Minnesota · Property & Casualty Sample Interactive Mind Map
Federal Workers' Compensation Programs
A visual breakdown of Federal Workers' Compensation Programs — one of the concepts you can count on seeing on the exam.
The TESTivity Interactive Mind Mapping Graphic we picked for the Minnesota Property & Casualty sample is Federal Workers' Compensation Programs — and this is a concept you can count on seeing on your pre-licensing exam. Get the structure straight once and those questions turn into free points.
So explore it. Click through, see how the pieces relate, and let the layout do some of the remembering for you.
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Workers' comp is primarily a state-law system, but several federal statutes cover specific categories of workers.
These programs are separate from — and sometimes in addition to — state WC. The whole exam topic comes down to one skill: matching the worker to the right program. Start with federal civilian employees.
These programs are separate from — and sometimes in addition to — state WC. The whole exam topic comes down to one skill: matching the worker to the right program. Start with federal civilian employees.
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Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA)
WC benefits for civilian employees of the U.S. government
Who It Covers
Civilians employed by the U.S. government — postal workers, federal agency staff, VA employees, and other civil servants — injured performing federal duties. Administered by the DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP).
Benefits
Medical, wage replacement (66.67% of AWW, or 75% with dependents), death benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. No-fault.
NOT Covered by FECA
Military personnel (separate veterans' system), state/local government employees (state WC), federal contractors (state WC or specialized acts), and private-sector workers (state WC).
How they test thisFECA = federal CIVILIAN employees, no-fault. The traps are the people it does NOT cover — military (veterans' system) and federal contractors (state WC). And note FECA is a direct government compensation system, not insurance: agencies reimburse the OWCP for claims.
The LHWCA gives federal, no-fault WC-style benefits to maritime workers who are NOT vessel crew members — with the USL&H endorsement and the OCSLA extension orbiting it.
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Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)
Shore-based maritime workers — no-fault
✅ Covered Workers
Longshoremen and dock workers
Ship repairers, builders, and breakers
Harbor construction workers
Other maritime employees on or adjacent to navigable U.S. waters
❌ Excluded
Masters and crew of vessels (Jones Act applies)
Workers only on small recreational vessels
Those employed only to load/unload/repair fishing vessels
How Employers Comply
LHWCA benefits are generally more generous than most state WC and are administered federally. Subject employers must insure with an authorized carrier or qualify as a self-insurer.
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USL&H Endorsement
A standard state WC policy does NOT automatically cover LHWCA obligations. Employers with LHWCA-exposed workers must add the USL&H endorsement to their WC policy — without it, those maritime claims may be uninsured.
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OCSLA — Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
Extends LHWCA coverage to workers on fixed offshore oil & gas platforms in federal waters (generally beyond three miles). Workers on floating vessels/drillships may fall under LHWCA, the Jones Act, or both, depending on duties and vessel status.
The trap they setThe word "crew" flips a maritime worker from LHWCA (no-fault) to the Jones Act (fault). And remember a FIXED platform is not a vessel — OCSLA routes those workers into the LHWCA framework, while a vessel raises the Jones Act question.
The Jones Act is the odd one out — it is NOT a workers' comp system. It gives injured seamen the right to SUE their employer for negligence.
This fault-based nature is the single most tested distinction in the whole federal-programs topic.
This fault-based nature is the single most tested distinction in the whole federal-programs topic.
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The Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920)
A tort remedy for seamen — fault-based
- Covered workers: masters and crew members of vessels — those who contribute to the function of a vessel in navigation
- Fault-based: unlike WC, the seaman must prove employer negligence
- Damages: full tort damages — lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of future earning capacity
- Forum: the seaman sues the employer in federal court, like a tort action
Maintenance and Cure (Independent of the Jones Act)
Seamen also have a separate, no-fault right to maintenance and cure. "Maintenance" is a daily living allowance while the seaman is disabled and ashore recovering. "Cure" pays reasonable medical expenses until Maximum Medical Cure is reached — similar to WC medical benefits. These do not require proving negligence.
The distinction they always testThe Jones Act is fault-based — the only program here that is. Seamen must prove negligence; shore-based maritime workers (LHWCA) and federal civilians (FECA) get NO-FAULT benefits. If a stem says a worker has to 'prove the employer was negligent,' you're looking at the Jones Act.
One more narrow program — Black Lung benefits for coal miners — then a side-by-side of all the federal programs to lock in who covers whom.
