Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

(3) Certification. The CE should have both the finding of entitlement and the
determination of the compensation rate certified before releasing Form CA-1102.
(4) Lump Sum. Form CA-1102 also advises the employee that any lump sum paid by
OPM under CSRS as part of an alternative annuity (equal to the employee's contribution) is
considered a dual benefit which would have to be repaid to OPM either directly or out of any
retroactive and continuing FECA benefits. No benefits under FECA can be paid to a claimant
until the entire amount of benefits paid by OPM (including both regular annuity payments
and the lump sum) has been recouped. Under no circumstance should OWCP pay any
retroactive benefits to a claimant until the possibility of an outstanding debt to OPM is
resolved.
c. When an election is required in a death case, the CE will release Form CA-1103 to the
person claiming the death benefit, with copies to all parties in interest. This letter provides
information about the rate of compensation payable and the right of election. Two copies of Form
CA-1105, Election of Benefits, should accompany Form CA-1103.
(1) Terms of Entitlement. To permit an informed election, the CE should ensure that
complete information is provided. The information should include the terms of and the
termination dates of compensation for each beneficiary involved in the award.
(2) Retroactive Payment. When the beneficiary is entitled to retroactive compensation
and CPIs are applicable, the election form should show the amount payable for each period
from the beginning of entitlement to the present.
(3) Certification. The CE should have the findings of entitlement, the determinations of
compensation rates, and periods of entitlement certified before releasing Form CA-1103.
(4) Lump Sum. Form CA-1103 also advises the claimant that any lump sum paid by
OPM as part of the death benefit available under FERS is considered a dual benefit which
would have to be repaid to OPM before any FECA benefits could be paid to the claimant.
Such repayment would be made either directly by the claimant or through payment of all
retroactive FECA benefits and a portion of the continuing benefits.
The FERS lump sum is paid to the surviving spouse only; FECA benefits paid to children
would not be a dual benefit. In some cases, therefore, a spouse may find it more
advantageous to elect FECA benefits for the children but not for herself or himself and thus
avoid repaying the FERS lump sum.
d. On return of Form CA-1105 electing FECA benefits, the CE should take the following
actions:
(1) Contact the appropriate person at OPM using the list of telephone numbers provided
in Exhibit 2. Inform the contact person in OPM of the claimant's election to receive benefits
under the FECA, and request that the OPM annuity be suspended immediately. It will be
necessary to provide OPM with the claimant's name, current address and OPM claim
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 527