“How much money is my schedule award worth?”
I get this question all the time. Having said that, I can’t always answer this question right away. I can’t even give a great estimate much of the time. Here is why:
Let’s say you have a serious knee injury. Further, after much legal work, OWCP has accepted the knee injury. You’re off to a great start. I still can’t give you an estimate without more information.
First off, we need to know how much money do you make per week? This doesn’t include overtime and most other variables. Many people don’t know that number off the top of their head. But let’s say we have a number and it’s a really easy number to calculate like $1,000 dollars a week.
The next thing we need to know is whether you have any dependents. All you need is one dependent for you to get paid at the higher, or 75% level instead of the 66% level of pay. That’s easy if you have a spouse. But if you have a child, it depends on their age and if they live with you and if they aren’t, if you are making child care payments. There are other variables here, but for the sake of this hypothetical let’s say the injured person is married and we know the person gets paid at the 75% level.
OWCP pays for a lower left extremity accepted injury schedule award at 288 weeks of pay. Sounds simple? Well, the only way it is easy is if the lower left extremity was amputated and you know you have 100% impairment in that leg. Because the law firm is not a doctor, we could not tell you whether your award would be at 1% or 40%. Furthermore, any previous injuries to the extremity, whether part of the accepted injury or not, should be part of the award.
A doctor would have to examine the person, and give an award based on either a Diagnosis-based Impairment (DBI) or Range of Motion (ROM) method to calculate the impairment, whichever is higher. An attorney is not in the position to give you an estimate of what that may be worth. We are, however, prepared to send you to a doctor with those kind of qualifications.
We’ve been surprised in both directions as to the result of an impairment rating examination.
I have a permanent injury surgery on both knees twice doctor sent me back to work on light duty. Can I file for schedule award even though I’m working three hours.
You can work, however, if you are getting wage loss for 5 hours and working 3 hours, you will lose 60% of your schedule award. If possible it’s sometimes better to wait until you are either working full time or on disability retirement.
I am being told I have a RUEI rating of 12%. THE DBI RUEI Rating is 5% and the ROM RUEI rating is 7%. Am I paid on the combined total of 12%? or just the higher of the two at 7%??
We send our clients to medical specialists that can let you know exactly how it should be calculated. My understanding is that in general the higher of the two should be used and not added together, but a specialist should confirm your situation.
I injured my right knee at work back in April, filed a CA-1 a week later. Had Arthroscopic Surgery in July. I also injured my left knee during the commission of my right knee injury but not as sever but over the course of the time between my initial surgery, my left knee has succumbed to the stress and initial injury. OWCP has accepted my left knee and has included it in my initial CA-1 Claim. Is this a good thing or should I have submitted another CA-1 for my left knee. An MRI is scheduled for my left knee soon.
As long as your claim is accepted, it should be fine.
I I have multiple body parts which had surgery neck ,knee,back shoulder and hip and now have a 50percent rate of disability how much is my award
So, the award is by body part, not whole body. In order to know how much your award will be, we’d have to know which body part, what the ama rating is on that specific body part, what your weekly salary is, and your spousal/dependent status. Additionally, just b/c your doctor gives a rating, doesn’t mean that OWCP will just accept it, they will often send the paperwork to one of their doctors.
I am currently on OWCP permanent stationary disabled status. I had a right knee and right shoulder replacement surgery. I ask what is the status of my schedule award when I leave OWCP? I have been on OWCP since August of 2013. Does this OWCP time count towards my time in service?
If you go back to work, you can apply for an award if you have permanent impairment.
Yes, it should count towards your retirement.
i blew my right knee out in 2019 and been om owcp sence then . i was sent back to work off and on with perminet restrictions. i have not been working sence june 2022
my wages are 800 a week and i’m now single and i have a rateing of 43% what will my aword be.
So first, your rating has to be done ‘the right way’. Many times the percentages are contested or eventually lowered. But assuming they use your doctor’s impairment rating, your lower extremity is worth 288 weeks of pay. If you are single and have no dependents, you get paid at the 66.7% (2/3) rate. 288 weeks of pay = 288*(2/3)*.43= roughly 82.56 weeks. Assuming 800 dollars a week, you are looking at roughly 66 thousand dollars. But again, there are a lot of assumptions we’ve made to get to that number, so I wouldn’t necessarily count on it.
an impairment rating for eyes calculated for each eye or both eyes together? i have lost all vision in left eye and only given 50% for what they called total vision impairment. does that sound fair?
