CA-1 Form: Notice of Traumatic Injury, Explained
The CA-1 starts a federal workers’ comp claim for an injury from one event or one work shift. Here is how to file it correctly the first time.
The CA-1 is the Federal Employee’s Notice of Traumatic Injury and Claim for Continuation of Pay/Compensation. Federal employees file it, through their agency or ECOMP, for an injury caused by a single incident or one work shift. Filed within 30 days, it protects your right to up to 45 days of continuation of pay.
Download the CA-1 (PDF, dol.gov) · Watch the CA-1 video tutorial
When to use a CA-1 (and when not to)
Use a CA-1 when you can point to a specific event or a single shift: a fall on ice, a lifting injury, a vehicle accident while on duty, a dog bite on a mail route, a strain from moving equipment. If your condition came on over more than one shift, like carpal tunnel or a back that wore down over months, file a CA-2 instead. Filing the wrong form is one of the most common reasons claims are delayed.
How to fill out the CA-1, step by step
- Report the injury to your supervisor right away and ask for a CA-16 so you can be treated now.
- Complete the employee section: your information, the date, time and exact place of injury, and what you were doing.
- Describe the cause and the injury in your own words. Be specific: “lifted a 60-lb tray from the truck and felt a pop in my lower back” is better than “hurt back.”
- Name any witnesses and sign the form.
- Choose COP or leave. Elect continuation of pay if you will miss work, so your sick and annual leave are protected.
- Get your receipt and claim number and keep copies of everything.
- See a doctor who will document causation. OWCP accepts claims on medical evidence: a diagnosis plus a reasoned opinion that the incident caused it.
What your doctor adds
At Federal Injury Centers, Dr. Robert Agee, MD examines you and writes a narrative report linking the incident to your diagnosis, then completes the CA-16 attending physician section, CA-17 duty status reports and CA-20 as needed. That medical record is what turns a CA-1 into an accepted claim.
After you file
Your agency sends the claim to OWCP, which assigns a claims examiner. If you’re still out of work when COP ends, file a CA-7 to claim compensation. Read what happens after you file an OWCP claim and 5 tips for filling out your CA-1.
CA-1 form questions
When should I file a CA-1?
File a CA-1 as soon as possible after a traumatic injury, and within 30 days to keep your right to up to 45 days of continuation of pay. A FECA claim must generally be filed within three years of the injury.
Can I file a CA-1 online?
Yes. Most agencies use the Department of Labor’s ECOMP system at ecomp.dol.gov. You complete the employee section and your supervisor completes the agency section.
Does a CA-1 cover a postal worker hurt on a route?
Yes. A letter carrier who slips, falls, is bitten by a dog or is hurt lifting a tray during one shift files a CA-1. If the injury built up over many shifts, use a CA-2 instead.
What is the difference between a CA-1 and a CA-2?
Time. A CA-1 is for a traumatic injury that happened during one work shift; a CA-2 is for an occupational disease that developed over more than one shift. Only CA-1 claims filed within 30 days qualify for up to 45 days of continuation of pay.
What is continuation of pay (COP)?
COP is your regular pay, continued by your agency for up to 45 calendar days after a traumatic injury, if you file a CA-1 within 30 days and have medical evidence of disability. It is not available for CA-2 occupational disease claims.
What is a CA-16 form?
The CA-16 is the Authorization for Examination and/or Treatment. Your agency can issue it after a traumatic injury so you can get treated right away while the claim is reviewed. It is generally valid for up to 60 days.
Request an Appointment
Complete the form to request a consultation with a federal workers' compensation expert. Federal Injury Centers provides complimentary consultations, often the same day we receive your request.
- OWCP-enrolled DOL doctors in Birmingham (Bessemer), Montgomery, Huntsville & Mobile
- No out-of-pocket expenses for covered care: billed to the US Dept. of Labor
- Help with CA-1, CA-2, CA-2a, CA-7 and CA-16 paperwork