Carmen was elected as the Director of compensation in 2022. Carmen began her long postal and Union membership in 1997. Carmen has always pushed herself to learn as much as possible to help her fellow carriers. In 1997 Carmen was certified as Safety Captain and in 2000 became an On-The-Job instructor. Just 4 years after she began working at the postal service Carmen started her extensive career as a Shop Steward. Carmen has completed multiple trainings, NALC Leadership Academy in 2013, Legislative and Political training in 2015, Formal A and Beyond in 2016, Letter carrier academy facilitator in 2017 and Dispute Resolution Process in 2019. Carmen’s long resume of training and certifications propelled her throughout her career. She has served as the Dinner Dance Chairperson since 2010 and was elected a Trustee for Branch 36 in 2013. In 2016 Carmen was elected as Mutual Benefits Association representative where she remained until she was elected as the Director of Compensation. Her skills and expertise made her a perfect fit as part of the Dispute Resolution Team, where she uses everything, she has learned to defend all carriers daily.
As of March 7, 2023, injured Federal workers covered by the Office of
Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) will now have 60 days to supply
evidence in support of an initial claim. In the past when OWCP denied your
initial claim due to insufficient evidence, you were given 30 days to request a
reconsideration and provide additional evidence for your claim to be accepted.
If the claimant submits factual evidence, medical evidence, or both, but OWCP
determines that this evidence is not sufficient to meet the burden of proof, OWCP
will inform you of the additional evidence needed. You will now have 60 days
to provide this information.
Remember that the 60 days is to submit supporting evidence/medical
documentation on an initial claim. Your examiner will issue what OWCP calls
a development letter, which will always be related to one or more of the five
basic elements that every claimant has the burden of proof to establish for his/
her claim to be accepted.
There are five basic elements to an OWCP claim: