The serious injury program helps people with serious work-related injuries or illnesses get the specialized treatment, equipment and services they need to support their recovery and improve their quality of life.
The program team includes case managers, nurse consultants, occupational therapists, crisis intervention counsellors, and home modification consultants who have specialized training to provide comprehensive care and support to both:
- people injured or made ill at work,
- and their families.
The serious injury program team will identify the supports that may help people with serious injuries and illnesses with daily living and personal care needs, such as:
- independent living allowances: help with certain costs related to living more independently after a serious work-related injury or illness. For more information, refer to the Independent Living Allowances policy (17-06-02).
- personal care allowance: to hire a personal care attendant of the person’s choice to help with daily activities. For more information, refer to the Personal Care Attendants and Allowance policy (17-06-05).
Who the program is designed for
The Serious Injury Program is for people whose serious work-related injury or illness makes it difficult for them to live independently and may require additional benefits and services to help support their recovery and improve their quality of life.
We consider an injury or illness to be serious when the person can’t do everyday tasks or has extreme difficulty doing them. These tasks may include eating, bathing, getting dressed, preparing meals, doing housework or arranging transportation.
The Independent Living and Quality of Life Measures –- Overview and Definitions policy (17-06-01 includes examples of injuries and illnesses that may be more likely to require additional independent living benefits and services. These include, but are not limited to, spinal cord injuries, major burns, brain injuries resulting in persistent major cognitive impairment, major amputations or other injuries or illnesses that make it extremely difficult or impossible to manage daily activities. Having one of these injuries or illnesses does not automatically mean the person requires additional benefits and services, just that they are more likely to need them. We use medical information and other details in the claim file to understand how the injury or illness affects the person’s day-to-day life and ability to live independently.
The serious injury program supports people whose injury or illness is expected to require ongoing additional independent living benefits and services. Depending on the type of injury, illness or claim, some people with serious injuries or illnesses and their families may be supported through other specialized programs, such as:
- Work-related mental stress injuries: supports people with work-related mental stress injuries, including traumatic or chronic mental stress claims.
- Occupational disease: supports people who become ill because of exposures at work, such as harmful substances, conditions or environments.
- Survivors’ benefits: provides benefits and support to eligible family members when someone dies because of a work-related injury or illness.
For more information, refer to the . This guide includes information and resources to help families understand the support that may be available after a serious work-related injury or illness.
Families may also want to connect with Threads of Life, a not-for-profit organization that supports families who’ve lost a loved one to a workplace injury or illness. They offer programs, resources and online workshops led by a grief counsellor.
Questions?
For general information about the serious injury program, call us.
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