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4-0300 WAR HAZARDS

Paragraph Subject Date Trans. No.

Table of Contents 11/00 01-01

1 Purpose and Scope 09/94 94-39

2 Statutory Authority 09/94 94-39

3 Regulations 09/94 94-39

4 Jurisdiction 09/94 94-39

5 Claim Forms 09/94 94-39

6 Purpose of the WHCA and

 Relationship to Other Statutes 09/94 94-39

7 Conditions of Coverage 09/94 94-39

8 Terrorist Attacks 09/94 94-39

9 Processing Claims Filed under

 Section 104 of the WHCA 09/94 94-39

10 Processing Claims Filed under

 Section 101 of the WHCA 09/94 94-39

11 Reimbursement of Insurance

 Carriers and Self-Insured 

 Employers under Section 104 09/94 94-39

12 Assuming Direct Payment of

 Benefits under Section 104 09/94 94-39

13 Payment of Compensation for

 Claims Filed under Section 101 09/94 94-39

14 Annual Adjustment of Benefits 09/94 94-39

15 Monitoring Cases on the Periodic Roll 09/94 94-39

16 Changes in Benefit Levels 09/94 94-39

17 Detention Benefits 09/94 94-39

18 Fees for Legal Services 09/94 94-39

19 Common Medical Conditions Related

 to Internment 09/94 94-39

 Exhibits 

1 Form CA-278 09/94 94-39 

 (Link to Image) Page 1-2 

2 Form SF-1034 09/94 94-39 
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 (Link to Image) Page 1-2 

3 Yearly Increases Under the LHWCA 11/00 01-01

4 Sample Periodic Status Inquiry Letter 09/94 94-39

1. Purpose and Scope. This chapter outlines the procedures to be followed in claims under

the War Hazards Compensation Act, which are prefixed with WH- or EA-. The EA- prefix was

assigned to cases dating from World War II which involved contractors to Pacific Naval Air

Bases who were captured by the Japanese. The WH- prefix is assigned to the remaining cases.

2. Statutory Authority. War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA), 42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.,

issued December 2, 1942, and amended in 1943, 1946, 1953, 1958, 1959 and 1961.

3. Regulations. WHCA cases are addressed in 20 C.F.R. Parts 61 and 62, published on

February 8, 1988.

4. Jurisdiction. All claims for benefits under the WHCA are to be jacketed, adjudicated,

and maintained in the National Operations Office, District Office 25.

5. Claim Forms. Either regular Federal Employees' Compensation Act or Longshore and

Harbor Workers' Compensation Act forms may be used to claim benefits under the WHCA.

6. Purpose of the WHCA and Relationship to Other Statutes.

a. The WHCA supplements the Defense Base Act (42 U.S.C. 1651), which is an

extension of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA, 33 U.S.C.

901 et seq.) The WHCA completes the protection provided to Federal contractors'
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employees and certain other selected employees performing work outside the United

States. All liability for injury, death and detention benefits under the WHCA is assumed

by the Federal Government, and is paid from the Employees' Compensation Fund

established by 5 U.S.C. 8147.

b. Under Section 104 of the WHCA, an insurance carrier, self-insured employer, or

compensation fund may claim reimbursement from the Employees' Compensation Fund

for benefits paid on cases approved under the Defense Base Act (DBA), if it can be

shown that the injury or death was due to a war-risk hazard. Where there is no

compensation payable under the DBA, an employee or his or her survivors may file a

claim directly under Section 101 of the WHCA. Section 101 of the WHCA also

authorizes the payment of detention benefits for contractors' employees who are captured

or detained by a hostile force.

c. The administrative procedures of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act

(FECA) are generally applicable to claims filed under Section 101 of the WHCA, with

the exception that computation of disability and death benefits, and determination of pay

rate and beneficiaries, are made in accordance with the provisions of the LHWCA. The

minimum provisions of the LHWCA for computing disability compensation (Section 6b)

and death benefits (Section 9e) do not apply to these claims or to cases paid under the

Defense Base Act. Medical treatment and care are furnished under the applicable

sections of the FECA.

