Q. I have been an 1811 status (federal agent) federal employee for 16 years. I have been on leave without pay and receiving workers’ compensation for the past year due to an on-the-job injury.
I have received little if any guidance from my agency’s HR, as the representatives admit they have little or no experience with workers’ comp.
What should I do to maintain the best possible benefits for me and my family if this becomes a long-term/permanent situation and I am not able to return to work? And if I can return to work, how would the time on workers’ comp affect my retirement benefits etc.?
What survivor benefits will my spouse have if I die while on workers’ comp?
A. To find out the relationship between workers’ compensation and disability retirement, go to www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c102.pdf.
To learn more about benefits available exclusively under workers’ compensation, you’ll have to check with OWCP.
