How to Use OWCP ECOMP: Step-by-Step Guide for Federal Workers' Compensation

Table of Contents#

1. What Is OWCP ECOMP, and Who Is Eligible to Use It?
2. Pre-Requisites Before Filing a Claim Via ECOMP
3. Step-by-Step Guide to Using OWCP ECOMP for Workers' Compensation 3.1 Create and Verify Your ECOMP Account 3.2 Submit Your New Injury or Illness Claim 3.3 Upload Required Supporting Documentation 3.4 Track Claim Status and Respond to OWCP Requests 3.5 Access Benefits and Manage Ongoing Claims
4. Common ECOMP Mistakes to Avoid
5. Troubleshooting Common ECOMP Issues
6. What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied Via ECOMP
7. Final Tips for a Smooth ECOMP Experience
8. References

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What Is OWCP ECOMP, and Who Is Eligible to Use It?#

ECOMP is OWCP's centralized digital portal for all FECA claims, designed to replace outdated paper filing systems. It lets users submit claims, share documents securely with OWCP adjudicators, track claim status in real time, and receive notifications about updates 24/7.

Eligible users include:

• Federal civilian employees
• U.S. Postal Service (USPS) workers
• Volunteers working for federal agencies
• Survivors of federal workers who died from work-related injuries or illnesses
• Approved agency workers' compensation coordinators and medical providers

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Pre-Requisites Before Filing a Claim Via ECOMP#

Before you register for an ECOMP account, complete these mandatory steps to avoid claim delays:

1. Report your injury/illness to your supervisor: FECA requires you to notify your employer of a work-related injury within 30 days of the incident (or within 30 days of discovering an occupational illness is tied to your job). Get a written copy of your supervisor's incident report for your records.
2. Gather required documentation: Collect your federal employee ID number, agency contact information, detailed notes about the incident (date, time, location, witnesses, and specific duties that caused the injury), medical records from your first visit to a healthcare provider for the condition, and proof of lost wages if you missed work due to the injury.
3. Confirm you have a valid, regularly monitored email address: ECOMP sends all time-sensitive notifications to the email linked to your account.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Using OWCP ECOMP for Workers' Compensation#

Step 1: Create and Verify Your ECOMP Account#

1. Navigate to the official ECOMP website: https://www.ecomp.dol.gov
2. Click the Register button in the top right corner of the homepage.
3. Select your user type (choose Claimant if you are a federal worker filing a claim for yourself).
4. Enter your legal full name, last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, date of birth, and active email address. Create a password that meets ECOMP's security requirements (12+ characters, including upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols).
5. Verify your email address via the confirmation link sent to your inbox within 5 minutes of registration.
6. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security: you can choose to receive SMS codes or connect an authenticator app (OWCP recommends the authenticator app to avoid missed messages).
7. Link your account to your agency by entering your federal employee ID number and confirming your agency's name when prompted during your first login.

Step 2: Submit Your New Injury or Illness Claim#

1. From your ECOMP dashboard, select the File a Claim tab.
2. Choose the correct form for your situation:
   • Form CA-1 (Notice of Traumatic Injury): For sudden, one-time incidents occurring during a single work shift (e.g., a fall from a ladder, a car crash while on work duty). File within 30 days to be eligible for Continuation of Pay (COP) for up to 45 calendar days.
   • Form CA-2 (Notice of Occupational Disease): For illnesses or injuries that develop over more than one work shift (e.g., repetitive stress injury from typing, lung disease from workplace asbestos exposure).
   • Survivor Claim: For family members filing for benefits after a federal worker's work-related death.
3. Fill out all mandatory fields with as much specific detail as possible. For example, instead of writing "hurt my back at work," write "slipped on unmarked wet break room floor at 10:15 a.m. on October 12, 2025, fell directly on my lower back, resulting in lumbar strain and radiating pain down my left leg."
4. Confirm your employment details at the time of the incident, and note if you missed work or sought medical care for the condition.
5. Review your submission for errors, then click Submit. You will receive an immediate confirmation email with your unique 9-digit claim number: save this number for all future communications with OWCP.

Step 3: Upload Required Supporting Documentation#

1. From your dashboard, go to the My Claims tab and select your new claim number.
2. Click the Upload Documents button.
3. Upload all relevant supporting files, including:
   • Your supervisor's signed incident report
   • Medical records and a doctor's note explicitly stating your injury/illness is work-related
   • Witness statements (if available)
   • Pay stubs or time sheets to prove lost wages
   • Receipts for out-of-pocket medical costs related to your injury
4. Name files clearly for adjudicators (e.g., "Dr_Jones_Work_Related_Lumbar_Strain_Note_10-18-2025.pdf"). ECOMP accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files up to 10MB each.
5. Important: Do not upload medical or travel reimbursement forms (OWCP-915, OWCP-957) to ECOMP. These forms must be mailed to OWCP-DFEC, P.O. Box 8300, London, KY 40742-8300.
6. Confirm all files are visible in your My Documents tab after upload.

