The Non-Appropriated Funds Act Coverage for Employees
Garfinkel Schwartz helps clients around the world working in
a range of federal and international positions as federal employees, civilian
contractors and civilian employees for the U.S. Government.
Extension of Longshore Act
The Non-Appropriated Funds Act is another extension of the
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act that covers injured or sick civilian
employees who serve the government. These employees work for organizations that
are not funded by taxes, but by the sale of goods and services.
The organizations sustained by non-appropriated funds are
called instrumentalities in legal terms. The largest of these instrumentalities
is the U.S. Postal Service, which makes money through postal fees.
Many, if not most, of these instrumentalities serve the
military. Civilian employees covered under non-appropriated funds act law could
work for the Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard Exchanges, stores that
sell retail goods to soldiers, Navy Ship stories, and the military’s Motion
Picture Services group. Any U.S. military base around the world.
If you’re a civilian employee, you can be covered under this
act if you work on or near a military base in the United States, or outside the
country provided you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
Military Base Employees are Covered
The military has what it calls services to enhance the
morale, welfare and recreation of Armed Forces personnel. It also refers to non-appropriated funds
employees as those which provide “comfort, contentment and medical and physical
improvement” to soldiers.
You might be working in one of these capacities, at a recreation
center, theater, gym, restaurant, business center, or for a counseling service,
or for the American Red Cross. You may be a barber, restaurant manager,
cleaning grounds crew member, teacher, helicopter engineer, IT specialist or
other position at a U.S. military base. Non-Appropriated Funds Act Law covers
the medical care needed after an injury or illness on the job.
Coverage for The Non-Appropriated Funds Act
The Non-Appropriated Funds Act provides federal employees,
civilian employees with the same federal workers’ compensation as the Longshore
Harbor and Workers’ Compensation Act.
Non-Appropriated Funds Act Law entitles you to:
- Coverage for all your medical, surgical and hospital treatment, rehabilitation services and disability benefits if you’re injured at work.
- Injury is broadly defined and includes occupational diseases and illnesses.
- Disability and other benefits can extend to an employee’s dependents in case the individual dies from a work-related injury.
- The benefits system is administered by the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program.
- You have 30 days from the time of the injury or from the time you become aware of the illness to file a claim.
Just like employees covered under the Longshore and Harbor
Act or the Defense Base Act, you can choose your own doctor for treatment if
that person has been an approved by the OWCP.
How Law Works
The Longshore Act covers longshoremen and the Defense Base
Act covers civilian contractors, such as those providing Department of Defense
contractor and sub-contractor support to the military, through funds
appropriated by Congress.
PTSD and Non-Appropriated Funds Employees
Civilian employees, even those working in a non-appropriated
funds job, can and do suffer work-related injuries. If your job takes you into a conflict zone, you are in
danger of being near an explosion or witnessing military personnel suffer
severe injuries or trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can result from experiencing
a traumatic event, and from witnessing one.
Don't Work Your Own Case
Filing claims and navigating the federal workers’
compensation system can be tough, especially when you have a debilitating
condition like post-traumatic stress disorder. For the sake of you and your
family, talk to an attorney who can help you get the treatment you need as
quickly as possible.
FYI: All legal fees are covered and paid for so you do NOT
spend a dime nor will a lawyer TAKE a penny from you. The Non-Appropriated
Funds Act Law covers legal fees, medical care and provides compensation after a
work injury or illness.
