How To Fill Out OWCP Form CA-1 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Filing Form CA-1 is the first and most important step a federal employee takes after a traumatic, on-the-job injury, and it must reach your supervisor within 30 days to protect your right to Continuation of Pay. The form starts your claim under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which is the exclusive remedy for civilian federal workers who get hurt while performing their duties. Missing a deadline, leaving boxes blank, or describing the injury poorly can delay benefits, freeze your pay, or trigger an outright denial.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers more than 117,000 new FECA claims each year, and the agency reports that roughly 90% of CA-1 traumatic injury claims are accepted when filed correctly through the ECOMP portal. The other 10% stumble on avoidable mistakes, like vague injury descriptions, late filings, or missing medical evidence. This guide walks you through every block of the form, every legal hook you must understand, and the real consequences of getting it wrong.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📝 How to complete every line of Form CA-1 without triggering a denial
• ⏱️ The exact deadlines under 5 U.S.C. § 8122 that protect your benefits
• 💵 How to lock in 45 days of Continuation of Pay at full salary
• 🩺 What medical evidence the FECA Procedure Manual requires for acceptance
• ⚖️ How to appeal a denial through the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

What Form CA-1 Is and Who Must File It

Form CA-1, officially titled the Federal Employee’s Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation, is the document a civilian federal worker uses to report a sudden, single-shift workplace injury to OWCP. The form is governed by FECA, codified at 5 U.S.C. §§ 8101-8193, and the implementing rules at 20 CFR Part 10. Together these authorities make FECA the exclusive remedy for federal employees, meaning you cannot sue the United States in tort and you cannot file a state workers’ compensation claim.

A traumatic injury under 20 CFR § 10.5(ee) is a wound or condition caused by a specific event or incident, or a series of events or incidents, within a single workday or shift. A back strain from lifting a single heavy box at 9:00 a.m. is traumatic. A back condition from lifting boxes for 10 years is occupational and uses Form CA-2 instead. The consequence of choosing the wrong form is a development letter, lost time, and possible denial for failure to establish fact of injury.

The plain-English rule is simple: if you can point to a specific moment your body was hurt, you file CA-1. The consequence of not filing within 30 days under 5 U.S.C. § 8118 is the loss of Continuation of Pay, which means you must use sick or annual leave or go without income while OWCP develops your claim. A common misconception is that calling your supervisor or going to the clinic counts as filing; it does not. Only a signed CA-1 submitted to your agency starts the clock and preserves your rights.

Who Is Covered Under FECA

FECA covers nearly every civilian federal employee, including U.S. Postal Service workers, TSA officers, VA nurses, FAA controllers, Department of Defense civilians, and most temporary and intermittent employees. The statute also reaches Peace Corps volunteers, federal jurors, and certain state and local law enforcement officers helping federal agents. Independent contractors, military service members covered by the VA disability system, and most volunteers are not covered.

The consequence of being a covered employee is that FECA preempts state remedies, so an injured Postal carrier in Texas cannot file with the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation. The consequence of being outside coverage is harsher: you may have no remedy at all unless a separate statute applies. A common misconception is that contractors at federal sites file CA-1; they file under the Defense Base Act or state law, never CA-1.

When CA-1 Is the Wrong Form

If your injury developed over more than one shift, like carpal tunnel from years of typing or hearing loss from chronic noise exposure, you file Form CA-2 for occupational disease. If you are claiming wage loss after the initial 45 days of Continuation of Pay, you file Form CA-7. If you only need authorization for emergency medical care before filing CA-1, your supervisor issues Form CA-16 to guarantee payment to the provider for up to 60 days.

The consequence of submitting the wrong form is a procedural denial that forces you to refile, often after the 30-day COP window has closed. A real-world example: Maria, a postal clerk, files CA-1 for shoulder pain that built up over six months; OWCP denies the traumatic injury claim and Maria loses three weeks of pay before refiling on CA-2. The misconception worth killing is that the forms are interchangeable; they are not, and OWCP will not convert one into the other for you.

Step-By-Step: Filling Out Form CA-1 Block By Block

Form CA-1 is split into three parts: the employee section (blocks 1-15), the witness statement (block 16), and the official superior’s report (blocks 17-37). You complete blocks 1-15 and sign block 15; your supervisor completes the rest. The fastest, most reliable way to file is electronically through ECOMP, which routes the form to your agency and OWCP automatically and creates a digital audit trail.