7. Conditions of Coverage.

a. Time limitations for filing a claim under the WHCA are as outlined in the FECA,

except that timely filing requirements may be waived altogether if circumstances beyond

the employee's control prevented the timely filing of a claim.

b. Coverage under the WHCA is extended to any person employed outside of the

continental United States who is:

(1) Covered under the DBA;

(2) Engaged by the United States under a personal service contract (note that

personal service contractors with the Agency for International Development are

covered under the FECA);

(3) Covered under the Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities Act;
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(4) Engaged for personal services by the United States under the Mutual

Security Act; or

(5) Engaged by an American employer to provide welfare or similar services

to the Armed Forces for injury or death which is causally related to a war-risk

hazard.

Detention benefits may also be paid to an employee as described above who is missing

from his or her employment under conditions which would lead one to believe that the

absence is due to action of a hostile force, who is known to have been taken prisoner by a

hostile force, or who is not returned to his or her home due to the failure of the United

States or the contractor to furnish transportation.

c. A "war-risk hazard" is a hazard arising during a war in which the United States is

engaged; during an armed conflict in which the United States is engaged, whether or not

war has been declared; or during a war or armed conflict between military forces of any

origin, occurring within any country in which a covered individual is serving. The

hazard may be from:

(1) The discharge of a missile, including liquids and gas, or the use of any

weapon, explosive or other noxious thing by a hostile force or person or in

combatting an attack or a perceived attack by a hostile force or person;

(2) Action of a hostile force or person, including rebellion or insurrection

against the United States or any of its allies;

(3) The discharge or explosion of munitions intended for use in connection

with a war or armed conflict with a hostile force or person;

(4) The collision of vessels in convoy or the operation of vessels or aircraft

without running lights or without other customary peacetime aids to navigation;

or

(5) The operation of vessels or aircraft in a zone of hostilities or engaged in

war activities.

d. "Hostile force or individual" is defined as a nation, a subject of a foreign nation,

or any other person serving a foreign nation engaged in:

(1) A war against the United States or any of its allies;

(2) Armed conflict, whether or not war has been declared, against the United

States or any of its allies; or
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(3) A war or armed conflict between military forces of any origin in any

country in which a person covered by the WHCA is serving.

e. The usual "performance of duty" considerations do not apply in WHCA cases, in

that eligible individuals are covered at all times, except for people who reside at or near

the place of employment and do not live there solely by virtue of the exigencies of the

employment. These individuals will be covered while in the performance of duty only.

f. Coverage is not extended to a prisoner of war detained or utilized by the United

States. An individual who:

(1) Recovers or receives workers' compensation benefits from any other

source;

(2) Is a foreign national and is entitled to benefits from that or any other

country; or

(3) Has been convicted of a subversive act against the United States is not

entitled to benefits under the WHCA.

g. The DBA provides for waivers of coverage by the head of any department or

other agency of the United States or the Secretary of Labor. The waiver may apply with

respect to any contract, subcontract, or subordinate contract, work location under such

contracts, or classification of employees. The waiver would have to have been made

prior to the injury or detention. If coverage under the DBA is waived, and a condition of

the waiver is that the contractor obtain other war hazard coverage, there is no coverage

under Section 101 of the WHCA. Section 104 claims may be allowed in spite of waiver.

The Longshore Division will alert DFEC of the existence of a waiver, or may be

consulted if the existence of a waiver is an issue.

8. Terrorist Attacks. The statutory definition of a war-risk hazard does not specifically

address terrorist attacks. Determining coverage under the WHCA for such attacks may be

complicated, as it is not always possible to identify the person or group responsible for a terrorist

act, or to determine the intended target of the action. Coverage may be extended to some victims

of terrorist acts. Each case must be considered on an individual basis in conjunction with the

definitions of "war-risk hazard" and "hostile force or individual" found in paragraphs 7c and 7d.

