Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

Once OWCP has received the claimant’s letter of authorization, the representative’s name and
address will be entered into the case record. Thereafter, copies of all correspondence and
decisions should be sent to both the claimant and the authorized representative. See 20 C.F.R. §
10.127; Travis Chambers, Docket No. 02-1650 (issued April 17, 2003).
c. 20 C.F.R. § 10.701 sets forth restrictions on who may act as a representative. A claimant may
authorize any individual to act as his or her representative, provided that the individual’s service
would not violate any applicable provision of law (such as 18 U.S.C. §§ 205 and 208). However, a
Federal employee may now act as a representative only:
(1) On behalf of immediate family members, defined as a spouse, children, parents, and siblings of
the representative, provided no fee or gratuity is charged;
or
(2) While acting as a union representative, defined as any officially sanctioned union official, and
where no fee or gratuity is charged.
Should any documentation be received identifying a representative as a Federal employee, the
claims examiner (CE) should issue a letter to the claimant inquiring as to the nature of the
relationship between the claimant and representative, and whether remuneration is involved for
the representative’s services. If necessary, the representative's federal agency may be contacted
for additional information. The National Correspondence Library includes a letter for this purpose.
2-1200-3 Correspondence with Representatives.
3. Correspondence with Reprentatives. Once OWCP has received the claimant’s signed authorization
letter, both the claimant and the designated representative will be advised via the revised form CA-0143
(which comes attached with form CA-0155) of the procedures relating to fee applications. Form CA-0143
(with attached form CA-0155) is located in the National Correspondence Library. In addition, the CE
should prepare a letter advising the representative of the status of the case, including the accepted facts
in the case and the issues which are in question. The letter should advise the representative of the
information needed from the claimant as well as the information being obtained by OWCP.
2-1200-4 How Fees for Services are Paid
4. How Fees for Services Are Paid. A representative may charge the claimant (except as noted above
in 2.c(1)-(2)) a fee in addition to other costs associated with the representation before OWCP. The
claimant is solely responsible for paying the fee and other applicable charges. OWCP will not reimburse
the claimant, nor is OWCP in any way liable for the cost of the representation. 20 C.F.R. 10.702.
FECA-PT2 Printed: 06/08/2010 582