The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation (DLHWC) has decided to step up its technology game. In an Industry Notice dated October 31, 2014, The DLHWC introduced its new secure electronic access portal known as SEAPortal. The portal, which is optional for stakeholders, is an OWCP sponsored web-based application that purports to streamline submission of claim-related documents.

The SEAPortal can be accessed at the OWCP/DLHWC website. Once accessed, a user need only provide: 1) the claim’s OWCP number; 2) the claimant’s last name; 3) claimant’s date of birth; and 4) the date of alleged injury. The SEAPortal then provides step-by-step instructions for uploading a file onto the system. The portal does not accept case creation longshore forms, such as LS-201, LS-202, LS-203, or LS-262, but does accept a variety of other documents including informal conference requests, formal hearing requests, settlement applications, special fund applications, copy requests, longshore forms, medical reports, other correspondence, and DOL vocational rehabilitation documents.

Once a document is uploaded onto the system, it will be assigned a Document Control Number (DCN) and reflect a status of either “received,” or “processed.” The Industry Notice advises that the Upload Date will be used for purposes of calculating deadlines.

While this system has so far proved to be efficient, there are some limitations to its use. For instance, the SEAPortal is only used to verify receipt of the document. The portal does not verify when, or if, the OWCP or another party have taken any action in the claim. The portal also does not act as service on other parties. Copies of documents will NOT be provided to other parties of record via SEAPortal; the parties must serve copies of the uploaded document on their own initiative. And lastly, the SEAPortal cannot be used to submit documents to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) or the Benefits Review Board (BRB) as any documents must be sent directly to those entities per their respective instructions.

Based on our experiences thus far, we are encouraged by the technological advancements of the DLHWC. The SEAPortal is certainly a step, or an upload, in the right direction.