Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

2-1000-7 Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System
7. Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System. References: FECA ProM Nos. 14 and 18.
a. Gratuities. Amounts equal to one year's salary at the time of death are paid to surviving
dependents of Foreign Service employees who die as the result of injury sustained in the
performance of duty outside the United States, excluding diseases proximately caused by the
employment. These payments are considered gifts and are payable in addition to compensation or
benefits from any other source.
b. Other Benefits. An election is required between FECA benefits and other benefits of the
Foreign Service Retirement System. The injured employee is permitted, however, to receive for
any period of time the greater of the two benefits. The provisions of this retirement system are
substantially the same as those of the Civil Service Retirement System regarding the receipt of
these dual benefits. The procedures as outlined in paragraph 4 above should be followed in regard
to providing benefits and obtaining elections where benefits of the FECA and the Foreign Service
Retirement System are involved.
2-1000-8 Veterans' Benefits
8. Veterans' Benefits. References: FECA ProM Nos. 80, 108, 123, 166, 169, 175, 180 and 200.
a. Contacting the DVA. Information from DVA files is often helpful in adjudicating claims and
preventing dual payments. In particular, when the record shows that an applicant for FECA
benefits is receiving veterans' benefits, the CE must determine the nature of those benefits. Such
information should be obtained as follows:
(1) Form CA-1019 or Form CA-1077 will be used to request information from DVA
whenever possible. Otherwise, a narrative letter should be sent. This letter must contain
all identifying information indicated on the form. Requests for information from DVA files
must be accompanied by a completed Form CA-57, Authorization for Release of
Information.
(2) Preparing the Form. All available identifying information must be entered in the
upper right corner of Form CA-1019 or CA-1077. Additional information, such as a Social
Security number, can be added if available.
(3) Identification. Requests to the DVA must, if possible, include the veteran's DVA
claim number. If the DVA claim number is not available, the request must include at least
the veteran's date of birth and military service number. Other helpful identifying
information would include the Social Security number, the approximate date the veteran's
benefits were last received, the location where the veteran's claim was filed, and the
location and approximate date DVA medical services were last received.
(4) Addresses. DVA benefit records are maintained in the DVA Regional Offices
(DVARO). In some places the regional offices are combined with an insurance center,
hospital, or domiciliary and are known as DVA Centers. In the District of Columbia, the
equivalent of a regional office is known as the Veterans Benefits Office. The U.S.
Government Organization Manual contains the addresses of DVA Regional Offices, DVA
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 532