Blocks 1-9: Identifying Information

Blocks 1 through 9 ask for your name, mailing address, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, grade, occupation, and dependents. Be precise: your name must match what payroll has on file, because mismatches trigger identity-verification holds at the National Operations Office in London, Kentucky. The consequence of a typo in your SSN is that OWCP cannot match your file to your federal salary record, which delays Continuation of Pay.

A real-world example: James, a VA maintenance worker, lists his nickname “Jim” instead of his legal name, and his claim sits in suspense for 11 days while a claims examiner requests verification. The misconception is that small errors are harmless; in a system that processes more than 117,000 CA-1s a year, every mismatch is a delay. Always copy your name and SSN directly from your Standard Form 50 to avoid this.

Blocks 10-13: The Injury Description

Blocks 10-13 are the heart of the claim. Block 10 asks for the date and hour of injury, block 11 the date and hour you stopped work, block 12 the exact location, and block 13 the cause and nature of injury. Under 20 CFR § 10.115, you must establish five elements: timely filing, civilian employee status, fact of injury, performance of duty, and causal relationship.

The plain-English rule is that vague answers lose claims. Do not write “hurt back at work.” Write: “At 09:42 on May 4, 2026, while lifting a 55-pound mail tray from the lower shelf of dock bay 3 at the Santa Clara P&DC, I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my lower right back that radiated into my right leg.” That single sentence establishes time, place, mechanism, and bodily part, which is exactly what a claims examiner needs to accept the claim. The consequence of vagueness is a development letter under 20 CFR § 10.121, giving you 30 days to cure the defect or face denial.

A real-world example: Linda, a TSA officer, writes “assaulted by passenger” in block 13. OWCP sends a development letter asking for time, location, body parts injured, and witness names. Linda answers late, the claim is denied, and she appeals for nine months before ECAB reverses. The misconception is that the agency will fill in the blanks; it will not, and the burden of proof under Joe D. Cameron, 41 ECAB 153 (1989) sits squarely on you.

Block 14: Election of COP or Leave

Block 14 is a single check box that controls your paycheck for the next 45 days. Under 5 U.S.C. § 8118, a federal employee with a traumatic injury can elect Continuation of Pay and receive full regular salary, taxable and creditable for retirement, for up to 45 calendar days while the claim is developed. The alternative is to use sick or annual leave, which is restored only if the claim is later accepted and you submit Form CA-7b.

The consequence of failing to elect COP is real money lost in the short term and a paperwork nightmare to recover leave later. The consequence of electing COP and then having the claim denied is that the COP days convert to sick or annual leave, or to leave-without-pay if balances are exhausted, under 20 CFR § 10.220. A common misconception is that COP is a separate benefit you collect after returning to work; it is not, it runs day-by-day during your disability and stops the moment you return to full duty or hit day 46.

Blocks 15-16: Signatures and Witnesses

Block 15 is your signature and date, and it must be present or the form is legally void. Block 16 is the witness statement; if a coworker saw the injury, list the witness’s name and have them sign. A claim with a corroborating witness is far more likely to clear the fact of injury element on first review, because OWCP weighs witness statements as substantive evidence under FECA Procedure Manual Chapter 2-803.

The consequence of an unsigned form is automatic rejection at intake. The consequence of no witness when one was available is heightened scrutiny and a slower acceptance. A real-world example: Carlos, an FAA technician, slips on a wet floor witnessed by two coworkers but lists none; OWCP issues a development letter, and his claim takes 71 days to accept instead of the average 28. The misconception is that the supervisor’s report is enough; the supervisor was usually not at the scene, so witness blocks matter.

Blocks 17-37: The Supervisor’s Section

Your supervisor completes blocks 17 through 37, which include agency name, duty station, occupation code, pay rate, controversion (challenge) of COP under 20 CFR § 10.220, and the official statement. Under 20 CFR § 10.110, the agency must transmit the form to OWCP within 10 working days of your filing.

