The presumption of workplace illness is ending in January for Covid survivors and people who are disabled by Covid. AFGE is working to extend the benefit in the 2023 omnibus full-year government funding bill as we still have incidences of workplace exposure and survivors who have long-term effects.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that was signed into law on March 11, 2021, allowed federal workers diagnosed with COVID-19 to receive an automatic presumption of illness to establish coverage under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act for themselves and their survivors.
To establish a COVID-19 claim, you simply need to establish that you are a “covered employee,” meaning that:
Employees diagnosed after January 27, 2023 will be able to apply for workers compensation benefits through the regular FECA process. Federal employees who received workers compensation benefits for COVID through this provision, will receive benefits through 2030. This funding will be available through September 30, 2023 to establish eligibility for benefits.
AFGE continues to advocate for an extension of the authorization for FECA Automatic Presumption of Worksite Illness both for those diagnosed after January 27, 2023, and for federal employees and survivors to receive benefits past 2030 in the upcoming end-of-year legislation.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has officially walked back its plan to lay off more than 80,000 employees as part of the Elon Musk-led “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) initiative.
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