The following examples are intended to give some guidance on this matter.
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 Example 1: An employee covered by the DBA is injured when members of a known

terrorist organization drive a vehicle into a U.S. Embassy and explode it. No war is in progress

in the country, but the attack itself constitutes an "armed conflict" directed against the United

States, or its official representative in the country, the U.S. Embassy. The United States is by the

very nature of the situation "engaged" in the conflict, even if it has had no chance to respond.

The terrorists are related to an identifiable organization which uses violence to achieve political

goals, and are therefore a "hostile force or person engaged in armed conflict". A "war-risk

hazard" is present in this instance.

 Example 2: Off-duty employees of a contractor are injured or killed by a terrorist attack

while sitting in a public place. The United States is not engaged in a war or an armed conflict.

The remaining consideration, then, is whether the incident occurred as the result of a war or

armed conflict between military forces of any origin within the country in which the contractor's

personnel are serving. If the claimants are able to establish with reasonable certainty that the

attackers were members of or acting on behalf of an identifiable military group, one that pursues

its political goals through the use of violence, that has taken up arms against the United States or

against the government where the incident arose, coverage would be extended.

 Example 3: An American airliner on which employees of a contractor are travelling is

hijacked in a foreign country, with the intent to take the airplane to a destination where political

prisoners are held to exchange the airplane and its passengers for the release of those prisoners.

The incident did not arise out of an armed conflict in which the United States is engaged, nor is

the United States the obvious object of the attack. Coverage for injury or death may be

extended, however, if the claimant(s) can establish that a state of war or armed conflict between

identifiable organized military groups existed in the foreign country at the time of the hijacking,

and injury or death was due to one of the factors outlined in paragraph 7c. Detention benefits

may be paid if the hijackers meet the definition of "hostile force or individual" found in

paragraph 7d.

 Example 4: Employees of a contractor to the Department of Defense are killed when the

U.S. military bus on which they are riding is attacked by native insurgents. The attackers are

members of a military/political group which seeks to overthrow the local government through

the use of violence. The local government has actively attempted to subdue the group by

military means. This situation would qualify for WHCA coverage as "an armed conflict in

which the United States is engaged" (the bus, an identifiable symbol of the United States, was

attacked by a known terrorist group), and as an "armed conflict between military forces of any

origin in any country in which a person...is serving."

 Example 5: An individual with no connection to an identifiable group seeks revenge

against the United States for its role in the Middle East by planting a bomb in a non-American

airliner. Because the perpetrator cannot be connected with an identifiable group which pursues

its political goals through the use of violence, no WHCA coverage can be extended.
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9. Processing Claims Filed Under Section 104 of the WHCA.

a. Form CA-278, "Claim for Reimbursement of Benefit Payments and Claims

Expense," is used by an insurance carrier or a self-insured employer to file a claim for

reimbursement under Section 104 of the WHCA (see Exhibit 1). Most of the claims filed

under the WHCA will originate in this manner. The claim must be supported by copies

of the forms, statements, and medical reports submitted by the employee (or his or her

survivors) and the employer to establish a claim under the DBA, the compensation order

awarding benefits under the DBA, and the insurance policy (or relevant portion thereof)

under which the employee was covered.

If there is not sufficient information to determine that the injury or death occurred as the

result of a war-risk hazard, it is the responsibility of the Claims Examiner (CE) to request

additional evidence or clarification from the insurance carrier. The claim for

reimbursement must also be accompanied by documentation of the payments for which

reimbursement is being claimed. Documentation of payment may take the form of

receipts and copies of payment drafts, or a certified listing of payments which includes

payee name, services rendered, amount paid, date paid, check or draft number, and

signature of the certifier.

b. A claim for reimbursement filed by an insurance carrier or self-insured employer

must be denied if it is found that the benefits paid or payable were on account of injury,

detention or death which arose from a war-risk hazard for which a premium (which

included an additional charge or loading for such hazard) was charged; or where the

insurance carrier or self-insured employer has been reimbursed, paid, or compensated for

the loss for which reimbursement is claimed.

c. The only appeal procedure available to insurance carriers and self-insured

employers filing for reimbursement under Section 104 of the WHCA is reconsideration,

which must be requested within 60 days by carriers within the United States and within

six months by carriers outside of the United States. Requests for reconsideration should

be sent to the Director for Federal Employees' Compensation. The Office may grant

reconsideration after these periods have elapsed if reasonable cause for the delay is

shown.