The consequence of an agency sitting on the form is a civil penalty and possible interest on delayed benefits, but the more common consequence is delay to you. If your supervisor controverts COP under one of the nine grounds in 20 CFR § 10.220, like a willful misconduct claim or a non-traumatic injury, your pay can be stopped pending OWCP review. The misconception is that controversion is the final word; it is not, OWCP independently decides COP entitlement, and a wrongly controverted COP is repaid with interest.

Three Common CA-1 Scenarios and Their Outcomes

The fact patterns below are the three most common traumatic-injury scenarios that show up on CA-1, drawn from DOL OWCP annual reports and published ECAB decisions.

Scenario 1: The Slip-and-Fall

Scenario 2: The Workplace Assault

Scenario 3: The Lifting Injury

Real-World Examples From Federal Workplaces

The following named-person examples are illustrative composites built from publicly reported ECAB decisions and OIG reports.

Maria is a USPS letter carrier in Phoenix who slips on a loose dog leash and fractures her left ankle. Maria files CA-1 the same afternoon through ECOMP, names the homeowner as a witness, attaches an ER report, and elects COP. Her claim is accepted in 18 days, she collects 45 days of full pay, and OWCP authorizes surgery and physical therapy. Maria’s clean filing illustrates how speed, specificity, and witness corroboration combine to produce the fastest possible acceptance under 20 CFR § 10.115.

James is a Department of Defense civilian mechanic at Fort Bliss whose right hand is crushed by a falling tool chest. James waits 12 days to file because he hopes the swelling will go down, then describes the injury vaguely as “hand hurt at work.” OWCP issues a development letter under 20 CFR § 10.121 requesting time, mechanism, and treating-physician narrative. James responds late, his COP is reduced because of the delay, and the claim is finally accepted at day 63, lessons that show why timing and detail matter.

Linda is an FAA air-traffic controller in Atlanta who falls down a stairwell during an evacuation drill and tears her ACL. Linda files CA-1 within 24 hours, gets Form CA-16 from her supervisor authorizing emergency care, and submits a board-certified orthopedist’s narrative tying the tear to the fall on a more-likely-than-not basis. Her claim is accepted in 14 days, and she later transitions seamlessly to Form CA-7 wage-loss benefits when COP runs out, which shows how the federal forms work as a coordinated system.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filing CA-1

Federal employees lose benefits to the same handful of errors year after year, and the OWCP National Office publishes guidance to flag them.

• Filing late. Missing the 30-day window under 5 U.S.C. § 8118 costs you Continuation of Pay, even if the claim is later accepted.
• Vague injury descriptions. “Hurt at work” cannot satisfy 20 CFR § 10.115; you must give time, place, mechanism, and body part.
• Choosing the wrong form. Using CA-2 for a single-shift event causes denial and forces a refile.
• Skipping the witness block. No witness when one existed weakens fact of injury and slows acceptance under FECA Procedure Manual Chapter 2-803.
• Submitting weak medical evidence. OWCP needs a physician’s narrative with diagnosis, mechanism, and causal opinion, not just a discharge slip.
• Forgetting to elect COP in block 14. The default if blank is leave, and recovering it later requires Form CA-7b.
• Letting the supervisor file for you. The employee signature in block 15 is non-delegable; without it, the form is void.
• Ignoring development letters. The 30-day response window in 20 CFR § 10.121 is firm; silence equals denial.
• Returning to work too early. Going back before your physician releases you can cut COP short and undermine causation.
• Failing to keep copies. Without a copy of the signed CA-1 and ECOMP receipt, you cannot prove the filing date if records are lost.
• Quitting on a denial. The first denial is not the end; you have appeal rights through reconsideration, hearing, and ECAB.

Continuation of Pay: The 45-Day Lifeline

Continuation of Pay is the single most valuable short-term benefit in FECA, and it lives or dies by what you write in block 14. Under 5 U.S.C. § 8118, a federal employee who suffers a traumatic injury and files CA-1 within 30 days is entitled to up to 45 calendar days of full salary while disabled. COP is taxable, counts toward retirement, and continues your health and life insurance, unlike compensation paid later under 5 U.S.C. § 8105, which is two-thirds of pay (or three-quarters with dependents) and tax-free.

