a Claim, and Employer and Agency issues.

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