10. Processing Claims Filed Under Section 101 of the WHCA.
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a. An employee or survivor should file a claim directly with the Division of Federal

Employees' Compensation under Section 101 of the WHCA only after a Longshore

District Director has determined that no compensation is payable under the Defense Base

Act. The CE will undertake any necessary development of the factual and medical

evidence. As in regular FECA claims, the claimant has the burden of establishing

entitlement.

b. An employee or survivor filing for benefits under Section 101 should be asked

whether he or she has claimed, recovered, or received workers' compensation benefits

from any other source on account of the same injury or death for which benefits are being

sought under the WHCA.

c. After the necessary development of the evidence, the CE will prepare a

memorandum on the issue of whether the injury, disease, or death was the result of a

war-risk hazard. Recommendations for acceptance of a claim must be approved by the

Supervisory Claims Examiner. Denial of a claim will be made by compensation order,

with a full explanation of the reasons for the action taken, and signed by the Supervisory

Claims Examiner. d.Individuals who file a claim under Section 101 of the WHCA receive

the same appeal rights granted in regular FECA cases.

11. Reimbursement of Insurance Carriers and Self-Insured Employers under Section 104.

a. After a claim has been accepted for reimbursement, the CE will review the

documentation submitted in support of the payments made by the insurance carrier or

self-insured employer. The CE must determine whether compensation was paid in the

correct amount and whether the medical expenses were for treatment of the condition(s)

accepted as related to the war-risk hazard. If the case contains a compensation order

issued by the Longshore Division under the Defense Base Act, compensation rates and

accepted conditions will be stated in the compensation order. Reimbursement may not be

made for compensation paid in excess of the amounts provided under the Longshore and

Harbor Workers' Compensation Act or for medical bills unrelated to the accepted

condition(s).

b. In addition to payments made for compensation and medical bills, insurance

carriers and self-insured employers are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and

necessary claims expense incurred in determining liability, including expenses for

attorneys' fees, court and litigation costs, witnesses and expert testimony, examinations,

and autopsies. These types of costs are known as "allocated claims expenses," and the

specific expenses must be itemized and documented. An insurance carrier may also

claim "unallocated claims expenses" in an amount of up to 15% of the sum of the
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reimbursable medical, compensation, and burial payments. Unallocated claims expenses

represent the cost incurred by the company handling the claim in its regular course of

operations. These expenses cannot be specifically itemized or documented.

c. After the amount to be reimbursed has been calculated and certified, the CE will

prepare Standard Form 1034 (Exhibit 2). SF-1034 should show the amount of

reimbursement for each category of payment (benefit payments, legal fees, claims

expense, etc.) as well as the total amount to be reimbursed. The employee's name, War

Hazards file number, and insurance carrier's file number should also be included on the

form. Three copies of the SF-1034 will be sent to the insurance carrier or self-insured

employer with a cover letter requesting signature under "Certificate of Payee" on each

form. The cover letter should advise the insurance carrier or self-insured employer of the

reimbursable amount for each category of payment.

Any payments for which reimbursement is claimed but cannot be authorized must be

noted in the letter, along with the reason for denial. Carriers or employers may submit

additional information in support of the disallowed items or file objections to the

disallowance. The time requirements for submitting evidence or objections are 60 days

for carriers within the United States and six months for carriers abroad, although these

limitations may be waived if warranted by unusual circumstances. If items are being

excluded from the reimbursable amount, the carrier or employer should be advised in the

cover letter accompanying the Forms SF-1034 that signature on the form will not be

considered as an agreement to the exclusions and will not compromise any future claim

for the excluded expenses.

d. When the signed copies of Form SF-1034 are returned, the District Director will

sign the forms on the front and back as Authorized Certifying Officer. The case file and

forms will then be sent to the fiscal section for payment. The amount reimbursed and the

inclusive dates of the period covered should be posted on the case summary, Form

CA-800.