The consequence of timely COP election is that you keep your paycheck while the claim is processed. The consequence of agency controversion under 20 CFR § 10.220 is a temporary stop in COP pending OWCP review, but only on nine specific grounds, like willful misconduct, intoxication, or absence of disability. A real-world example: Carlos, a Customs officer, is controverted on suspicion of intoxication; OWCP reviews the toxicology report, finds the agency wrong, and orders retroactive COP plus interest. The misconception is that controversion is final; only OWCP, not your supervisor, decides COP entitlement.

Medical Evidence That Wins Acceptance

Medical evidence is the single most common reason CA-1s are denied, and the FECA Procedure Manual Chapter 2-810 sets a clear standard. You need a narrative from a qualified physician, defined under 5 U.S.C. § 8101(2) to include MDs, DOs, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors (only for spinal subluxation by X-ray), and clinical psychologists. The narrative must give a diagnosis, an explanation of how the work event caused or contributed to the condition, and a prognosis.

The consequence of a one-line “patient seen, off work” note is denial for insufficient medical evidence under 20 CFR § 10.115(e). The consequence of a strong narrative tying mechanism to diagnosis is fast acceptance. A real-world example: Linda’s orthopedist writes that “the May 4, 2026, fall down a 12-step stairwell more likely than not caused the complete ACL tear seen on MRI”; OWCP accepts in 14 days. The misconception is that any provider’s note is enough; chiropractor notes outside spinal subluxation, nurse-practitioner notes alone, and physical-therapist notes are insufficient under Jaja K. Asaramo, 55 ECAB 200 (2004).

Filing Electronically Through ECOMP

The Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP) is the DOL’s free online filing system, and it is now the strongly preferred channel for CA-1. ECOMP timestamps your filing, routes the form to your supervisor, allows attachment of medical evidence, and gives you a case number within minutes. Paper filing is still allowed under 20 CFR § 10.100(b), but it is slower and more error-prone.

The consequence of ECOMP filing is a digital audit trail that protects you if your agency loses paperwork or argues you missed a deadline. The consequence of paper filing is reliance on your supervisor’s date-stamp, which can be challenged. A common misconception is that ECOMP is mandatory for all agencies; it is mandatory for many, including USPS and most DOD components, but a few small agencies still accept paper. Always check your agency’s Workers’ Compensation Coordinator page before choosing a path.

Appealing a Denial

A denial of your CA-1 is not the end of the road. Under 20 CFR § 10.600, you have three independent appeal rights you can pursue in any order or combination: reconsideration by the district office within one year, an oral hearing or review of the written record before the Branch of Hearings and Review within 30 days of the denial, and an appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board within 180 days.

The consequence of missing the 30-day hearing window is loss of that route, though reconsideration and ECAB remain. The consequence of a successful appeal is full retroactive benefits, including COP, compensation, medical bills, and interest. A real-world example: James’s initial denial is reversed at oral hearing because his supervisor’s testimony confirms the tool-chest event; OWCP then pays 11 weeks of retroactive COP. The misconception is that appeals require a lawyer; they do not, though many claimants hire experienced FECA attorneys for ECAB-level matters.

Do’s and Don’ts of Filing CA-1

Smart filers follow a short, repeatable list of do’s and don’ts that reflect OWCP guidance.

• Do file the same day if possible, because contemporaneity strengthens fact of injury.
• Do use ECOMP to lock in a timestamp and digital trail under 20 CFR § 10.100.
• Do elect COP in block 14 to keep your full paycheck for 45 days under 5 U.S.C. § 8118.
• Do attach a physician’s narrative meeting the Procedure Manual Chapter 2-810 standard.
• Do keep a personal copy of the signed form and ECOMP receipt for your records.
• Don’t write vague descriptions, because they invite development letters under 20 CFR § 10.121.
• Don’t skip the witness block when a coworker saw the event.
• Don’t choose the wrong form, because CA-2 and CA-7 cover different situations.
• Don’t ignore agency deadlines, because they affect causation analysis.
• Don’t sign a return-to-work form unless your physician clears you.

Pros and Cons of Continuation of Pay vs. Sick Leave

Choosing between COP and sick leave in block 14 has long-term financial consequences.

