Breaking OWCP with Chris & Gini

Are you risking your federal workers' comp benefits just to keep the peace at work? In this episode of Breaking OWCP, Chris and Gini break down "Thing #25" from their Volume 4 guide: Forget Your Supervisor’s Feelings . Management's primary job is to process your paperwork and get out of the way, but fear of retaliation often pushes federal employees into making devastating mist...

Welcome back to the Breaking OWCP podcast! In this episode, Chris and Gini open the floor for a live Q&A, tackling the most pressing federal workers' compensation questions. We break down exactly why federal employees should never let management intimidate them out of filing an injury claim, highlight the crucial differences between essential CA forms, and explain how EEO protections cove...

Welcome back to the Breaking OWCP Podcast! This week, Chris and Gini are tackling some of the most common and stressful hurdles in federal workers comp: closed claims, denied claims, and dealing with old or pre-existing injuries. If you’ve recently received a denial letter, do not give up! Chris breaks down exactly why a denial is actually a roadmap to getting your claim approved, which appeal opt...

Welcome back to the Breaking OWCP Podcast! This week, Chris and Gini are broadcasting live from Atlanta, Georgia, to tackle one of the most frustrating challenges federal employees face: what do you do when management willfully ignores OWCP rules, laws, and regulations? If you’ve ever had a supervisor tell you, "that rule doesn't apply to me," or if you’ve been pressured to sign a l...

Welcome back to the Breaking OWCP podcast with Chris and Gini!  If you are a federal employee dealing with a work-related injury, the process of securing your benefits can feel like navigating a minefield. In this episode, Chris and Gini break down the most common unforced errors that ruin federal workers' comp claims. Originally planning to cover just five mistakes, Chris overdelivers with a...

After a massive cross-country tour training union chapters from APWU to the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Chris and Gini  are back to break down exactly how to navigate a traumatic workplace injury. In this episode, they provide a comprehensive masterclass on the CA-1 form. From the critical deadlines you cannot afford to miss, to unlocking the power of the CA-16 and Continuation o...

In this Q&A-style episode of Breaking OWCP, Chris tackles a rapid-fire series of real questions from federal employees navigating the frustrating world of workers' compensation. From the critical importance of the CA-16 form for emergency care to strategies for escaping the "black hole" of a bad OWCP doctor, this episode provides actionable advice for protecting your rights. Lea...

Broadcasting live from the Florida Rural Letter Carriers convention in Daytona, Chris and Gini drop a massive "game-changer" for federal employees trapped in the OWCP denial black hole. If you are stuck with a doctor who refuses to write proper narratives or can't get your claim accepted, this episode reveals the exact strategy to legally change your treating physician. Chris and Gi...

In this episode of Breaking OWCP, Chris and Gini break down the critical steps every federal employee must take to get their workers' compensation claims accepted. From demystifying the CA-10 form to the harsh realities of choosing the wrong initial physician, this chat is a masterclass in protecting your rights. Discover why world-class surgeons often fail at OWCP paperwork, how to deal with...

Are you a federal employee struggling to get your work injury reported? This week on Wednesday Night OWCP Chats, Chris and Gini get fired up about one of the biggest roadblocks federal workers face: supervisors illegally impeding injury claims. From hiding forms to forcing you into the wrong doctor’s office, bad management can ruin your claim and cost you thousands. In this episode, we break down...

Chris and Gini explain the "nearly impossible" challenge of changing doctors once a specialist is chosen and why an OWCP-trained doctor should always be your first call. They also discuss how to handle auto accidents in government vehicles (LLVs) and the strategy of using third-party lawsuits to secure extra compensation. Key Takeaways & Show Notes 1. The Specialist Trap One of the m...

Chris and Gini discuss the internal "reprogramming" of their new expert staff to help listeners understand what CEs look for in a narrative. The episode covers the "Five Pillars of a Narrative Report," the rules for travel reimbursement, and a checklist for protecting your job using the CA-17 instead of FMLA. Key Takeaways & Show Notes 1. The Five Pillars of a Winning Narra...

