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Printing - FECA-PT2 - National Association of Letter Carriers

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overpayment <strong>of</strong> benefits and requests a hearing within 30 days. See <strong>FECA</strong> PM Part 6.<br />

c. Reconsideration. Section 5 U.S.C. 8128(a) provides that OWCP may review and reconsider<br />

an award for or against payment <strong>of</strong> compensation at any time on the Director's own motion or on<br />

application from the claimant and may:<br />

(1) End, decrease, or increase the compensation previously awarded; or<br />

(2) Award compensation previously refused or discontinued.<br />

d. Appeal. Effective July 14, 1946, the ECAB was established by Federal Security Order No. 58<br />

and given "all necessary and appropriate powers" to hear and decide appeals taken from<br />

determinations made in claims filed under the <strong>FECA</strong>. The ECAB and its function were transferred to<br />

the Department <strong>of</strong> Labor by Reorganization Plan No. 19 <strong>of</strong> 1950 (39 Stat. 742). Formal decisions<br />

<strong>of</strong> OWCP, except decisions concerning the amounts payable for medical services and decisions<br />

concerning exclusion and reinstatement <strong>of</strong> medical providers, are subject to review by the ECAB<br />

(20 C.F.R. 10.137).<br />

e. Finality <strong>of</strong> Review. Section 5 U.S.C. 8128 provides that the action <strong>of</strong> the OWCP in allowing<br />

or denying a payment under the <strong>FECA</strong> is:<br />

(1) Final and conclusive for all purposes and with respect to questions <strong>of</strong> law and fact;<br />

and<br />

(2) Not subject to review by another <strong>of</strong>ficial <strong>of</strong> the United States or by a court <strong>of</strong><br />

mandamus or otherwise. (OWCP is required, however, to respond to any writs <strong>of</strong><br />

mandamus which may be issued. Such writs direct that action be taken within a specified<br />

period <strong>of</strong> time without directing the particular action to be taken.)<br />

2-1600-3 Definitions<br />

3. Definitions.<br />

a. Claimant. This term includes any individual who has applied directly for benefits under the<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>. Attorneys, physicians, and other parties who have provided services or supplies to an<br />

individual applying for such benefits are not claimants within the meaning <strong>of</strong> the <strong>FECA</strong>.<br />

b. Application. This term includes any written communication from a claimant or<br />

representative which requests a hearing, reconsideration or appeal <strong>of</strong> a formal decision; no special<br />

form is necessary.<br />

(1) A claimant who expresses or implies disagreement with a formal decision without<br />

requesting a specific action should be advised <strong>of</strong> the basis <strong>of</strong> the decision and reminded to<br />

exercise rights <strong>of</strong> appeal if further action is desired.<br />

(2) Any file in which a complaint about a formal decision is received should be reviewed<br />

informally to assess whether the action leading to the complaint was correct. The CE should<br />

determine through correspondence with the claimant whether the inquiry in effect<br />

constitutes a request for exercise <strong>of</strong> appeal rights.<br />

<strong>FECA</strong>-<strong>PT2</strong> Printed: 06/08/2010 652

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