Federal and maritime workers' compensation programs
Federal employees, longshore and harbor workers, overseas contractors, miners, rail and sea workers use federal programs, sometimes in addition to state law.
Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.
Programs beyond state workers' comp
These federal programs and laws cover some groups of workers instead of, or in addition to, state workers' compensation. If one of them may apply to you, check its rules and deadlines too. They are different from your state's.
If you work for a private company or for a state or local government, your workers' compensation claim is handled under your state's law, by your state's workers' compensation agency. Federal programs cover only some groups, such as federal employees and certain maritime workers.
Federal employees
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) Civilian employees of the federal government, including Postal Service employees. Give written notice of the injury to your immediate supervisor within 30 days after the injury. File the original claim for compensation within 3 years after the injury. A late claim can still be allowed if your supervisor knew about the injury within 30 days, or if you gave written notice within 30 days. If the condition develops slowly (a latent disability), the 3 years start when you have a disability and know, or should have known, that it is related to your work; the 30-day notice period starts when you know, or should have known, that your condition is related to your work. If you file a traumatic injury claim (CA-1) with your supervisor within 30 days, your agency continues your regular pay for up to 45 calendar days of disability. This is called continuation of pay. Taxes and other usual payroll deductions are taken out of it. Compensation is not paid for the first 3 days of temporary disability unless the disability lasts more than 14 days or is followed by permanent disability. For Postal Service employees, the first 3 days are not covered by continuation of pay either; they may use annual leave, sick leave or leave without pay for those days, and can get that leave back if the disability lasts more than 14 days or is followed by permanent disability. Total disability pays 66 2/3% of your monthly pay, or 75% if you have at least one dependent (66 2/3% plus 8 1/3%). Official page
Law: 5 U.S.C. 8105, 8110(b), 8117, 8118, 8119, 8122; 20 CFR 10.200
Maritime and overseas workers
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (Longshore Act) Maritime workers such as longshore workers, harbor workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders and ship-breakers, hurt on navigable waters of the United States or on an adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal or other area used to load, unload, repair or build ships. Some groups are excluded. Give written notice within 30 days after the injury, or within 30 days after you knew or should have known the injury was related to your work. The notice goes to your employer and to the OWCP Longshore district office. For an occupational disease that does not cause disability right away, you have 1 year after you knew or should have known it was related to your work. File the claim within 1 year after the injury, or within 1 year after the last payment of compensation made without an award, whichever is later. The year does not start until you know, or should have known, that the injury is related to your work. For an occupational disease that does not cause disability right away, the deadline is 2 years after you knew or should have known it was related to your work, or 1 year after the last payment, whichever is later. A family claim for death benefits must be filed within 1 year after the death. No compensation is paid for the first 3 days of disability. If the disability lasts more than 14 days, compensation is paid from the first day. Temporary total disability pays 66 2/3% of your average weekly wage. An employer may not fire or discriminate against you because you claimed or tried to claim Longshore compensation, or because you testified in a Longshore case. Official page Longshore maximum and minimum for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (fiscal year 2027): maximum $2,163.92 a week, minimum $540.98 a week.
Law: 33 U.S.C. 902(3), 903(a), 906, 908(b), 912, 913, 948a; 33 U.S.C. 906(b); DOL Longshore NAWW table
Defense Base Act Civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under a contract with the U.S. government for public works or national defense. Claims are handled by the Longshore program. Official page
Law: Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. 1651 et seq.; DOL Defense Base Act page
Seamen (Jones Act) A seaman injured in the course of employment may bring a lawsuit against the employer, with the right to a jury trial, under the same federal rules that apply to railroad workers.
Law: 46 U.S.C. 30104
Other programs
Federal Black Lung Program Coal miners who are totally disabled by black lung disease (pneumoconiosis) from coal mine work, and survivors of miners whose deaths were caused by it. Official page
Law: Black Lung Benefits Act; DOL Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Current or former employees of the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors and subcontractors, and certain uranium miners, millers and ore transporters, who became ill from toxic exposures such as radiation, beryllium or silica at covered work sites, and their survivors. The program is set up by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Official page
Law: EEOICPA, 42 U.S.C. 7384 et seq.; DOL Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation, About the Energy Program
Railroad workers (Federal Employers' Liability Act) Employees of railroads in interstate commerce. Instead of a workers' compensation claim, a federal law lets an injured railroad worker sue the railroad for damages caused by its negligence.
Law: 45 U.S.C. 51
Before you act
This guide is general information. It cannot tell you that you qualify or that a claim will be paid: the insurer, the state agency or a judge decides. Check the official sources on your state's page before you act.
Common questions
How long does a federal employee have to report an injury?
Give written notice of the injury to your immediate supervisor within 30 days after the injury.
Free help
Free legal aid, your state workers' compensation agency and LawHelp.org can explain your options.