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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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for a course <strong>of</strong> action. All formal decisions regarding disputed issues arising out <strong>of</strong> the processing <strong>of</strong><br />

third party claims will be issued by OWCP. See 2-1100.7.e, above, describing the duties <strong>of</strong> the<br />

DCE on receipt <strong>of</strong> a recommendation from SOL.<br />

The Department <strong>of</strong> Labor cannot waive or compromise the statutory right <strong>of</strong> reimbursement that<br />

arises as a result <strong>of</strong> the language <strong>of</strong> § 8132. If an attorney requests that the statutory right <strong>of</strong><br />

reimbursement be waived or compromised, the attorney should be referred to the Employees'<br />

Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) decision in Willie E.Cantrell, 13 ECAB 490, at 493 (1962), in<br />

which the ECAB stated that the "terms <strong>of</strong> the [<strong>FECA</strong>] are specific as to what shall be charged<br />

against the proceeds <strong>of</strong> a third-party recovery and neither the Bureau (OWCP’s predecessor<br />

agency) nor the Board has the authority to waive or compromise the requirements <strong>of</strong> the Act."<br />

See also Charles Howell, 38 ECAB 421 (1987), and cases cited therein.<br />

02-1100-9 Processing the SOR<br />

9. Processing the SOR<br />

a. Submission <strong>of</strong> the SOR. A <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary (or the beneficiary’s attorney) is required to<br />

submit detailed information about the amount recovered and the costs <strong>of</strong> suit on the SOR form<br />

pursuant to 20 CFR 10.707(e). The <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary or attorney should notify OWCP or FEEWC, in<br />

writing, within 30 days <strong>of</strong> receipt <strong>of</strong> a third party settlement. A SOR must be filed for each<br />

recovery received by a <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary. When multiple settlements or recoveries after settlement<br />

or judgment are obtained from different third parties on account <strong>of</strong> the same injury or illness, a<br />

SOR must be filed and any indicated refund due to the United States must be made within 30 days<br />

after receipt <strong>of</strong> each recovery.<br />

b. Failure or Refusal to Submit a SOR.<br />

(1) Action to be Taken When the Beneficiary Has Failed or Refused to Submit a SOR.<br />

Whenever OWCP/FEEWC becomes aware that a <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary (or the beneficiary’s<br />

attorney) has failed or refused to submit a SOR within 30 days <strong>of</strong> a recovery, OWCP/FEEWC<br />

shall issue a letter by certified mail notifying the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary <strong>of</strong> the failure and allowing<br />

the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary or the beneficiary’s attorney 30 days from the date <strong>of</strong> the letter to file<br />

a statement <strong>of</strong> recovery. If good cause is demonstrated by the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary,<br />

OWCP/FEEWC can extend that time for 30 days. Should the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary or the<br />

beneficiary’s attorney fail to file the SOR within the required time frame and OWCP/FEEWC<br />

has a copy <strong>of</strong> the settlement agreement or equivalent information regarding the gross<br />

recovery, OWCP/FEEWC shall prepare an approved statement <strong>of</strong> recovery based on the<br />

available information and the appropriate OWCP/FEEWC personnel shall sign it<br />

demonstrating the approval. The approved statement <strong>of</strong> recovery should be mailed by<br />

certified mail to the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary and the beneficiary’s attorney if any within 30 days<br />

after the deadline established for filing the SOR. The approved statement <strong>of</strong> recovery<br />

becomes final unless objected to by the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary or the beneficiary’s attorney within<br />

30 days <strong>of</strong> the date the approved statement <strong>of</strong> recovery is mailed to the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary<br />

and the beneficiary’s attorney if any. In filing his or her objections, the <strong>FECA</strong> beneficiary<br />

and the beneficiary’s attorney shall request a formal determination as defined in the<br />

disputed issues procedures above (2-1100-8(i)) and set forth the reasons for the<br />

objections.<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 565

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