Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC)
The Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) mandates that claimants must, for any injury caused by a person other than the United States (a "third party"), pursue the third party and attempt to recover damages. Any recovery must be reported to determine whether a portion of the recovery is required to be paid to the United States as reimbursement for the FECA benefits that have been paid because of that injury.
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) has delegated the authority to administer the third-party aspects of FECA claims to the Department of Labor's Office of the Solicitor, Federal Employees' and Energy Workers' Compensation Division (SOL-FEEWC).
Since 1980, a Memorandum of Agreement between the United States Postal Service (USPS) and OWCP has authorized USPS to administer the third-party aspect of FECA claims for its employees. In April 2013, OWCP terminated the Memorandum of Agreement with USPS. As a result, USPS will no longer have any responsibility for FECA third-party matters. Effective July 1, 2013, all third-party matters including those involving USPS employees will be handled by SOL-FEEWC.
All USPS employees, as well as any other FECA Claimant, with a question or information regarding a FECA third-party claim should direct their question to SOL-FEEWC by calling 202-693-5320 or faxing a letter to the attention of the FECA Subrogation Unit to 202-693-5360.
Please include the OWCP File Number on any correspondence.
Additional information about your obligations and how to fulfill them is available on the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) website, Part 2-1100, at:
http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dfec/regs/compliance/DFECfolio/FECA-PT2/