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Federal Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA)
Coal miners totally disabled by black lung disease
- Covered workers: coal miners (underground and surface coal mines)
- Covered condition: pneumoconiosis (CWP — coal workers' pneumoconiosis) — NOT other lung diseases or other mining industries
- Eligibility: the miner must be totally disabled by the disease — not merely diagnosed
- Benefits: monthly cash payments, medical coverage for the condition, and survivor death benefits
- Administered by: DOL OWCP (Black Lung Division); funded mainly by coal operators and the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (federal excise tax on coal)
The boundaries they testThree lines: COAL miners only (not copper, not other mining), PNEUMOCONIOSIS only (not other respiratory disease), and TOTALLY DISABLED (not merely diagnosed). Miss any one of those and the answer flips to 'not covered.'
📊 Federal Programs at a Glance
FECA
Federal civilian employees (postal, agencies, VA)
No-fault
LHWCA
Shore-based maritime workers (longshoremen, ship repair, harbor)
No-fault
Jones Act
Masters & crew members of vessels (seamen)
Fault-based
Black Lung (BLBA)
Coal miners totally disabled by pneumoconiosis
No-fault
OCSLA
Fixed offshore oil & gas platform workers (via LHWCA)
No-fault
The one-line summaryEverything here is no-fault EXCEPT the Jones Act, which is fault-based and requires proving negligence. Match the worker to the program: federal civilian → FECA; shore-based maritime → LHWCA; vessel crew → Jones Act; coal miner with black lung → BLBA; fixed offshore platform → OCSLA (LHWCA).
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Top Exam Tips — Federal WC Programs
1. Match the worker to the program — that's the whole topic. Federal civilian → FECA; shore-based maritime → LHWCA; vessel crew → Jones Act; coal miner → Black Lung; fixed offshore platform → OCSLA.
2. FECA = federal civilian employees (no-fault). NOT military, contractors, or private-sector workers.
3. LHWCA = shore-based maritime workers (no-fault); crew members are excluded and go to the Jones Act.
4. USL&H endorsement extends a state WC policy to LHWCA exposures — it isn't automatic.
5. The Jones Act is fault-based — the only one. Seamen must prove negligence and can win full tort damages; they also get no-fault maintenance and cure.
6. Black Lung = coal miners, pneumoconiosis, totally disabled. Not other minerals, other diseases, or merely diagnosed.
7. OCSLA extends LHWCA to fixed offshore oil/gas platforms; floating vessels can raise LHWCA, Jones Act, or both.
2. FECA = federal civilian employees (no-fault). NOT military, contractors, or private-sector workers.
3. LHWCA = shore-based maritime workers (no-fault); crew members are excluded and go to the Jones Act.
4. USL&H endorsement extends a state WC policy to LHWCA exposures — it isn't automatic.
5. The Jones Act is fault-based — the only one. Seamen must prove negligence and can win full tort damages; they also get no-fault maintenance and cure.
6. Black Lung = coal miners, pneumoconiosis, totally disabled. Not other minerals, other diseases, or merely diagnosed.
7. OCSLA extends LHWCA to fixed offshore oil/gas platforms; floating vessels can raise LHWCA, Jones Act, or both.
Exam vocabulary
Key Terms to Know
FECA
Federal Employees' Compensation Act — no-fault WC benefits for civilian U.S. government employees. A direct government program, not insurance.
OWCP
The Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs — administers FECA, the LHWCA, and Black Lung benefits.
LHWCA
Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act — federal no-fault benefits for shore-based maritime workers who are not vessel crew.
USL&H Endorsement
Adds LHWCA coverage to a state WC policy. Required for maritime employers, since a standard WC policy doesn't cover LHWCA obligations.
Jones Act
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 — a fault-based tort remedy letting injured seamen sue their employer for negligence. Not a WC system.
Seaman
A master or crew member who contributes to the function of a vessel in navigation — covered by the Jones Act, excluded from the LHWCA.
Maintenance and Cure
A seaman's no-fault right: maintenance (daily living allowance while disabled ashore) and cure (medical expenses until maximum medical cure).
Black Lung Benefits Act
Monthly cash and medical benefits for coal miners totally disabled by pneumoconiosis, plus survivor benefits. Funded by coal operators and a trust fund.
Pneumoconiosis
Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) — the only condition the BLBA covers, and only when it totally disables the miner.
OCSLA
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act — extends LHWCA coverage to workers on fixed offshore oil and gas platforms in federal waters.
No-Fault vs Fault-Based
FECA, LHWCA, OCSLA, and Black Lung are no-fault. The Jones Act is fault-based — the seaman must prove employer negligence.
Maximum Medical Cure
The point at which a seaman's condition is as healed as it will get — when the 'cure' obligation under maintenance and cure ends.
Like learning this way? There's a whole library of them.
If the old manual you inherited from the office breakroom isn't cutting it and this format fits how your brain actually works, you'll want the rest. There are 55 Interactive Mind Maps like this one in the TESTivity Platinum Property & Casualty package — covering the full curriculum, right alongside the practice questions, exam simulators, and study guides.
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