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Electronic Account and Filing (ECOMP)
ECOMP: Electronic Filing and Case Access
The Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP) is a routine part of the FECA claims process. Employees use it to submit forms, upload medical evidence, review correspondence, and monitor claim activity. Representatives may also use it when proper authorization is on file. The portal is useful, but it can also create confusion. Knowing what ECOMP does and what it does not do can help prevent missed filings, lost access, and missed appeal deadlines.
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Claim Submission
What ECOMP Is For
ECOMP is the Department of Labor's electronic portal for the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC) claims. Employees use it to file Form CA-1 for traumatic injuries, Form CA-2 for occupational disease claims, submit later claim-related forms, upload PDF evidence, review case correspondence, and monitor claim status. The claim process begins and continues through ECOMP. The employing agency also plays a role in the electronic claim process and may be involved in routing or completing portions of a filing.
Employee Access vs. Representative Access
For effective representation, clients should maintain access to their own ECOMP accounts and be familiar with basic functions, including signing in, opening correspondence, and uploading documents. This helps clients stay informed and work with their legal team as the claim progresses.
Aumiller Lomax requires authorized ECOMP access to the claims we handle. Clients must designate our firm as their representative in ECOMP for each claim, and we must accept that designation. A written authorization in the claim file alone does not provide online access. Maintaining that access allows our team to review documents, monitor claim activity, and address developments promptly.
Use a Personal Email
Use a personal email address that you check regularly for your ECOMP account. Access to work email may be restricted or discontinued during an absence, retirement, or separation, potentially disrupting notifications and account recovery.Keep Records
Uploading doesn’t guarantee consideration. Save copies and upload dates because submission alone is not proof that a document was reviewed.Representative Access
Access requires authorization. If permissions are removed or not processed, communication and filings are disrupted.Read All Documents
Status updates are not the whole story. Always open and read decisions because appeal deadlines run from the date of the decision.
What “Filed” Means
Filing and Uploading
Employees use ECOMP to submit initial claim forms, upload medical reports, and provide supporting documentation in PDF format. ECOMP’s tracking feature can confirm that OWCP received an uploaded document. Receipt does not establish that OWCP has considered the document or found the evidence sufficient. Employees should save every uploaded file, retain submission confirmations, and keep a record of upload dates. A personal copy remains important even when the document appears in the portal.
Reading Decisions and Appeal Clocks
ECOMP may display claim activity through status indicators or document listings. Those tools can be helpful, but they are not a substitute for reading the actual decision. A formal decision may contain appeal rights, reconsideration information, and filing deadlines. Employees should open the document itself rather than relying on a status tile or summary description. Appeal clocks run according to the decision and applicable rules, not according to when someone happens to notice a status change in the portal. Appeals to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) must be filed directly with the Board using its filing procedures; uploading an appeal to ECOMP does not accomplish that filing.
When Access Fails
Not every access problem is caused by user error. Some issues arise from account creation failures, password-reset loops, authorization problems, agency processing delays, or system-level access restrictions. Common examples include employees who cannot create an account, claim filings that stall because an agency has not completed its part of the process, representatives who lose portal permissions, and users who become locked out despite following the required procedures. The result is the same: the ability to receive notices, review documents, and make timely submissions can be affected.
What to Save Outside the Portal
Employees should maintain their own claim file, even when using ECOMP regularly, as backup if access is interrupted or documents are hard to locate. Keep copies of:
- CA-1 and CA-2 filings
- Medical reports and treatment records
- Upload confirmations
- Correspondence from OWCP
- Formal decisions and appeal notices
- Authorization and representation documents
- Notes showing submission and receipt dates
Guidance for ECOMP Access or Notice Problems
ECOMP is an important tool, but it is only one part of the FECA claims process. Access problems, authorization issues, missed notices, and document-handling questions can have practical consequences for a claim. If a portal issue is affecting your ability to review a decision, submit evidence, or monitor a case, the attorneys at Aumiller Lomax can help you assess the situation and identify the next steps.
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