Benefits Explained
Determining entitlement to WCB benefits can be complex. Our mission is to help you understand and obtain the benefits you’re eligible for. Below is a brief overview of the primary benefits available to injured workers.
Temporary Benefits
- Wage-loss benefits: Money to replace part of your lost income while you recover.
- Medical benefits: Covers necessary medical treatment and services for your injury.
- Return-to-work services: Support to help you get back to work, like job search assistance or retraining.
- Expense reimbursement: Money back for certain costs related to your injury, like travel for medical appointments.
Additional Benefits
For those whose disability prevents them from doing house cleaning, yard work, snow shovelling or maintenance work, you may be eligible for:
- Housekeeping allowance (HKA): Financial assistance for the cost of hiring help with house cleaning tasks.
- Home maintenance allowance (HMA): Financial support to cover the expenses of hiring assistance for yard work, snow shoveling, and other maintenance tasks.
Permanent Benefits
If your disability is long-term, you may be eligible for:
- Economic Loss Payment (ELP): Like a pension, ELP helps make up for lost earnings due to disability. It’s paid monthly to provide ongoing financial support.
- Non-Economic Loss Payment (NELP): A lump sum payment for non-financial impacts of your injury, such as pain or loss of enjoyment of life. It's meant to compensate for the diminished quality of life resulting from your injury.
We’re here to guide you through the nuances of the WCB system, ensuring you understand your rights, the available benefits, and the necessary steps to take. Our expertise and personalised approach enable us to provide you with the support and representation needed to secure the benefits you deserve. Contact us today for help with your case.
FAQs
With you every step of the way.
Injured workers may be entitled to: wage-loss benefits (income replacement), medical benefits (treatment coverage), return-to-work services, expense reimbursement, housekeeping allowance (HKA), home maintenance allowance (HMA), Economic Loss Payment (ELP, like a pension), and Non-Economic Loss Payment (NELP, a lump sum for pain and suffering).
ELP is a monthly pension-like payment that helps make up for lost earnings due to permanent disability. It provides ongoing financial support for workers who cannot return to their previous earning capacity due to a workplace injury.
NELP is a lump sum payment that compensates injured workers for non-financial impacts of their injury, such as pain, suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life. It addresses the diminished quality of life resulting from a permanent impairment.
WCB benefits change significantly at age 65. Wage-loss benefits and Economic Loss Payments typically end or are reduced when you reach retirement age. The specific impact depends on your province and type of benefits. Contact us to understand how the age-65 transition affects your specific situation.
Yes, many workers can work on modified duties or in suitable alternative employment while receiving partial WCB benefits. Return-to-work programs are encouraged, and we help ensure any work arrangements respect your medical restrictions and don’t jeopardize your benefits.
A suitable occupation is alternative employment that an injured worker can perform given their permanent restrictions and transferable skills. WCB may reduce or terminate benefits if they determine a worker can earn comparable wages in a suitable occupation, even if not their pre-injury job.
Transferable skills are abilities and knowledge from a worker’s pre-injury employment that can be applied to different jobs. WCB considers transferable skills when determining earning capacity for injured workers who cannot return to their original occupation.
MMI is the point at which a worker’s medical condition has stabilized and is unlikely to improve significantly with further treatment. Reaching MMI often triggers WCB decisions about permanent benefits, return-to-work expectations, and claim closure.