Policy
The WSIB shall not review a worker’s loss of earnings (LOE) benefit more than 72 months after the date of the worker’s injury unless
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline when and how the final LOE benefit review is conducted, and to outline when and how exceptional cases after the 72 months post-injury review period expires may be reviewed.
Guidelines
Except where noted (see “Final review deferred” below), the final LOE benefit review must occur before the end of the 72nd month post-injury (i.e., prior to the start of the 73rd month). In preparation for the final review, the WSIB initiates a review at 67 months post-injury by requesting that the worker provide information relating to his or her
If the worker fails to respond after one follow-up, the LOE benefit is suspended at 70 months post-injury. The WSIB sends the worker a final follow-up letter at 71 months post-injury. The LOE benefit is not restored until a full review occurs. If the worker responds and the final review is conducted by 72 months post-injury, the LOE benefit may be paid retroactively to the point it was suspended. If the final review does not occur by the 72nd month post-injury, the LOE benefit cannot be restored retroactively (unless the WSIB is satisfied the failure to respond was not willful and intentional). Rather, it is paid from the date the review is conducted.
Post-injury earnings at final review
Actual employment earnings from suitable occupation
If a worker is employed in a suitable occupation (SO) identified job, the WSIB uses the worker’s actual employment earnings to pay the LOE benefit, even if the earnings are not consistent with the most recent labour market wage information for the SO. The only exception would be where the worker is voluntarily under-employed, see 18-03-02, Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review).
Actual employment earnings from job not identified in the SO
If the worker has co-operated in a WT plan and returns to work in a job not identified in the SO, the WSIB uses actual employment earnings if the WSIB is satisfied
When final review occurs before the worker returns to employment
If the final review occurs before the worker returns to employment, the WSIB uses the available wage information for the identified SO as of the WT plan completion date. If the WSIB originally used
Exception - adjusting earnings to that of an experienced worker
The WSIB uses updated wage information and the amount an experienced worker would earn in the identified SO if the worker
Where a worker has co-operated in WR activity and is not working at the time of the final review, the LOE benefit will not be calculated based on 'experienced worker earnings', but will be paid based on SO-identified earnings.
The earnings of an experienced worker should reflect the level of earnings most likely achieved by those workers in the SO that had a full experience doing the job (e.g., had several years of experience in the job).
In selecting earnings to reflect those of an experienced worker, the WSIB considers factors such as
Recalculating LOE benefits at final review
If the WSIB determines there is a change to account for in the LOE benefit (e.g., post-injury earnings have changed), the LOE benefit is recalculated prior to being locked in. Otherwise, it is locked in as is.
Exceptional cases - post 72 months
The WSIB may review the LOE benefit post 72 months in the following exceptional circumstances:
Final review deferred
The final LOE benefit review may be deferred if the worker is co-operating in
at the time the 72-month period is reached.
Co-operating in health care measures at 72 months
In some cases, a worker will not be working but co-operating in health care measures at the time of the final review. Quite often the worker will be involved in a medical rehabilitation (MR) program.
A MR program is any course of medical or paramedical treatment or care for a work-related injury. The purpose of a MR program is to bring the worker to a state of maximum medical recovery so that the worker may return to suitable and available employment. For additional information on MR programs, see 18-04-11, Supplements for Programs and Work Reintegration Activities Before and After 24 Months and 18-06-03, Definitions for Adjudicating Pre-1998 Claims.
Generally, a MR program does not simply consist of the continued use of prescription medication and/or maintenance physiotherapy or chiropractic treatments. A worker is considered to be in a MR program if any of the following situations occur but is not limited to
The WSIB assesses active or planned health care at the 72-month period to decide if the final review should be deferred.
Co-operating in WR at 72 months
The WSIB defines the workplace parties’ co-operation in WR activities to include
The WSIB generally considers the workplace parties to be co-operating in WR at the 72-month period if
NOTE
If the worker returns to accommodated employment and a significant change in circumstances related to the worker’s impairment or labour market occurs at the time of the final review, the WSIB may refer the worker for appropriate WR services, see 19-03-05, Work Transition Plans.
Co-operating in a WT plan at 72 months
If a worker is co-operating in a WT plan for re-entry into the labour market that is not completed by the 72nd month, the final review may be deferred. This would include any situation where the current WT plan had to be amended given changed circumstances. There may also be cases where a WT assessment has been arranged or even completed, with the intention to provide the worker with a WT plan that would allow for the deferral.
Conducting the final review
Benefit duration
LOE benefits can continue to be paid beyond the 72-month period if a worker is participating and co-operating in health care measures or WR activities. In some cases, a worker who completes a MR program may become involved in the WR process with the injury employer. If WR activities do not result in a return to suitable work, the WSIB may then provide the worker with a WT assessment and, if necessary, a WT plan. The worker is entitled to full LOE benefits providing the worker continues to participate and co-operate in health care measures, or WR activities, see 22-01-03, Workers’ Co-operation Obligations.
Time for review
The WSIB may review the LOE benefits up to 24 months after the expiry of the 72-month period, if the worker is involved in health care measures and/or WR activities. The final review must be completed by the end of the 24-month period, or sooner if either the health care measures or WR activities have been completed.
If the worker is involved in a WT plan through the 72-month period, LOE benefits can continue. The final review must occur within 30 calendar days of the WT plan completion (i.e., by the 31st day post-WT plan completion). If the worker is not working at that point, see “When final review occurs before the worker is able to find a job” above.
