Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§8117 Time of accrual of right

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 81— - COMPENSATION FOR WORK INJURIES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERALLY › § 8117

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Employees get no pay for the first 3 days of temporary disability unless it lasts more than 14 days, becomes permanent, or is covered under sections 8103 or 8104. Postal Service employees also get no pay for those 3 days but may use leave during that time; if the disability lasts over 14 days or becomes permanent, their leave can be restored or they can be paid for that leave.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8117

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An employee other than a Postal Service employee is not entitled to compensation for the first 3 days of temporary disability, except—
(1)when the disability exceeds 14 days;
(2)when the disability is followed by permanent disability; or
(3)as provided by section 8103 and 8104 of this title.
(b)A Postal Service employee is not entitled to compensation or continuation of pay for the first 3 days of temporary disability, except as provided under paragraph (3) of subsection (a). A Postal Service employee may use annual leave, sick leave, or leave without pay during that 3-day period, except that if the disability exceeds 14 days or is followed by permanent disability, the employee may have their sick leave or annual leave reinstated or receive pay for the time spent on leave without pay under this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 752.Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 2, 39 Stat. 743. Oct. 14, 1949, ch. 691, § 101(a), 63 Stat. 854. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2006—Pub. L. 109–435 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “An employee other than a Postal Service employee” for “An employee”, and added subsec. (b). 1974—Pub. L. 93–416 substituted “14 days” for “21 days”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1974 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–416 effective Sept. 7, 1974, and applicable to any injury or death occurring on or after Sept. 7, 1974, see section 28(a) of Pub. L. 93–416, set out as a note under section 8101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 8117

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73