12. Assuming Direct Payment of Benefits Under Section 104.

a. In cases where an ongoing entitlement to compensation has been established, the

OWCP may assume direct payment of benefits rather than continue to reimburse the

insurance carrier or employer. As a rule, a case should be accepted for direct payment

only when the rate of compensation and the period of compensation have become

relatively fixed. Cases in which the nature and extent of entitlement to compensation

either have not been determined or are in dispute should remain under the control of the

insurance carrier until the issues have been resolved.
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b. When direct payment of benefits has been deemed appropriate, the CE will

arrange with the insurance carrier or employer to assume payment as of a specified date.

For cases to be placed on the periodic roll, this date should coincide with the beginning

of a periodic roll period. The person who will begin to receive payment directly from

OWCP should be advised of the change and given instructions for submitting bills,

changes of address, and other communications. If death benefits are being paid, the

claimant should be advised to report any changes in marital status for the widow or

widower and changes in marital or student status for dependent children.

c. Medical care in disability cases for which the Office has assumed direct payment

will be furnished in a manner consistent with the regulations and procedures governing

the furnishing of medical treatment under the FECA.

13. Payment of Compensation for Claims Filed Under Section 101.

a. Monetary compensation for disability, death, and burial expenses paid in cases

accepted under Section 101 of the WHCA is computed in accordance with the benefit

structure of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, with the exception

that the minimum limits of the LHWCA do not apply. Information necessary to compute

compensation can be found in the Longshore Act in Sections 6, "Maximum and

Minimum Compensation"; 8, "Compensation for Disability"; 9, "Compensation for

Death"; and 10, "Determination of Pay". Assistance may be sought from the Division of

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation whenever questions arise about the

computation of benefits.

b. Compensation for total disability is paid at 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage

as determined under Section 10 of the LHWCA. The LHWCA also makes provision for

payment of compensation as the result of permanent partial disability and loss of

wage-earning capacity. There is no augmented rate for employees with dependents.

c. The sum of the percentages paid to the beneficiaries in a death case may not

exceed 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage. The widow or widower is entitled to 50%,

plus 16 2/3% for each child, with a total not to exceed 66 2/3%. If there is no widow or

widower, compensation is paid at the rate of 50% for one child, increased by 16 2/3% for

each additional child, share and share alike, up to a maximum total of 66 2/3%.

If there is no surviving spouse or child, or if the aggregate amount payable to the spouse

and child(ren) is less than 66 2/3% of the pay rate, compensation may be paid at a rate of

up to 20% for a dependent brother, sister, or grandchild, and up to 25% for a dependent
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parent or grandparent. The aggregate amount payable to dependent brothers, sisters,

grandchildren, parents and grandparents may not exceed the difference between 66 2/3%

and the amount payable to the spouse and children.

d. Prior to November 26, 1972, the weekly maximum for death benefits was $70.00.

For death occurring between November 26, 1972 (effective date of the 1972 LHWCA

amendments), and September 28, 1984, there is no maximum limit on the average weekly

wage on which death benefits are computed. For deaths on and after September 29, 1984

(effective date of the 1984 LHWCA amendments), the total weekly death benefits may

not exceed the lesser of the average weekly wages of the deceased or the benefit the

deceased would have been eligible to receive under Section 6(b)(1). 

e. Survivors of employees who were receiving compensation for permanent and

total disability and died between November 26, 1972, and September 28, 1984 are

entitled to receive death benefits, even if the cause of death was unrelated to the accepted

war-risk injury. The 1984 amendments to the LHWCA eliminated death benefits in cases

of unrelated death, when death occurs on or after September 29, 1984. The survivors of

an employee whose death is related to the accepted condition(s) continue to be entitled to

death benefits.

f. Dependents who are not citizens of the United States and who are not residents of

the United States or Canada are limited to the surviving spouse and children, or if there is

no surviving spouse or children, to a surviving parent receiving full or partial support

from the employee for the one year immediately preceding the date of death. In cases of

permanent total or permanent partial disability or death, the future liability of the United

States for payment to persons who are noncitizens or nonresidents may be discharged by

a lump sum payment equal to one-half of the commuted value of the future installments

of compensation. Requests for lump sum calculations should be forwarded to National

Office, for referral to the Longshore Division.