It shouldn’t matter, you should receive a total award of 160 weeks per eye if totally impaired in that eye. 320 weeks for both eyes. Also remember that number gets reduced to either 66 or 75%.
I work in the post offices I got hurt on the job and I broke my elbow
This happened two years ago
I’m still in treatment and I’m still hurting from injury. I want to know if I have case with work comp
Thank you Now. Have a problem with my nerf I’m in light duty
My question do I have a case or not
And how much thank you
You should have a workers compensation case yes. Your medical, wage loss and possibly a schedule award covered is what a positive outcome would look like.
Watch out for the three year statute of limitations though. You are getting close to it.
Hello, I have an on the job injury.
I have 2 cases
Trigger finger & radial styloid tendonitis
I had surgery on wrist and thumb.
Seeing a DOL therapist and been in therapy over 3 years. Will I get a schedule award and approximately how much. No dependents!
It’s possible you can get an award. With no spouse or dependents you will be at the 66% rate instead of the 75% rate.
One way they determine your award would be to look at the impairment of your upper extremity which is at 288 weeks of pay, multiplying that by the rating you get from the doctor and multiplying that by the 66%. Until we go to a doctor for a report we don’t know you might get paid though.
If I have a dependent that is not living with me but I pay child support will I get a schedule award for the larger percentage 75.
Yes, you should receive it if you are paying child support.
I got injured my shoulder and knee on 2015 l got scheduled award! I still have medical care but l my problem is with the doctor did the surgery to my knee l can’t see him l have a lot a pain and l feel my knee weak now my other knee is bad too! The doctor assistant told l responsable to get the authorization! I don’t what to do!
Regardless of an award, if you still need medical care, you should still be able to get surgery. Some doctor’s will try to get it for you and some will not. You can either see a different doctor or work with OWCP to try to get it authorized.
Hello I got hurt on the job 5 years ago, Left hip right hip and I had a right knee replacement. I’m still having problems with my right knee and now my left knee has gotten worse. My ? Is can I file for disability and SSI
you can file an expansion possibly to include the left knee. And I’m not quite sure your situation, but you might be able to get an award on both. Maybe wage loss if you can’t work. Social security is a more difficult standard, but that might be possible too.
Got injured at work 2017, retired in 2019 early had enough time. Elbow fracture was the injury, my doctor didn’t do ratings. How do I get rated by a doctor for award?
Assuming you have an accepted injury, we can send you for an impairment rating, please give us a call.
Great thanks!
Hi I went for a second opinion and scheduled award for my shoulder rotator cup I was out for like 6 months from work and injured for like 4 years how much should I aspect back
You need to get an impairment rating under the right conditions. Without knowing what the impairment rating is, it’s impossible to tell. Please call us and we can assist.
Hi I have a shoulder rotator cuff on my left shoulder I’ve been going to therapy for four years and I was out from work for six months how much do you think I can get for on a schedule award
You should be able to get wage loss for those 6 months if you were out for an approved injury.
As far as what it is worth, they just look at the impairment rating report. We can help with this if you like.
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I had back surgery ( plate and pins) was out of work for a little over a year. After going to a doctor for a second opinion requested by USPS. I was told to return to work. This doctor never got the meds I was and still on or had me do anything. Just took X-rays. I still have sciatica and pain spasms in both hips and lower back. I have retired and went on Medicare to pay for some of my medical (69 years old) as USPS refused to provide further assistance. I was a TTO How do I apply for a schedule award?
We can help out as long as your claim is accepted for either your arms or legs OR if your back injury affects your legs and arms. We’d need to get you a good impairment rating to proceed.
I filed a scheduled award that I have for when I broke my leg I was given a 20% rating. The I initial injury took place in 2002 and we are in 2023 now will they base the award on my wages from 2002 or what my current wages are now
They’ll look at the date of injury and update it for COLA increases.
How do I proceed to get an impairment rating? Where do I get the information or paperwork and how do I file it?
You need to get it from a doctor, our office can assist.
My accepted for sciatica. It affects my legs and lower back and hip. The surgery was deemed failed back surgery.
I have a 2017 right knee meniscus tear. I looked on ECOMP and the medical examiner gave me a 8% in June 2023 with a dependent about how much would my award be?
A lower extremity is 228 weeks of pay. Assuming that OWCP agrees with the 8% then it’s 228*.08*.75= 13.68 weeks of pay tax free.
I’m on owcp for knee replacement both knees also had surgery twice on each knee for meniscus tears How does my schedule award works. And do they pay for only one third of the pay you are out when you are receiving disability pay from owcp