• Pro of COP: You receive full salary, taxable and creditable for retirement, under 5 U.S.C. § 8118.
• Pro of COP: Health and life insurance continue without interruption.
• Pro of COP: No need to deplete your sick or annual leave balances.
• Pro of COP: COP days do not count against the 12-week FMLA entitlement when the leave is FECA-covered.
• Pro of COP: Restoration of leave after acceptance is automatic if you originally elected sick leave, but COP avoids the paperwork.
• Con of COP: It is capped at 45 calendar days, not workdays, under 20 CFR § 10.205.
• Con of COP: The agency may controvert under 20 CFR § 10.220, temporarily stopping pay.
• Con of COP: If the claim is denied, COP converts to leave or LWOP, leaving you to repay nothing but recover nothing extra.
• Con of COP: COP is taxable, while later FECA compensation under 5 U.S.C. § 8105 is tax-free.
• Con of COP: You must still file Form CA-7 for any disability beyond day 45.

Key Entities You Will Encounter

The FECA system is administered by a small set of entities whose roles you should know on day one. The Department of Labor houses OWCP, which runs the Division of Federal Employees’, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DFEC). Twelve district offices decide claims; the National Operations Office in London, Kentucky handles intake and bill processing.

The Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board is the final administrative appellate body, and its decisions bind OWCP. Your agency Workers’ Compensation Coordinator is the in-house specialist who shepherds the form, while your supervisor handles blocks 17-37. The Office of the Solicitor of Labor represents OWCP in ECAB and federal court matters, and the DOL Office of Inspector General investigates fraud.

Court and ECAB Rulings That Shape CA-1 Practice

A handful of ECAB decisions appear over and over again in claim adjudication. Joe D. Cameron, 41 ECAB 153 (1989), places the burden of proof on the claimant to establish each of the five elements of a FECA claim. Jaja K. Asaramo, 55 ECAB 200 (2004), sets the rule that a physician’s opinion on causation must be reasoned and based on a complete factual background, not bare conclusions. Manuel Garcia, 37 ECAB 767 (1986), defines performance of duty broadly to include reasonable acts incidental to employment.

The Supreme Court in Lockheed Aircraft Corp. v. United States, 460 U.S. 190 (1983) confirms that FECA is the exclusive remedy against the United States for covered injuries, blocking civil tort suits. The Federal Circuit’s decisions on 5 U.S.C. § 8128(b) hold that OWCP merits decisions are not subject to judicial review, which is why ECAB is effectively the last word. The misconception is that you can sue your agency for negligence after a workplace injury; FECA preempts that route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form CA-1 the same as Form CA-2?

No. CA-1 is for traumatic injuries from a single shift, while CA-2 covers occupational diseases that develop over more than one workday or shift.

Can I file CA-1 after the 30-day deadline?

Yes. You can file up to three years after the injury under 5 U.S.C. § 8122, but missing 30 days forfeits Continuation of Pay rights.

Do I need a lawyer to file Form CA-1?

No. Most employees file successfully on their own through ECOMP, though FECA-experienced attorneys help with complex appeals.

Will my supervisor see my medical records?

No. Medical records go directly to OWCP through ECOMP; your supervisor sees only the work-related portions of Form CA-1.

Is Continuation of Pay taxable?

Yes. COP is regular salary and taxable, while later FECA compensation under 5 U.S.C. § 8105 is tax-free.

Can I be fired for filing a CA-1?

No. Retaliation for filing a FECA claim violates 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(9) and is a prohibited personnel practice enforceable through MSPB.

Does FECA cover telework injuries?

Yes. Injuries in your approved telework workspace during work hours are covered if they arise out of and in the course of employment under 20 CFR § 10.5.

Can I choose my own doctor?

Yes. Under 20 CFR § 10.300, you have the right to select an initial qualified physician of your choice for FECA-covered treatment.

Will my CA-1 affect my federal retirement?

No. Filing does not reduce FERS or CSRS benefits; COP is creditable service, and accepted FECA compensation does not reduce earned retirement.

Can I appeal a denial of my CA-1?

Yes. You can request reconsideration, an oral hearing, or appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board under 20 CFR § 10.600.

Is FECA the only remedy for a federal workplace injury?

Yes. Lockheed Aircraft Corp. v. United States confirms FECA is the exclusive remedy against the United States for covered traumatic injuries.

Can I get a second opinion if OWCP doubts my doctor?

Yes. OWCP may schedule a second-opinion examination under 5 U.S.C. § 8123, and you must attend or risk suspension of benefits.