It’s often said that ignorance is bliss. However, when it comes to OWCP and federal workers’ compensation matters, ignorance can cost you your benefits and even your job. When you’re injured as a federal worker for the first time, you go along with what you are told because you believe that your agency knows best and they’ll streamline the process for you. A lot of people put the fate of their future in the hands of their agency that will then go on to pull a number on them via documentation.
Injured as a federal worker? Before starting the process of filing for federal workers’ compensation, get in touch with us on 1-855-233-3002 for expert legal help. We’ll help you get it right the first time, or even overturn any benefits denial within reason or have them reinstated.
Medical Releases are Thorny Affairs
Shortly after your injury, your agency may ask you to sign a medical release. This is a piece of paper which can cause a lot of damage, so DO NOT SIGN IT. Medical releases are basically legal contracts which will require that you disclose a lot of information regarding your health and that of your family as well as contain restrictions on your medical options, all done to favor either the agency or OWCP.
What You Should Sign
In order to file a claim, you are only required to sign forms CA-1, CA-2 or CA-2a as well as CA-7 and CA-7a if you’re filing for wage-loss compensation. In addition, the agency can only ask that you sign forms that have to do with physical restrictions, with these being an OWCP-5 or CA-17. They are absolutely not allowed to ask for medical forms or records of any kind.
In case you’re reading this and have already signed a medical release, here’s what to do:
- Ask the agency to give the release back to you.
- Write a letter and in clear language, rescind the signed medical release
- If the medical release has already been sent out, write letters to the physicians and any other agency that has it, notifying them of your rescinding the release.
We Can Help!
Remember, medical releases are voluntary, and can be used to deny you benefits. If you need more help, please contact us on 1-855-233-3002 for your free legal advice into federal workers’ compensation cases.
