What Is Continuation of Pay (COP) and How Do You Get It? | WIN Medical Group

What Is Continuation of Pay (COP) and How Do You Get It?

WIN Medical Group | 115 E Township Line Rd, Upper Darby, PA 19082 | 610-789-1800 | winmedicalgroup.com

If you’re a federal employee injured on the job in Upper Darby or the greater Philadelphia area, understanding your benefits under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is essential. One of the most immediate and misunderstood benefits available to you is called Continuation of Pay (COP).

What Is Continuation of Pay (COP)?

Continuation of Pay (COP) is a provision under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) that allows injured federal workers to receive their regular salary for up to 45 calendar days following a traumatic work injury—without having to use sick or annual leave.

It’s essentially your full paycheck, uninterrupted, while you recover and your OWCP claim is being reviewed. But—and this is key—you must meet certain deadlines and criteria to be eligible.

Who Qualifies for COP?

To qualify for COP, you must:

  • Be a federal employee (non-contractor)
  • Sustain a traumatic injury—a single, identifiable event like a slip, fall, or lifting injury
  • File a CA-1 form with your agency within 30 days of the injury
  • Begin medical treatment and provide documentation from a qualified provider
  • Submit medical evidence supporting your inability to work

How to Get COP: Step-by-Step

Here’s how injured federal employees in Upper Darby, PA can secure COP after a workplace injury:

  1. Report the injury immediately to your supervisor and request a CA-1 form.
  2. File the CA-1 within 30 calendar days of the injury date.
  3. Seek medical care from a provider who understands OWCP. At WIN Medical Group, we specialize in treating federal employees and submitting proper documentation.
  4. Request a CA-16 form from your agency within 7 days to cover your treatment costs while your claim is processed.
  5. Submit medical evidence that clearly states your work restrictions and confirms your injury is work-related.
  6. Stay in communication with both your employer and healthcare provider to ensure all paperwork is timely and complete.

How WIN Medical Group Can Help

At WIN Medical Group, we help injured federal workers in Upper Darby and Philadelphia get the benefits they deserve. From your initial injury exam to CA-1 assistance and medical narratives, we walk you through every step of the OWCP claims process—including securing your Continuation of Pay.

We know how critical those first few days are. Missing a deadline or failing to submit the correct documentation could cost you your COP. Let our team make sure that doesn’t happen.

Don’t Wait—Your 30-Day Window Starts Now

If you’ve been injured on the job, every day counts. Call WIN Medical Group now to schedule your OWCP injury evaluation and protect your right to COP and other federal benefits.

WIN Medical Group
115 E Township Line Rd
Upper Darby, PA 19082
Phone: 610-789-1800
Website: winmedicalgroup.com

Serving injured federal employees in Upper Darby, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas with expert OWCP guidance.