Keep this in mind when you stop work for an approved surgery

When a FECA claimant stops work to undergo an approved surgery, your OWCP claims examiner cannot start your check for lost wages without proof that you actually had the surgery. This frequently causes workers' comp payment to be delayed because medical providers can be quite slow in submitting bills and treatment records. It is a good practice to get a copy of the operative report as soon as possible or even a note signed by the doctor confirming that you had the surgery. Make sure you mark your file number on it and fax or upload it to your OWCP file. That way your claims examiner can document that you had the surgery and start paying you. Your claims examiner is concerned that that if, for some reason, your scheduled surgery is delayed or canceled at the last minute, they do not want to have paid you when in fact you are back to work or off work for a reason unrelated to your work injury. 

What happens to OWCP claims if there is another government shutdown?

I am getting asked this question once again as it looks like there is a possibility of another shutdown due to a budget impasse. In the past, OWCP district offices have continued to operate as an essential function, but the Branch of Hearings and Review has been shutdown. We will wait and see what happens.

Here my post from the last shutdown in 2013:
http://owcplawyer.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-government-shutdown-and-owcp.html

This link is from APWU regarding the 2013 shutdown:
http://www.apwu.org/news/web-news-article/how-does-shutdown-affect-owcp-claims