tsa workers comp is the federal injury benefit system that covers Transportation Security Administration employees who get hurt or sick because of their work. It covers airport screeners, also called Transportation Security Officers, along with other TSA staff. These workers do not file with a state board. Instead, they file under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, called FECA. The U.S. Department of Labor runs the program. If you hurt your back lifting bags or injured your shoulder at a checkpoint, this guide explains your next steps.
Who the Tsa Workers Comp Covers
FECA covers civilian employees of the federal government. TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, so its workers fall under FECA. That includes Transportation Security Officers, lead and supervisory officers, behavior detection staff, and Federal Air Marshals. In most cases, it does not matter whether you are full-time or part-time. Many screeners work part-time schedules, and they are still covered.
Screening work is physical. For example, officers lift heavy bags, bend over tables, and stand on hard floors for hours. As a result, back strains, knee problems, and shoulder injuries are common. Repetitive stress and illnesses from workplace exposure can also qualify. The key question is whether your job caused or worsened the condition. TSA does not decide your claim. OWCP does, under the rules in 20 CFR Part 10.
The table below sums up the key facts for tsa workers comp claims.
| Item | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | TSA civilian employees, including screeners (TSOs), supervisors, and Federal Air Marshals |
| Law | Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. |
| Agency that decides claims | U.S. Department of Labor, OWCP, Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation |
| Continuation of pay (COP) | Up to 45 calendar days of regular pay for a traumatic injury |
| Wage-loss rate | 66 2/3% of pay with no dependents; 75% with one or more dependents |
| Maximum compensation | 75% of the GS-15, step 10 basic pay rate |
| Schedule award examples | Arm 312 weeks; leg 288 weeks; hand 244 weeks; foot 205 weeks; eye 160 weeks; hearing in both ears 200 weeks |
| Death benefit (spouse, no children) | 50% of the employee’s pay |
| Deadline to keep COP | Written notice on Form CA-1 within 30 days of the injury |
| Deadline to file a claim | 3 years from the injury, or from when you knew it was work-related |
| Key forms | CA-1 (injury), CA-2 (illness), CA-7 (wage loss), CA-16 (treatment authorization), CA-20 (doctor’s report), CA-5 (death claim) |
What the Tsa Workers Comp Pays
First, FECA pays all reasonable medical care for an accepted injury. That includes doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, and some travel costs to appointments. You can typically choose your own doctor at the start. There is no copay for accepted conditions. Your supervisor may also issue Form CA-16, which authorizes initial treatment for a traumatic injury.
Next comes income. For a sudden injury, TSA keeps paying your regular salary for up to 45 days. This is called continuation of pay. After that, OWCP pays wage-loss benefits. The rate is 66 2/3% of your pay with no dependents. However, it rises to 75% if you have a spouse or dependent child. These benefits are tax-free. The maximum is 75% of the GS-15, step 10 basic rate. You request ongoing wage loss with Form CA-7.
If you permanently lose use of a body part, you may be entitled to a schedule award. FECA sets the number of weeks by law. For example, total loss of an arm is worth 312 weeks of compensation. Partial loss pays a share of those weeks. If a worker dies from a job injury, a spouse with no children may receive 50% of pay. A spouse with children may receive 45%, plus 15% per child, up to 75% total. These figures are illustrative. Every case is different.
How to File and the Deadlines
Tell your supervisor right away. Then file the right form. Use Form CA-1 for a traumatic injury, which happens in one shift. For example, a back strain while lifting a bag counts. Use Form CA-2 for an occupational disease, which develops over more than one shift. Repetitive knee damage from standing on hard floors is one example.
Most TSA employees file online through the Labor Department’s ECOMP system. Your supervisor completes the agency section. Then TSA sends the claim to OWCP. Ask your doctor to document how your job caused the injury. A clear medical opinion is often the most important part of a tsa workers comp claim. Your doctor can use Form CA-20 or a detailed narrative report. You can learn more on the OWCP FECA program page.
Do not wait if you can help it. Filing early in a tsa workers comp case protects your pay. It also makes the medical link easier to prove. Keep copies of every form, note, and letter you send or receive.
How It Differs From State Workers Comp
State systems use state boards, state forms, and state benefit caps. However, tsa workers comp follows one federal law in every state. A screener in Texas and a screener in New York use the same forms and benefit rates. There is also no insurance company in the middle. The federal government pays benefits directly through OWCP.
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Another big difference involves settlements. In many states, injured workers can take a lump-sum settlement and close their case. FECA generally does not allow that kind of buyout. Instead, benefits continue as long as you meet the medical and legal rules. You also cannot sue the federal government for the injury, because FECA is your exclusive remedy. State workers comp does not apply to these workers; here is who does. The U.S. Department of Labor’s OWCP handles every tsa workers comp claim from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a part-time TSA screener get tsa workers comp benefits?
Yes. FECA covers part-time federal employees too. Your wage-loss rate is based on your pay, and OWCP has special rules for figuring pay for part-time workers.
Does TSA decide whether my claim is approved?
No. TSA processes your paperwork and may share its view. However, only OWCP at the Department of Labor accepts or denies a tsa workers comp claim.
What if my claim is denied?
You have three main options. You can ask for an oral hearing or a review of the written record within 30 days. You can also request reconsideration within 1 year, or appeal to the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board within 180 days. A licensed attorney or union representative can help you pick the best path.
Tsa workers comp: Quick Recap
If you remember one thing about tsa workers comp, 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 tsa workers comp should be confirmed with the agency before you act on it.
Questions about tsa workers comp 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.