14. Annual Adjustment of Benefits.

a. Section 10(f) of the LHWCA provides for an annual adjustment of benefits

effective each October 1. The October 1 adjustment is applicable to War Hazards cases

in which compensation is being paid for permanent and total disability or death resulting

from a war-risk hazard. The increase does not apply to compensation for death unrelated

to the accepted injury condition, temporary total disability, partial disability or

internment. Unlike CPI increases under the FECA, there is no waiting period that must

be satisfied before a claimant is eligible for the Section 10(f) adjustment.
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b. The rate of the yearly adjustment may be obtained from the Longshore Division.

The increase is applied to the weekly compensation rate and rounded to the nearest

dollar. Exhibit 3 shows the increases to date.

15. Monitoring Cases on the Periodic Roll.

a. In most of the War Hazards cases for which regular periodic payments are being

made for disability, a Longshore District Director has made a finding of permanent

disability. It is generally sufficient to request a medical report once every three years,

unless more frequent reports are needed to monitor medical care and support the payment

of medical bills. A yearly inquiry will be sent to the claimant to verify the current

address, continuing receipt of benefits, and employment. Information about a disabled

employee's marital status or dependents need not be requested, as the presence or absence

of a spouse or dependent children has no effect on compensation rates for disability under

the LHWCA.

b. Where death benefits are being paid to the spouse of a deceased employee, a

yearly inquiry will be made to verify that there has been no change in the marital status

of the widow or widower. See Exhibit 4 for an example of such a status inquiry. A

widow or widower's entitlement to benefits ceases upon remarriage, at which time a lump

sum representing two years' compensation is paid. If benefits are paid to a widow,

widower or other individual on behalf of dependent children, the Claims Examiner (CE)

should obtain yearly verification that the payee continues as guardian.

c. The CE must monitor the status of dependent children and adjust compensation

accordingly. In cases where the employee died prior to October 26, 1972, no

compensation is payable on behalf of a child once his or her 18th birthday occurs. For

death on or after October 26, 1972, compensation may continue after a child's 18th

birthday if he or she meets the definition of a student. The requirements for student

status are the same as those under the FECA, and Forms CA-1615 and CA-1617 may be

used to obtain the necessary documentation. It is important to maintain accurate data in

the call-up system to serve as notification of a child's approaching 18th birthday or the

need for verification of student status.

16. Changes in Benefit Levels.

a. In some of the older cases, there may be a question as to whether the claim was

accepted under Section 101 or 104 of the WHCA. The presence of a compensation order
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from a Longshore Deputy Commissioner (now District Director) awarding benefits under

the Defense Base Act is an indication of processing under Section 104. If there is no

evidence of a Longshore compensation order or liable insurance carrier, it may be

assumed that the case was handled under Section 101. Cases with EA prefixes may be

presumed to be Section 101 cases, barring any evidence to the contrary.

b. When a change in the status of a beneficiary necessitates a change in the amount

of compensation being paid, the adjustment will be processed as in any FECA death case

and the payee advised accordingly. Most of these changes will result from changes in the

status of dependent children.

c. If it appears that a change in benefits may be appropriate due to a change in the

extent of injury-related disability or an incorrect computation of benefits, and the case

was originally processed under Section 104 of the WHCA (i.e., the Defense Base Act

claim was accepted), the case file and a memorandum summarizing the appropriate facts

should be submitted to the Director for Federal Employees' Compensation who will

forward the information to the Longshore Division. The Longshore Division will take

appropriate formal or informal action and return the case through the Director for Federal

Employees' Compensation for further handling. FECA appeal rights do not apply in

these situations.

d. FECA overpayment procedures do not apply in cases handled under Section 104

of the WHCA. Section 104 cases in which overpayments occur should be forwarded to

the Longshore Division through the Deputy Director for Federal Employees'

Compensation, with appropriate documentation about the benefits paid and the claimant's

financial situation, including a completed Form OWCP-20. The Longshore Division will

determine whether an overpayment does in fact exist and how any recovery should be

made.

e. Overpayments in cases processed under Section 101 of the WHCA are handled in

accordance with the overpayment procedures described in FECA PM Part 6.

