How the OWCP Schedule Award Formula Works
- Find the scheduled weeks for your body part in 5 U.S.C. 8107.
- Multiply by your impairment rating to get payable weeks.
- Find your weekly pay (annual pay divided by 52).
- Multiply by 75% with a dependent, or 66.67% without.
- Multiply the weekly rate by the payable weeks.
At $1,500 weekly pay with a dependent, the rate is $1,125.
Award: 34.56 × $1,125 = $38,880.
FECA Schedule of Weeks by Body Part
| Body part | Weeks (100% loss) | 10% rating at $1,125/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Arm (includes shoulder) | 312 | $35,100 |
| Leg (includes hip and knee) | 288 | $32,400 |
| Hand (includes wrist) | 244 | $27,450 |
| Foot (includes ankle) | 205 | $23,063 |
| Hearing, both ears | 200 | $22,500 |
| Eye (loss of vision) | 160 | $18,000 |
| Thumb | 75 | $8,438 |
| Hearing, one ear | 52 | $5,850 |
| First finger | 46 | $5,175 |
| Great toe | 38 | $4,275 |
| Second finger | 30 | $3,375 |
| Third finger | 25 | $2,813 |
| Toe other than great toe | 16 | $1,800 |
| Fourth finger | 15 | $1,688 |
Source: 5 U.S.C. 8107(c). Loss of both arms, legs, hands, feet, or eyes is also covered under other FECA provisions.
Common Reasons Schedule Awards Come In Low
- Wrong pay rate. Night differential or Sunday premium left out.
- Dependents not reported. Missing the 75% rate cuts the award by about 11%.
- Rating not under the Sixth Edition. OWCP rejects ratings that do not follow the AMA Guides method.
- Spine impairment ignored. Nerve damage into an arm or leg can be rated even though the back is not scheduled.
How to Request an OWCP Schedule Award
A federal employee generally requests a schedule award after the accepted condition reaches Maximum Medical Improvement. The medical report should identify the accepted condition, confirm MMI, measure permanent loss of use, and explain the rating under the edition of the AMA Guides required by OWCP. A percentage alone is not enough; the report must show how the physician reached it.
- Confirm that OWCP has accepted the condition responsible for the permanent impairment.
- Ask a qualified physician for a complete impairment report after MMI.
- Submit Form CA-7 through your employing agency or ECOMP and select schedule award.
- Review OWCP's development letter and answer requests for missing medical evidence by the deadline.
- Check the final decision's body part, percentage, pay rate, dependent rate, and number of weeks.
OWCP may send the report to a District Medical Adviser and may request clarification. That review can change the percentage or delay the decision. If the award differs from the medical evidence, the decision explains the available review rights and filing deadline. This federal process is separate from a state workers' compensation PPD claim.
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Scheduled weeks and permanent impairment awards.
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Turn a 5%, 10%, or 20% rating into dollars.
Max and min weekly rates for all 50 states.
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OWCP Schedule Award FAQ
What is an OWCP schedule award?+
A schedule award is a payment under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) for permanent loss or loss of use of a body part listed in 5 U.S.C. 8107. It is paid for the impairment itself, not for lost wages, so you can receive it even if you are back at work at full pay.
How is an OWCP schedule award calculated?+
OWCP multiplies the number of weeks listed for the body part by your impairment percentage to get payable weeks. It then multiplies payable weeks by your weekly compensation rate: 66.67% of your weekly pay, or 75% if you have at least one eligible dependent. Example: a 10% arm rating is 31.2 weeks. At $1,500 weekly pay with a dependent, the rate is $1,125, so the award is about $35,100.
What pay rate does OWCP use?+
OWCP uses the greater of your pay at the time of injury, when disability began, or when the disability recurred (if within 6 months of returning to work). Pay includes base salary plus locality pay, night differential, Sunday and holiday premium, and certain other premiums, but not overtime.
Which impairment guides does OWCP use?+
OWCP requires ratings under the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Sixth Edition. Ratings are reviewed by a District Medical Adviser. Spine and brain injuries are not scheduled members, but OWCP can pay for impairment that extends into an arm or leg using The Guides Newsletter method.
Can I get a schedule award and wage-loss compensation at the same time?+
No. You cannot receive schedule award payments and wage-loss (TTD) compensation for the same injury at the same time. Wage loss is suspended while the award is paid, then resumes if you are still disabled. You can request a lump-sum payment of the award in some cases.
Are OWCP schedule awards taxable?+
No. FECA benefits, including schedule awards, are not subject to federal income tax.
How do I file for a schedule award?+
File Form CA-7 through the ECOMP portal after you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, and ask your treating doctor for an impairment rating under the AMA Guides Sixth Edition. If you disagree with the award, you can request reconsideration, an oral hearing, or appeal to the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB).