R.J. and U.S. Postal Service, North Texas Processing & Distribution Center (Board decision, June 24, 2026)

ECAB final decision dismissing appeal. The Board dismissed appeal 26-0388 because the identified OWCP notice was not a final adverse decision. Under 20 C.F.R. § 501.6(d), this order becomes final 30 days after issuance. A party may petition the Board for reconsideration within 30 days unless this order specifies another period, under 20 C.F.R. § 501.7(a).

Plain-English summary

A postal worker appealed a January 2026 notice adjusting compensation to offset Social Security retirement benefits attributable to federal service. The Board found the notice advised him of a payment calculation but did not constitute a final adverse OWCP decision. Without an appealable decision, the Board had no jurisdiction to review the matter and dismissed the appeal.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.3, 501.6(d), 501.7(a).
• Outcome: Appeal dismissed for lack of a final adverse OWCP decision.
• Key point: An administrative notice adjusting payments was not itself an appealable final decision.

Full text (ECAB public release)

United States Department of Labor
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

________
)
R.J., Appellant
)
)
and ) Docket No. 26-0388
) Issued: June 24, 2026
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, NORTH TEXAS
)
PROCESSING & DISTRIBUTION CENTER,
)
Coppell, TX, Employer
)
__________ )

Appearances: Case Submitted on the Record
Appellant, pro se
Office of Solicitor, for the Director

ORDER DISMISSING APPEAL

Before:
ALEC J. KOROMILAS, Chief Judge
JANICE B. ASKIN, Judge
VALERIE D. EVANS-HARRELL, Alternate Judge

On March 9, 2026 appellant sought an appeal from a purported final adverse January 28, 20261 decision of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. The Clerk of the Appellate Boards docketed the appeal as No. 26-0388.

The Board, having duly considered this matter, notes that its jurisdiction is limited to the review of final adverse decisions of OWCP issued under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.2 This jurisdiction encompasses any final adverse decision issued by OWCP within 180 days of the date appellant filed this appeal.3 Although the case record does contain correspondence from OWCP dated January 28, 2026, it is purely informational in nature and thus does not

1
Appellant listed the date as February 28, 2026, but the date on the attachment referenced in appellant’s appeal is January 28, 2026.
2
5 U.S.C. § 8101 et seq.; 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3(a).
3
20 C.F.R. § 501.3(e), which provides in pertinent part: “Any notice of appeal must be filed within 180 days from the date of issuance of a decision of OWCP.” constitute a final adverse decision from which appellant may properly appeal.4 OWCP advised appellant that his monthly wage-loss compensation payments would be adjusted to reflect an offset of $2,464.25 per 28-day pay period for his Social Security Administration age-related retirement benefits attributable to his federal service. It accordingly adjusted appellant’s net wage-loss compensation to $455.85, per 28-day pay period. Because there is no final adverse OWCP decision over which the Board may properly exercise jurisdiction, the Board concludes that the appeal docketed as No. 26-0388 must be dismissed.5 Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the appeal docketed as No. 26-0388 is dismissed.

Issued: June 24, 2026
Washington, DC

Alec J. Koromilas, Chief Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

Janice B. Askin, Judge
Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

Valerie D. Evans-Harrell, Alternate Judge Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board

4
See 20 C.F.R. §§ 501.2(c) and 501.3(a); Order Dismissing Appeal, K.S., Docket No. 20-1401 (issued March 17, 2021); Order Dismissing Appeal, S.U., Docket No. 20-0636 (issued December 3, 2020) (correspondence that is purely informational in nature does not constitute a final adverse decision of OWCP from which appellant may properly appeal) 5 The Board’s decisions and orders are “final upon the expiration of 30 days from the date of their issuance.” 20 C.F.R. § 501.6(d).

2