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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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considered partially disabled and is entitled to compensation for LWEC.<br />

(1) Section 8115 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>FECA</strong> provides that the wage-earning capacity is determined by<br />

the employee's actual wages if they fairly and reasonably represent his or her wage-earning<br />

capacity. If they do not, or if the employee has no actual earnings, the OWCP may<br />

reasonably determine the employee's wage-earning capacity giving due consideration to the<br />

factors enumerated in section 8115. (For further discussion <strong>of</strong> wage-earning capacity and<br />

the information needed in making such determination, see <strong>FECA</strong> PM 2-0814.)<br />

(2) Section 8106 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>FECA</strong> provides that the partially disabled employee shall be paid<br />

compensation equal to 66 2/3 (or 75) percent <strong>of</strong> the difference between the employee's pay<br />

and his or her wage-earning capacity. To satisfy this requirement, compensation for partial<br />

disability is computed using the formula described in paragraph 15c below.<br />

b. Shadrick Formula. The method for computing the compensation payable where an<br />

employee has actual earnings or a wage-earning capacity is called the Shadrick formula, as it<br />

reflects the principles set forth in Albert C. Shadrick, 5 ECAB 376. In that decision the ECAB found<br />

that section 5 U.S.C. 8106(a) does not state that compensation is to be based on the difference<br />

between the employee's earnings at the time <strong>of</strong> injury and whatever variable dollar income the<br />

employee may have in the future. Rather, it is to be based upon the loss <strong>of</strong> capacity to earn<br />

wages. The ECAB stated:<br />

Although capacity to earn and not wages received is the proper test under the law, an<br />

employee's actual wages may constitute compelling evidence <strong>of</strong> his capacity to earn and in<br />

a proper case may be used as a yardstick in determining an injured employee's diminished<br />

earning capacity.<br />

However, in applying this standard, the ECAB held:<br />

...wages received 2, 5 or 10 years after an employee has sustained an injury and during<br />

which period changes in business conditions have caused wages to double due to a business<br />

boom or to be cut in half due to a depression cannot be used as a conclusive factor in<br />

determining a claimant's diminished wage-earning capacity after he has been injured.<br />

The ECAB concluded, "Actual dollar earnings received several years after injury may be used to<br />

determine wage-earning capacity only after they have been converted into terms <strong>of</strong> actual dollar<br />

earnings received at the time <strong>of</strong> injury."<br />

c. Computation. The Shadrick formula is as follows:<br />

(1) Pay rate when:<br />

(a) injured ( )<br />

(b) disability began ( )<br />

(c) compensable disability recurred. ( ) . . . . . . . . . . . $_________<br />

(2) Current pay rate for job and step when injured . . . . . . $_________<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 500

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