Step 4: Track Claim Status and Respond to OWCP Requests#

Your ECOMP dashboard displays real-time claim statuses, including:

• Submitted: Your claim has been received and is waiting to be assigned to an adjudicator
• Under Review: Your claim is being evaluated by OWCP staff
• Additional Information Needed: OWCP requires more documentation to process your claim
• Approved: Your claim has been accepted, and benefits will be processed shortly
• Denied: Your claim has been rejected, with a formal explanation provided

If OWCP requests additional information, you will receive an alert in your ECOMP inbox and a notification to your linked email address. Respond to all requests within OWCP's specified timeframe (typically 30 days) to avoid claim denial. You can send secure messages to your assigned adjudicator directly via the ECOMP messaging center, no regular email required.

Step 5: Access Benefits and Manage Ongoing Claims#

If your claim is approved:

• View your benefit payment schedule and history in the Payments tab of your dashboard
• Update your direct deposit or contact information directly in your account settings
• Submit reimbursement requests for out-of-pocket medical costs by uploading receipts to your claim file
• For long-term or ongoing claims, submit monthly medical progress notes from your provider via ECOMP instead of mailing physical copies

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Common ECOMP Mistakes to Avoid#

1. Filing before reporting your injury to your supervisor: OWCP will automatically reject claims without a formal supervisor incident report on file.
2. Filing the wrong claim type: Submitting a Form CA-1 (traumatic injury) for an occupational disease that requires Form CA-2 will delay processing by 2-4 weeks on average.
3. Providing vague incident details: Adjudicators need specific evidence to confirm your injury is work-related; vague descriptions often lead to requests for more information or denials.
4. Missing response deadlines: Failure to respond to OWCP requests for more information within OWCP's specified timeframe (typically 30 days) may result in claim denial.
5. Uploading blurry or unreadable documents: Illegible medical records will require resubmission, delaying your claim by weeks.

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Troubleshooting Common ECOMP Issues#

1. Login failures: Use the Forgot Password tool first. If you still cannot access your account, contact the ECOMP Help Desk at 1-866-335-8319 or [email protected].
2. Claim not visible on your dashboard: Confirm you entered your employee ID correctly during registration. If the issue persists, contact the help desk to merge your profiles.
3. Document upload errors: Check that your file is under 10MB and in an approved format (PDF, JPG, PNG). Use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for uploads, as Safari has known compatibility issues with ECOMP.
4. Missing notifications: Check your email spam folder, and opt in for SMS alerts in your ECOMP account settings to receive real-time updates.

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What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied Via ECOMP#

If your claim is denied, you will receive a formal explanation letter in your ECOMP inbox and via physical mail. You have 180 days from the date of the denial to file an appeal with the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB):

1. Navigate to your claim in the My Claims tab, then select File Appeal.
2. Upload a formal appeal letter addressing the specific reasons for denial listed in your notice, plus any new supporting documentation that proves your injury is work-related.
3. You can also request a formal hearing with an OWCP administrative judge via the portal if you wish to present your case in person or via video call.
4. Note: ECAB cannot consider new evidence on appeal. If you have new evidence, submit it to OWCP with a request for reconsideration before appealing to ECAB.

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Final Tips for a Smooth ECOMP Experience#

1. Save all ECOMP confirmation numbers and messages, as they serve as official proof of submission for your records.
2. Check your ECOMP inbox at least once a week to avoid missing time-sensitive requests from OWCP.
3. Keep personal copies of all documents you upload to ECOMP on a secure personal device.
4. If you are unsure how to fill out a section of the claim form, contact your agency's designated workers' compensation coordinator for support before submitting.
5. File your claim as early as possible: while you have up to 3 years from the date of injury to submit a FECA claim, early filing leads to faster processing and fewer delays.

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References#

1. U.S. Department of Labor. (2025). ECOMP Official Portal. Retrieved from https://www.ecomp.dol.gov
2. U.S. Department of Labor. (2025). Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) Claim Filing Guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/feca
3. U.S. Department of Labor. (2025). OWCP Forms. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/FECA/regs/compliance/forms
4. U.S. Department of Labor. (2025). ECAB - Processing an Appeal. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ecab/resources/appeals