Adjudication services
When the WCB receives an injury report, a staff member begins gathering information on the claim in a process called “adjudication.” Find out how the WCB decides whether to accept or deny claims and how long it takes to get a claim approved.
Getting medical attention if needed, as well as early and correct reporting of an injury, helps manage an injury. When the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) receives an injury report, a staff member begins gathering information on the claim in a process called “adjudication.”
The staff member gets all the necessary information about the injury from all relevant parties, including you, your employer and your care provider, and makes a decision based on legislation and policy to either accept or deny the claim. This early decision is important for quick payment of any earnings loss benefits and for fair, timely and cost-effective return to wellness.
The WCB will review all the information received from you, your employer and your care provider to find out what your earnings were before the injury and to make sure:
- You’re a worker of the company.
- You were injured at work.
- You can’t work because of the injury.
Using this information and the rules set out in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) and WCB policies, the WCB assesses whether or not to accept your claim. The WCB will contact you by phone and send a letter to you and your employer advising you whether your claim is accepted or denied.
How long does it take to get a decision on a claim and how can I speed up the process?
It depends on the complexity of your claim and the availability of information. In cases where there is an obvious and undeniable connection between the incident and your injury, the decisions regarding the acceptance of the claim are made fairly quickly.
Typically, the WCB process is fairly streamlined and decisions are made within a matter of days, but for more complex cases the process may take longer. The process begins with the reporting of an injury. Once an injury is reported to the WCB, the worker is contacted by WCB staff to discuss the claim, the process, the timelines and possible next steps.
To speed up this process, you can be in regular communication with your care provider(s) and employer and be open about the connection to your employment.
Frequently asked questions
A: The WCB will review all the information received from you, your employer and your care provider to find out what your earnings were before your injury and to make sure:
- You’re a worker of the company.
- You were injured at work.
- You can’t work because of your injury.
Using this information and the rules set out in The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) and WCB policies, the WCB assesses whether to accept your claim.
A: If you lose time from work because of a work injury, the WCB looks at replacing lost earnings based on medical reports. Medical and travel expenses can also be paid. Most time loss claims are short term, with workers returning to work soon after the injury. The WCB does not pay for time loss on the date of the injury, as per The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act).
A: If you or your dependants disagree with a decision the WCB makes on your injury claim, you have several review and appeal options.
Contact information
Contact a WCB representative to find help.
Submit a form
Use the WCB's secure document transfer to submit a picture (JPEG) or PDF document or submit the files by email.