Q. I have an occupational illness. It was not originally accepted, and my employer had me on leave without pay due to an inability for find work within my restrictions. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has since accepted my claim, and my employer has found work for me. Now that my claim has been accepted and back compensation has been approved for that time, was I supposed to earn leave during the 10 months I was off and on OWCP due to employer inability to find work within my restrictions?
A. Because you were on leave without pay while receiving OWCP benefits, your leave accrual is controlled by the rules governing LWOP, which limits those benefits. See www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/effect-of-extended-leave-without-pay-lwop-or-other-nonpay-status-on-federal-benefits-and-programs.