17. Detention Benefits.

a. An employee as defined in Section 101 of the WHCA who is taken prisoner,

hostage or otherwise detained by a hostile force or person is entitled to receive or have

credited to his or her account compensation equal to 100% of the employee's average

weekly wage, paid by OWCP from the Employees' Compensation Fund. The average

weekly wage used to compute detention benefits may not exceed the average weekly

wages paid to civilian employees of the United States in the same or most similar
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occupation in the area nearest to the place of employment. Seventy percent of the

benefits may be disbursed to the employee's dependents during the period of detention, if

such dependents reside in the United States or its territories or possessions.

b. Compensation for disability under the WHCA may not be paid at the same time

detention benefits are being paid, except that payment for schedule losses may be made at

the same time the employee is in receipt of detention benefits. Concurrent receipt of

detention benefits under the WHCA and other payment from the United States due to the

same period of detention is prohibited. If a dual benefit situation occurs, the benefits due

under the WHCA are reduced by the amount of the benefits paid under other statutes.

c. When a detained employee is released, OWCP will pay the cost of transportation

from the point of release to the employee's home. In case of death, the cost will be paid

of transporting the body to the home of the deceased.

d. If an employee is detained or missing for a prolonged period of time, the CE

should send a yearly inquiry to any dependents receiving a portion of the detention

benefits. This letter may be used to verify the current address of the payee and inquire

about new information concerning the employee's status. Care should be taken that the

annual Section 10(f) adjustment is not applied to detention benefits.

e. In certain cases where the employee's disappearance continues for a prolonged

period of time, it may be appropriate to make a finding that death has occurred. Section

206 of the WHCA gives OWCP the authority to make a presumptive finding of death on

the basis of evidence that the employee disappeared under circumstances that make the

death appear probable. A presumptive finding of death should be undertaken only after

careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and the wishes

of the employee's survivors.

To make a finding of presumed death, the SrCE must prepare a memorandum to the

Director and a compensation order for the signature of the Deputy Director for Federal

Employees' Compensation. The copy of the compensation order sent to the employee's

survivors should be accompanied by a cover letter advising the survivors of the

procedure for filing a claim for death benefits. The amount of the death benefit may be

more or less than the portion of the detention benefit the survivors had been receiving,

depending on the date of death and the amount of time elapsed between the date of

detention and the date of death.

18. Fees for Legal Services.
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a. Section 204 of the WHCA provides that:

(1) A claim for legal or other services rendered in respect to a claim under the

WHCA is not valid unless approved by the Secretary;

(2) An approved claim for legal or other services will be paid out of

compensation payable to the claimant; and

(3) Receipt of a fee without such approval, or solicitation of employment for

oneself or another person in respect to a claim under the WHCA is a

misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1000.00, one year

imprisonment, or both.

b. In addition, Section 61.403 of 20 C.F.R. provides that:

(1) Stipulated or contingent fees will not be recognized;

(2) Fee applications must be supported by a statement of the extent and

character of the necessary work done on behalf of the claimant; and

(3) The fee approved will reflect the actual necessary work performed by the

representative, considering the capacity in which the representative appeared, the

amount of compensation involved, and the circumstances of the claimant.

c. The procedures outlined in FECA PM Chapter 2-1200 may generally be used to

process applications for fees under the WHCA, with the following exceptions:

(1) Informational letters and awards should not reference the FECA or FECA

regulations;

(2) The fee should be paid by the OWCP out of compensation due the

claimant, taking into consideration the existence of an outstanding large payment

and the claimant's financial circumstances.