Significant deteriorations post 72 months
The WSIB may review the LOE benefit after the 72nd month final review if the worker suffers a significant deterioration in his or her work-related condition (whether or not the work-related condition resulted in a permanent impairment). When a worker sustains a secondary condition post 72 months that is causally related to the work-related condition, this may also be considered a significant deterioration of the work-related condition for which LOE benefits may be reviewed post 72 months, see 15-05-01, Resulting from Work-Related Disability/Impairment.
A significant deterioration refers to a marked degree of deterioration in the work-related impairment that is demonstrated by a measurable change in clinical findings.
To determine if there is evidence of a significant deterioration,the WSIB considers factors such as
Temporary deterioration
Where the information supports the worker has a significant temporary deterioration, and if the individual experiences a loss of earnings, LOE benefits may be reviewed from the period of the deterioration until the worker recovers from the significant temporary deterioration as supported by clinical evidence, see “Further review of the LOE benefit” below.
NOTE
While a worker may take an occasional day off from work, this is generally not indicative of a significant deterioration.
Likely permanent impairment or redetermination
At the time a significant temporary deterioration is accepted, it may not be apparent that the worker requires a permanent impairment review. The WSIB continually monitors and assesses the health care information to decide if an initial determination or redetermination of the worker’s permanent impairment should be arranged, see 11-01-05, Determining Permanent Impairment and 18-05-09, NEL Redeterminations.
If an initial determination or redetermination of the worker’s permanent impairment is likely required, payments can be reviewed up to the point that this takes place. Based on the result of the initial determination or redetermination, the review period may be extended further, see "Further review of the LOE benefit" below.
However whenever the WSIB determines that an initial determination or redetermination is not required, the review period ends. The WSIB must complete this review and fully notify the worker of ongoing wage loss entitlement within five business days from the date it is decided that an initial determination or redetermination is not required.
If at any point it is determined that the worker no longer has an impairment, the benefit is terminated the following day, see 18-03-02 Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review). If a worker undergoes an initial determination that results in a zero percent non-economic loss (NEL) rating, LOE benefit entitlement continues for a maximum of two weeks until the worker is notified in writing, see 18-03-02, Payment and Reviewing LOE Benefits (Prior to Final Review).
Eligibility despite a zero percent NEL rating
A “zero percent NEL rating” means that prior to the final review, a worker does not have a permanent impairment and, therefore, is not entitled to a NEL benefit. Such a worker cannot request a redetermination of his or her zero percent NEL benefit.
However, where a worker, previously assessed at a zero percent NEL rating, suffers a significant deterioration following the final review, that worker may be eligible for a review of LOE benefits. If the significant deterioration is temporary, the review period ends when the worker recovers. If it is eventually determined that the worker may likely have a permanent impairment, the WSIB may conduct a new permanent impairment determination.
Further review of the LOE benefit
Although the LOE benefit may be paid or recalculated at the outset when the worker has suffered a significant deterioration, the WSIB must conduct a further review of the "locked in" benefit, and if warranted, recalculate the benefit before that review opportunity ceases. This review should normally take place
Extension of the 24-month period following determination/redetermination of permanent impairment
If the WSIB
and if that worker is co-operating in a WT plan that is not completed by the end of the 24-month period, the review period is extended until the WT plan has been completed. The WSIB then has 30 calendar days to conduct a review of the LOE benefit from the WT plan completion date.
Increase/decrease in post-injury earnings
In cases where the WSIB conducts a further review of the LOE benefit after the final review, the benefit may be confirmed, varied, or discontinued to take into account any increases or decreases in post-injury earnings.
If there is a significant change in the post-injury net average earnings (NAE), usually 10 per cent or greater, it is considered “material” and the WSIB recalculates the LOE benefit accordingly, see 22-01-02, Material Change in Circumstances - Worker for further information about material change.
Requirement to report material change in circumstances
The worker is responsible for reporting any material change in circumstances that occurs prior to 72 months. When there is a material change in circumstances prior to 72 months and it was not reported on time, the WSIB may review and adjust the LOE benefit retroactive to the date of the change.
When the WSIB reviews the LOE benefit after 72 months (in cases where the final review has not taken place by the 72nd month or there is a significant deterioration after 72 months), the worker is responsible for reporting any material change in circumstances. When there is a material change in circumstances, whether reported on time or not, the WSIB may review and adjust the payments for any time during the review period. Multiple reviews may be conducted during the review period, if warranted, see 22-01-02, Material Change in Circumstances - Worker.
Annual indexing
On January 1 every year, the WSIB indexes ongoing LOE benefits, including locked-in LOE benefits, by applying the indexing factor to the amount payable, see 18-01-14, Annual Indexing.
Application date
This policy applies to all decisions made for entitlement periods on or after January 1, 2018, for accidents on or after January 1, 1998.
Policy review schedule
This policy will be reviewed within five years of the application date.
Document History
This document replaces 18-03-06 dated January 2, 2015.
This document was previously published as:
18-03-06 dated February 15, 2013
18-03-06 dated July 15, 2011
18-03-06 dated December 1, 2010
18-03-06 dated July 3, 2007.
References
Legislative Authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 2.1, 23, 42(3), 43, 44, 47(13), 49, 52
Minute
Administrative
#9, November 15, 2017, Page 544