If you’ve been injured at work, the OWCP (Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs) assures that temporary benefits are available to federal workers, however, the temporary nature of OWCP benefits motivate the office to return workers to the job as soon as possible. For this reason, federal workers need to understand what kinds of issues can result in early termination of benefits.
Insufficient or incomplete doctors report
It is key to ensure that your doctor’s reports capture the full breadth of the severity of your on-the-job injury. Likewise, the diagnosis and subsequent peptides treatment recommendations need to be consistent or it could signal a red flag. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor at your visit. Additionally, your doctor will need to connect the cause of your injury to your job performance.
Refusal to accept a suitable job replacement
If an injured federal worker is able to return to a different job that they can perform with their injury, but refuse to accept this offer, the OWCP can terminate benefits early. It is important to know that it is within the rights of the employer to offer suitable replacement work that can be performed by someone who is deemed to be partially disabled. If you feel that the available job is not suitable, provide a written reason to your employer.
Failure to participate in assigned vocational rehab programs
The OWCP has the right to require injured federal workers to undertake vocational rehab designed to train workers to be able to perform the duties of a new job responsibility that is more suitable to their current physical or emotional limitations. Any rehab programs that are assigned by the OWCP are mandatory for injured employees.
Accusations of fraud due to inconsistent medical records
It is unlikely that patients have a robust knowledge of their medical records. Employers, however, have the right to monitor medical records and look for inconsistencies that may alleviate them from covering an injured worker’s benefit. These types of inconsistencies can lead to diminished or cancelled benefits as well as criminal investigation.
Failure to comply with necessary follow-up exams, procedures or therapies
If your workers compensation doctor prescribes any procedures, follow-up exams or therapies, a failure to comply with doctor’s orders can result in a cancellation of benefits. The best practice is to listen to your doctor and follow his directives.
It is advised that you keep good records, listen to your doctor, and communicate with your claims officer and employer to stay abreast of what is required of you in order to maintain your OWCP benefits as long as necessary.