1. Why Claims Get Denied: The Doctor Problem Chris identifies six categories of medical professionals who frequently (and often unintentionally) cause federal claims to be denied because they lack OWCP-specific training: Family Practice Doctors: Don't understand the complex narrative requirements. Chiropractors (Non-Specialized): Often miss the medical connection needed by DOL. Urgent Care Ce...

Episode Overview In this special 10th-anniversary episode, Chris and Gini celebrate a decade of helping federal employees navigate the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). They reflect on the growth of their community and address the most significant hurdle facing injured workers today: the fear of retaliation. This episode provides a tactical breakdown of the CA-10 form and essen...

Are you tired of supervisors "losing" your paperwork, denying your medical restrictions, or flat-out refusing to give you the forms you need to file a work injury? In this highly charged episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris and Gini break down three of the most critical forms in the federal workers' comp system: the CA-16, CA-17, and CA-7. But that's not all. After hearing countles...

What if there was a form that existed for 32 years, specifically designed to tell federal employees exactly what to do when they get hurt—yet almost no one has ever seen it? In this episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris dives deep into his favorite topic: The CA-10 Form . Chris explains why the CA-10 is supposed to be posted on every employee bulletin board, and breaks down its five simple steps that c...

Live from Las Vegas, Chris and Gini dive into the technical—but critical—foundations of filing a federal injury claim. If you have ever been confused about whether your injury counts as a "traumatic injury" or an "occupational disease," filing the wrong paperwork can sink your case before it starts. In this episode, we break down the specific differences between Form CA-1 and F...

 Is your OWCP claim denied? Don't panic—and more importantly, don't just click "Appeal." In this episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris and Gini reveal why the standard appeal process often fails and why the Request for Reconsideration is your actual path to approval. Chris shares a specific "speed reading" hack to find the exact reason your claim was denied within the deci...

Are you one of the 12 out of 13 federal employees whose work injury claim gets denied? In this episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris from Federal Injury Centers tackles the #2 reason claims fail: Management giving employees a hard time. If your supervisor is refusing to help, claiming they "don't have time," or arguing that you aren't really hurt, they might be breaking federal law....

Q&A Special: CA-17 Refusals, The OSHA Strategy, and Finding the Right Doctor In this interactive Q&A episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris and Gini return from opening the new Montgomery, AL office to play a game of "Stump Chris" with listener questions. If you have ever been confused about who fills out which side of the CA-17, or if you are struggling to find a doctor in your state,...

 In this episode of Breaking OWCP , Chris and Gini tackle the rampant issue of supervisor intimidation and the mishandling of federal workers' comp forms. If you have been told that a Nurse Case Manager can force you to leave a doctor’s office, or if your supervisor is refusing to provide you with a CA-16 or CA-17, this episode is mandatory listening. Chris breaks down the specific legal obli...

Are you a federal or postal employee being told you cannot see a specific doctor for your injury? In this episode of OWCP Wednesday Night Chats , we tackle the wave of misleading letters from management threatening to deny CA-7s and CA-17s based on your medical provider. We break down the legal reality regarding Chiropractors and Nurse Practitioners, expose the intimidation tactics used to suppres...

Join Chris and Gini for their final Wednesday Night OWCP Chat of 2025! For nearly 10 years, this dynamic duo has been helping federal employees navigate the complex Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) system—completely free. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How to File OWCP Claims Correctly - CA-1, CA-2, CA-7, CA-16, and CA-17 forms explained ✅ Schedule Award Secrets -...

In this eye-opening episode, federal workers' compensation experts Chris and Gini expose the top 20 OWCP violations that supervisors commit daily—and how federal employees can protect their rights. What You'll Learn: Why supervisors fail to provide CA-16 forms within the required 4 hours Your legal right to choose your own doctor (and how supervisors illegally interfere) How to get Conti...

Chris and Gini host their final Wednesday night OWCP chat before a two-week break, covering essential workers' compensation topics in a Q&A format. They discuss claim approvals, denials, common supervisor violations, and upcoming training opportunities. Key Announcements National OWCP Convention : Sunday, November 16th, 3-6 PM Eastern (Facebook only) Upcoming Travel : Utah meetings and BY...