U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs – Philadelphia, PA

General Overview

The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) in Philadelphia is a district office of the U.S. Department of Labor. Located in the historic Curtis Center on Independence Mall, this federal agency administers disability compensation programs for civilian employees of the federal government. Specifically, this location serves as the District Office 3 for the Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation (DFEC). It handles claims under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) for federal workers injured on the job in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and parts of Maryland.

Scope of Services

This office is strictly for federal employees (e.g., postal workers, VA staff, TSA agents). It does not handle workers’ compensation claims for private sector employees or state government workers; those claims must be filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. The OWCP provides wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other benefits to eligible federal workers who experience work-related injury or occupational disease.

Claims and Correspondence

While this is the physical location of the district office where Claims Examiners work, public walk-in access is generally restricted. The agency strongly encourages the use of the ECOMP online portal for uploading documents and managing claims. Important: Physical mail and medical reports should typically not be sent to this Philadelphia address but rather to the centralized mailroom in London, Kentucky (see Mailing Address). Sending mail directly to the district office can result in significant processing delays.

Security and Access

The Curtis Center is a multi-tenant building housing various federal agencies and private businesses. Visitors to the OWCP suite must pass through federal security screening. This includes presenting valid government-issued photo identification and undergoing metal detector and bag checks. Weapons, pepper spray, and sharp objects are strictly prohibited. Access to the specific OWCP suite is typically by appointment only for claimants who have been contacted by their claims examiner.