Federal Workers' Compensation

So,I work part time in a school district and receive partial OWCP. Due to COVID schools are closed and have been since March 16.
I have not applied for my state's unemployment yet, as I am getting by on OWCP, and just don't want to jump thru hoops. I also received the $1200 stimulus payment.

Any opinions on the pros and cons of applying for an unemployment benefit as an OWCP recipient?

Thanks.

Rule Number 1: Always apply! Let them figure-out whether or not you are eligible.
Your attitude of "I'm getting-by..." while noble, is self-effacing. Each new Congress sees these OWCP "shills" testifying before the House that many of the claimants on OWCP use their benefits for creature comforts not necessary for survival.

They say that most IWs (especially women) have spouses who make "good money" and these checks simply go toward luxuries of life in violation of the spirit of the law set forth by FECA. This depletes the government "war-chest" and makes it more difficult for them to give billions of dollars to puppet regimes abroad!

I'm not saying they should pay benefits to lay-abouts or malingerers but in most cases, the exact opposite is the norm; it's them trying to cut off the benefits of legitimate IWs. They like to use as an arguing point, "Do you know how much this person will cost the government in the course of a lifetime?" To that I say, "First give me a hint: Is it more than a Tomohawk Missile?"

Hi, again.

I called my CE, who told me I would have to report UI income. As to would my compensation be offset, she said to call the national office, which—quel surprise—referred me back to my district office re: reporting, to which I already had an answer, and to my state office re: would my OWCP be offset, which makes no damn sense to me. The customer service rep was a tad testy, and considering I have been on hold for 40 minutes, well, understandable. Anyway, I'm guessing that UI would be offset, and I'm not messing with my OWCP, so I have my answer: not filing. If OWCP puts out general info, I will pay attention, but for now, I'm chilling, to say nothing of my states system not up and running yet.

heh, I was a programmer and a good one. I wish I could work on this!

It sounds like you are receiving workers' comp temporary partial disability benefits. In many/most states, you can receive temporary partial disability benefits if you are temporarily unable to return to your regular job duties but can do some light-duty work. State laws will vary on the question of whether you are able to collect unemployment benefits at the same time you’re receiving workers’ comp for temporary partial disability. In general, you should be eligible for unemployment as long as you’re available and looking for a job that you can do with your limitations. However, state laws will have methods for limiting the money you get from "double-dipping.” Some states reduce/offset the workers’ comp benefits by the amount of unemployment benefits you receive. Based on your later post, it sounds like your state may do this. Other states may put a limit on the combined total so that you don’t receive more than you earned before your injury. Only you can determine if the likely result is worth the effort.