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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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a. OPM's regulations on retention rights are published at 5 C.F.R. 302, 330 and 353. They<br />

require agencies to grant leave without pay (LWOP) to disabled employees for at least the first<br />

year the employee is receiving compensation, with extensions in increments <strong>of</strong> six months or a<br />

year.<br />

b. A claimant who has been terminated and who wishes to reclaim his or her job should be<br />

advised to contact the employing agency. If this effort fails, OWCP will contact the employing<br />

agency, citing 5 U.S.C. 8151 as the basis <strong>of</strong> the claimant's attempt to regain employment. If this<br />

course is also unsuccessful, the claimant may be advised to exercise his or her appeal rights as<br />

provided by OPM.<br />

c. When an injured employee resumes employment with the Federal government, the<br />

employing agency is required to verify that the employee had been receiving compensation during<br />

the entire period <strong>of</strong> absence from work, whether in LWOP status or separated. The agency will ask<br />

OWCP to advise whether the employee was receiving compensation and, if so, the period<br />

compensation was paid, so that the employee may be credited with all rights and benefits based on<br />

length <strong>of</strong> service.<br />

d. Other issues pertaining to retention rights should be referred to the employing agency or<br />

OPM.<br />

2-0813-5 Referrals for Vocational Rehabilitation Services<br />

5. Referrals for Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The probability <strong>of</strong> effective rehabilitation, resulting<br />

in the best return to work arrangement, is greatly increased when such efforts begin as early as possible<br />

in the recovery process.<br />

a. The Claims Examiner (CE) will monitor cases for currency and adequacy <strong>of</strong> medical reports. If the<br />

medical evidence does not provide a return to work date, the CE will telephone the attending<br />

physician to obtain it, or will ask the Staff Nurse (SN) to do so. Where a return to work date<br />

cannot be given, but the medical evidence shows that the claimant is not totally disabled and the<br />

medical condition has stabilized, the CE or RN will obtain a completed Form OWCP-5 to show the<br />

work limitations. If the attending physician cannot furnish work limitations, or if they appear<br />

inconsistent with those expected, the CE should arrange a second opinion referral (see <strong>FECA</strong> PM<br />

2-810).<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 407

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