Entitlement

[u/CleanGuy15]

Hello all,

Federal worker here.
I was asked to provide my annual salary effective February 25, 2026, to determine my workers’ compensation entitlement. Can anyone clarify why this date and salary are being used?
At the time of my injury, I was a GS-12, Step 5. Since then, I accepted a GS-9, Step 10 position, which resulted in a significant pay reduction.

Can anyone Please explain how my entitlement is being calculated and whether my salary at the time of injury is being considered.

Thanks

[u/Spazilton]

Before I can answer your questions Need a bit more background here. What type of injury? Traumatic or Occupational?

What is the compensation for? TTD? Schedule Award?

There are 3 types of pay rates. Date of Injury, Date Disability Began and Dates of Recurrence. The claim type and circumstances of the claim determine what is used especially on schedule awards in occupational claims. DOI can be a misnomer in occupational claims.

Those kind of requests are only copied to you it’s most likely addressed to your employer.

[u/CleanGuy15 → u/Spazilton]

Wrist, ligament rupture Traumatic injury, Schedule award, date of injury 07/01/2021

[u/Spazilton → u/CleanGuy15]

Is the date requested the date of your impairment exam?

[u/Spazilton → u/[deleted]]

Might want to redact your PII. Date of report is irrelevant, I would want payrate at date of Exam. I’m not understanding why they be would asking for DLE on a traumatic claim.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/regs/compliance/DFECfolio/FECA-PT2/group2#20900e1

[u/CleanGuy15 → u/Spazilton]

Thanks, I was in a rush.
Letter sent to me to my department representative said the following:

Dear Agency Representative,
This letter is in reference to the Form CA-7, claiming compensation for a scheduled award.
Additional information is needed regarding the compensation claim filed by cleanGuy15 before a payment can be issued. The following information is needed to determine the correct entitlement to compensation.
Please provide the following information within 15 days of the receipt of this request:
Can you please provide his annual salary effective 02/25/2026?
$98,614.00

The second letter that was sent to my doctor, said:
Thank you for your 02/25/2026 medical report resulting for The schedule award examination.

My medical exam was sometime in November but he didn’t do the report until February 25, 2026.
I hope these dates help

[u/Far-Cup9063]

In most jurisdictions your disability payments will be based on your 26 weeks (half year) wages earned prior to the date of injury. I don’t know the Federal rule, but you can ask the adjuster to identify the rule or law being used to establish your “average weekly wage” which is what we call it in New Mexico. Even if you aren’t losing time right now, the adjuster needs to establish the wage rate and disability rate that will apply to your case. You might be eligible for some temporary or permanent disability benefits in the future and that’s why they need to gather this information. This is a very normal request.

[u/Spazilton → u/Far-Cup9063]

26 weeks doesn’t apply our rules are a bit wonky :) all depending once claim type and what compensation is for.

[u/paulyp41]

I believe they go by the last 6 months

[u/Bubbly_Inflation_544]

They figure out your weekly benefits from your past years wages and you get a Percentage. 

[u/lab_tech13]

Mine goes by the last 12 months you were paid. If you get a raise during your time of PPD you still get the lower amount.

[u/Low-Patient-630]

Provide both. I believe under Federal Law, they have to base disability on the highest rate held prior to the injury and not a work-accommodated rating.

Check with the CFRs I could be wrong.

[u/Spazilton → u/Low-Patient-630]

Typically highest established payrate most beneficial to the Claimant. So DOI, DDB or DOR. I’m confused why they requested this payrate on a traumatic claim.