Two OWCP district offices have primary responsibility for injuries arising under the Defense Base Act: the New York district office and the Honolulu district office.
A written claim for benefits must be filed in the office of the OWCP district director within one year of the injury or within one year from the last payment of compensation, whichever is later.
The OWCP district office monitors the payment of compensation and medical care to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act. In case of claims disputes, OWCP claims examiners conduct informal conferences to help the parties resolve their disputes by way of mutual agreement or compromise without formal litigation.
If the parties are unable to resolve their disputes informally, they may request the referral of the claim to the Office of Administrative Law Judges for formal hearing. Decisions of the administrative law judge are appealable to the Benefits Review Board, and thereafter to the U.S. District Court or to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
