Did you answer Yes to that question? Well, did you know that if you were injured or became ill because of your job, you could be eligible for compensation? Actually, there are compensation programs that are exclusive to federal workers. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP) offers different types of compensation that you could apply to depending on your case.

Recovery can be very tedious, especially when you’re eager to go back to work and keep earning. Fortunately, nowadays, the lengthy and stressful process of recovery is facilitated by federal injury centers. You’ll find out why very soon!

What kind of injury did you suffer?

The first thing to determine is the type of condition that you’ve suffered, and as a federal worker, there are two categories in which your condition can fall into. Let’s start with an occupational injury or illness. An occupational injury or illness is one that developed throughout several days at work or shifts. This means that because of repetitive activity or exposure to hazardous conditions, your health has been affected negatively, resulting in an injury or illness.

The second type is a traumatic injury. If you have sustained an injury within a single work day or shift, it will be considered a traumatic injury. In other words, the injury must have occurred within a single incident during your shift.

Now, what?

If you’ve suffered a traumatic injury, you must let your supervisor know as soon as possible. If we’re talking about an occupational illness, you must contact your supervisor as soon as you become aware of it. Whatever it is, letting your supervisor know is the first step, we cannot stress this enough!

Once you’ve done this, the next step is pretty obvious – you must get medical attention! Now, to make sure that your medical bills are taken care of, you must fill out a particular form. And because everything in these matters requires authorization, there are other forms that you’ll need along the way.

If, with time, you are unable to return to work or the time of recovery has become too long, there are forms that you’ll be advised to fill out. The truth is, there is a lot to take into account when you’re an injured federal worker. Because of this, your best bet is to get in contact with one of your local federal injury centers. They will have OWCP-approved doctors, a range of different treatments available, and expert assistance to make sure you take the right steps towards your compensation!