The Impact of WSIB’s Unfunded Liability on Injured Workers could also have ramifications down the road. In addition, injured workers must access these services on their own. This adds to the paperwork and long delays they already face in the WSIB process. None of this actually puts the burden back on to the employer. In fact, the WSIB reduced employer premiums by 9.3% since 2016.
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Wait-times for WSIB claims and appeals, and later for WSIAT appeals, can be extensive. It can take years following the date of your injury to resolve an appeal. So, many workers go without regular – or any – income while they wait to learn the fate of their WSIB claim. If your injury results in loss of earnings or out-of-pocket health care expenses, there are resources to help replace some of that money while you pursue a WSIB claim or appeal.
he WSIB claims to be working hard to eliminate its unfunded liability. But, over the last few years, injured workers and advocates have witnessed exactly what that means for those Ontarians who are dependent on benefits. Many injured workers’ experiences reveal that the WSIB is saving money by providing fewer benefits to injured workers.
Keep in mind: If you pursue your appeal at WSIB, most outside benefit providers will require you to sign an Assignment of Benefits. This means that if you win your WSIB appeal, any money you received previously through those providers will be repaid by WSIB before the money is dispersed to you. This repayment is done dollar for dollar.
The 2018 Sunshine List showed that WSIB top execs make nearly half a million a year: Chief Investment Officer John Denham takes home $460,641 and CEO Thomas Teahen gets $452,259. But, while the WSIB rebuilds its own financial security, and continues to pay its Executives large salaries, its tactics push thousands of people into poverty each year.
So, for example, if ODSP paid $1,000 and the WSIB decision pays $1,500, the WSIB will repay ODSP $1,000 out of the $1,500. In this example, the injured worker would receive $500 from WSIB.
In fact, a 2015 study found that 46% of injured workers with a permanent disability were at or near the poverty line. The poverty line for Ontario is just over $20,000 per year. Of those, 9% lived in deep poverty. Additionally, 38% were unable to return to employment since their workplace injury, yet the WSIB still cut their benefits1. Allowing any injured worker to live in poverty is beyond reprehensible.
Until we can fix WSIB, here’s where to start... 1. Some workers may have extended benefits like short-term disability (STD) or Weekly Indemnity (WI) through their employer/collective agreement. These benefits provide temporary income for injured or ill workers. Long-term disability (LTD) provides more permanent income replacement for an illness or recovery of a longer duration. 2. For workers without extended benefit coverage, Employment Insurance is the next step. EI is another temporary form of income replacement. You can receive up to a maximum of 15 weeks of EI Sickness Benefits. 3. For workers whose injury/illness prevents them from returning to any type of meaningful and consistent employment, the following three options are also available.
Additionally, when the WSIB cuts benefits, the costs of the workers’ injuries get shifted to our public systems. The WSIB is funded exclusively through employer-paid premiums and its own investments. But massive cuts to worker benefits force injured workers to seek assistance from public sources. Every year, thousands of injured workers have no choice but to access tax-payer funded services like Employment Insurance (EI), Ontario Works (OW), the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability. This has an impact on other systems too. Insurance – private or group – now picks up the tab for health care measures which in turn can affect premium prices for all participants. Other costs might get shifted to OHIP which 1
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Ballantyne, Peri et al. “Poverty status of worker compensation claimants with permanent impairments.” Critical Public Health, 2015; p15.