19. Common Medical Conditions Related to Internment.

a. A large number of cases accepted under Section 101 of the WHCA involve

employees of U.S. Government contractors who sustained injury or disease as the result

of detention in the Pacific theater during World War II. In these cases, known as "Enemy

Action" (EA) cases, questions often arise about the relationship of current medical
FECA-PT4 Last Change: FV-156 Printed: 10/23/2007 Page: 16

conditions to the internment. In May of 1980, the Veterans Administration published

Study of Former Prisoners of War, in which common internment-related medical and

emotional conditions were described. Although each case must be decided on its own

merits, the following description of conditions identified in POW (Prisoner of War)

studies as internment-related may be of assistance in the management of EA cases.

b. POWs were interned in the World War II Pacific theater under particularly harsh

conditions exacerbated by a sparse and unfamiliar diet, tropical diseases, and primitive

medical care. Thirty-seven percent of the American POWs interned in the Pacific theater

died during internment, compared to a mortality rate of 1% for Americans in European

prison camps. At the time of repatriation, many Pacific theater POWs were found to be

suffering from malnutrition, gastrointestinal problems, and residuals of tropical and

parasitic diseases. Most of the EA cases were accepted for at least one of these

conditions.

Among ex-POWs in the World War II Pacific theater, the Veterans Administration has

found that the most common current medical conditions related to the internment are

malnutrition and systemic diseases (malaria, avitaminosis, beriberi, pellagra), amebiasis

and other gastrointestinal disorders, and anxiety neurosis. Evidence in other studies of

ex-POWs has shown an increased incidence of musculoskeletal problems, eye diseases,

respiratory problems, cardiovascular symptoms, skin diseases, and neurological

disorders.

4-0300 Exhibit 1: Form CA-278 (Link to Image) 

4-0300 Exhibit 2: Form SF-1034 (Link to Image) 

4-0300 Exhibit 3: Yearly Increases Under the LHWCA

 YEARLY INCREASES UNDER THE LHWCA

 Date of Percentage

Increase of Increase

 10/1/73 6.49%

10/1/74 6.26%

10/1/75 6.74%

10/1/76 7.59%

10/1/77 7.21%
FECA-PT4 Last Change: FV-156 Printed: 10/23/2007 Page: 17

 10/1/78 8.05%

10/1/79 7.43%

10/1/80 7.03%

10/1/81 8.87%

10/1/82 5.64%

10/1/83 4.51%

10/1/84 5.00%

10/1/85 2.69%

10/1/86 1.69%

10/1/87 1.92%

10/1/88 3.13%

10/1/89 3.83%

10/1/90 3.26%

10/1/91 2.61%

10/1/92 3.03%

10/1/93 2.38%

10/1/94 3.06%

10/1/95 2.83%

10/1/96 2.38%

10/1/97 4.33%

10/1/98 4.31%

10/1/99 3.39%

10/1/00 3.61%

 

4-0300 Exhibit 4: Sample Periodic Status Inquiry Letter

SAMPLE PERIODIC STATUS INQUIRY LETTER

Dear NAME OF BENEFICIARY:

Reference is made to the benefits you are receiving under either the War

Hazards Compensation Act or the Defense Base Act. Periodically we are

required to verify the continuing entitlement of beneficiaries. Please

provide responses to the following questions:1. Has there has been a change

in your marital status since your entitlement under this program began? If

yes, please provide the date of the change and specify the event which caused

the change.2. Have any of your dependents for whom you claim compensation

married since you began receiving benefits? If yes, please provide the date

of the marriage and any change of name. To ensure continuation of benefits

without interruption, please reply within thirty days of the date of this

letter. Failure to respond may result in reduction or suspension of benefits.

Your response, to include your case file number, may be sent to the address

shown above.
FECA-PT4 Last Change: FV-156 Printed: 10/23/2007 Page: 18

Sincerely,

CLAIMS EXAMINER