The CA-2 form is the federal claim form for an illness or injury caused by your work conditions over time. It covers civilian federal employees under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). Examples include hearing loss, carpal tunnel, back strain from repeated lifting, or lung disease from workplace exposure. If your condition built up over more than one workday or shift, this is usually the form you need.
Who the Ca-2 Form Covers
The ca-2 form is for civilian employees of the U.S. government. That includes workers at federal agencies, the U.S. Postal Service, and some other groups named in the law. For example, Peace Corps volunteers and certain federal jurors are also covered. However, active-duty military members are not covered by FECA. They use separate military and VA systems.
The key question is how the injury happened. A traumatic injury happens during one workday or shift, like a fall. That goes on Form CA-1 instead. In contrast, an occupational disease comes from exposure or repeated tasks over more than one shift. As a result, a postal carrier with knee damage from years of walking routes would typically use the ca-2 form.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs runs the program. It is part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation. Here are the key facts in one place.
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | Civilian federal employees, including USPS workers (not active-duty military) |
| Agency | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation |
| Governing law | Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.; rules at 20 CFR Part 10 |
| Wage-loss rate | 66 2/3% of pay with no dependents; 75% with one or more dependents |
| Maximum compensation | Capped at 75% of the GS-15, step 10 basic pay rate |
| Waiting period | 3 days, unless disability lasts more than 14 days |
| Main filing deadline | 3 years from when you knew, or reasonably should have known, the condition was work-related |
| Agency forwarding deadline | Employer must send the claim to OWCP within 10 working days of receiving it |
| Continuation of pay (COP) | Not available for occupational disease claims (CA-1 traumatic injuries only) |
| Key forms | CA-2 (disease claim), CA-1 (traumatic injury), CA-7 (wage loss and schedule award), CA-2a (recurrence), CA-5 / CA-5b (death benefits), CA-16 (medical authorization) |
| Sample schedule awards (100% loss) | Arm 312 weeks; leg 288 weeks; hand 244 weeks; hearing in both ears 200 weeks; one ear 52 weeks |
What the Ca-2 Form Pays
Filing the ca-2 form starts the claim. It does not pay benefits by itself. However, once OWCP accepts your condition, several benefits may follow. First, medical care is covered. That includes doctor visits, tests, surgery, therapy, and prescriptions for the accepted condition. You may choose your own doctor in most cases.
Second, you may be entitled to wage-loss pay if you cannot work. FECA pays 66 2/3% of your pay with no dependents. It pays 75% if you have a spouse or other dependent. Typically, these payments are tax-free. You request them with Form CA-7. Keep in mind that occupational disease claims do not get continuation of pay. As a result, you may want to use sick or annual leave while the claim is reviewed.
Third, permanent loss of use of a body part may qualify for a schedule award. For example, a worker with work-related hearing loss in both ears may receive up to 200 weeks of compensation for total loss. Partial losses get a percentage of those weeks. Finally, if a worker dies from an accepted condition, survivors may file for death benefits using Form CA-5 or CA-5b. Any dollar figures you see are illustrative. Every case is different.
How to File the CA-2 Form and the Deadlines
You can file the ca-2 form online through the Department of Labor’s ECOMP system or on paper. Fill out the employee section first. Describe your condition, when you first noticed it, and when you realized it was tied to your job. Then give it to your supervisor. Your supervisor completes the employer section and sends it to OWCP.
Along with the form, you need proof. Typically, that means a detailed statement about your work duties and exposures. It also means a medical report from your doctor. The report should explain how your work caused or worsened the condition. In most cases, OWCP sends a letter asking for more facts if anything is missing. It usually gives you 30 days to respond.
You can read the full filing rules in 20 CFR Part 10 on eCFR. The deadline statute is at 5 U.S.C. 8122 on Cornell’s Legal Information Institute. If your condition comes back after you returned to work, use Form CA-2a for a recurrence instead.
How It Differs From State Workers Comp
State workers comp covers private-sector workers and most state and local government employees. Each state sets its own rates, caps, and deadlines. However, federal workers fall under one national law instead. The ca-2 form does not go to any state board. It goes to OWCP, no matter which state you live or work in. As a result, a federal worker in Texas and one in Maine follow the same rules.
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There are other key differences. FECA has no settlements in the usual sense. Benefits are paid as accepted, not as one lump-sum deal. Also, FECA is your only remedy against the federal government. You generally cannot sue your agency for a work injury. Finally, FECA does not use state weekly benefit caps. Instead, it caps pay at 75% of the GS-15, step 10 rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use the CA-1 or the ca-2 form?
Use CA-1 if the injury happened during one workday or shift. Use the ca-2 form if the condition developed over more than one shift from exposure or repeated tasks. If you are unsure, ask your agency’s injury compensation office or OWCP before filing.
Can my supervisor refuse to accept my CA-2?
No. Your agency must accept the form and forward it to OWCP within 10 working days. Your supervisor can add comments or disagree with your claim. However, OWCP makes the final decision, not your agency.
What if OWCP denies my claim?
You have appeal rights. Typically, you can ask for a hearing or a review of the written record within 30 days. You can request reconsideration within one year, or appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board within 180 days. Check the exact options listed in your decision letter.
Ca-2 form: Quick Recap
If you remember one thing about ca-2 form, make it this: the rule is set by the state (or the federal program), not by the insurer, and the official source is linked above. Every figure on this page about ca-2 form should be confirmed with the agency before you act on it.
Questions about ca-2 form that this page does not answer are usually answered for free by the state workers’ comp agency’s information line — and, for a disputed claim, by a licensed attorney in a first consultation.
See your state’s exact numbers
What you are owed depends on your state’s benefit caps and deadlines. Start with your state’s settlement and claim guides for the exact figures.
Sources & How to Verify
The figures on this page come from official government and industry sources. Workers’ comp benefit caps, deadlines, and rules change, so always confirm the exact figure with your state’s workers’ comp board or a licensed attorney before acting. Settlement estimates are illustrative, and every case is different.
- Your state workers’ comp board, division, or commission: the official source for your state’s exact caps, deadlines, and forms — search “[your state] workers compensation board”
- U.S. Department of Labor (OWCP): dol.gov — federal workers’ compensation overview
- NCCI: ncci.com — workers’ comp rating and benefit data
- Social Security Administration: ssa.gov — benefit-cap and SSDI offset data
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org — neutral workers’ comp background
Content last reviewed October 2026. If you notice an outdated figure, please contact us.
Related Guides
- Workers Comp Settlements by State (All 50)
- Workers Comp Claims by State (All 50)
- More in This Category
- Settlements by Injury
- Benefits Explained
- Workers Comp Glossary
Informational only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, insurer, or medical or financial advisor, and this page does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers’ compensation benefits, deadlines, and rules vary by state and change over time, and settlement estimates are illustrative only. Always confirm the exact figure and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.