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Cost relief for employers
The WCB may provide cost relief if a claim is determined to be eligible. A claim may be eligible for total or partial cost relief of earnings loss benefits or other costs in the following situations:
- Pre-existing conditions or injury following return to work
WCB policy explains explains cost relief is applied because of a worker’s pre-existing condition or injury following return to work.
A claim may be eligible for cost relief if:
- A work-related injury is attributed solely to a worker's pre-existing condition.
- The worker’s non-work-related pre-existing condition is aggravated or accelerated by the work injury and recovery from the work injury is prolonged.
- The worker’s prior injury while working for another employer prolonged or caused a new injury.
- The worker has a new injury during a return-to-work program or during alternate or accommodated employment.
- A secondary injury, disease or condition occurs because of a worker's initial work injury.
- Any other situation as directed by WCB policy. For example:
- A worker receives benefits during a notice period while unable to participate in health care or an individual vocational plan.
- Benefits are redirected to a dependent spouse while a worker is incarcerated.
- Occupational diseases
WCB policy explains when cost relief is applied because of an occupational disease.
A claim may be eligible for cost relief to cover the high costs of a latent occupational disease if:
- Employment is only partially responsible for the disease.
- The employer no longer reports to the WCB or cannot be confirmed.
- The effects of exposure to a harmful substance were not known at the time of exposure.
- Disasters
WCB policy explains when cost relief is applied because of a disaster.
A claim may be eligible for cost relief to cover high claim costs from a disaster if:
- Costs are more than 10 times the maximum wage rate for one claim.
- Costs are more than 20 times the maximum wage rate for two or more claims.
The WCB's disaster reserve review committee may consider cost relief from the disaster reserve in work-related circumstances that would unfairly burden an employer or group of employers, but that do not meet the thresholds related to the maximum wage rate.
Disaster reserve frequently asked questions
A: The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) grants the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) the authority to establish reserves to meet losses from any disaster or other circumstance where the liability would, in the opinion of the WCB, unfairly burden the employers in any class (Section 145).
The WCB established the disaster reserve to protect employers from high-cost claims and firm premium rate volatility caused by exceptional circumstances that are considered a disaster. The reserve is also used when a single claim’s costs reach a specific threshold related to the maximum wage rate.
The funding level of the disaster reserve is established through WCB policy POL 14/2017, Funding.
A: A claim will qualify for relief of costs through the disaster reserve when the portion of costs on a single claim exceeds 10 times above the maximum wage rate at the time of injury.
A: All costs exceeding 10 times above the maximum wage rate at the time of injury will apply. Costs exceeding this amount will then be charged to the disaster reserve and have no impact on a firm’s experience rating.
A: WCB policy Experience Rating Program – Discounts or Surcharges (POL 27/2016) adjusts premium rates to reflect an employer’s claims and claim cost history. If an employer receives cost relief on a claim, a credit will be applied to the employer’s claim costs in the year cost relief was applied.
The WCB established the disaster reserve to protect employers from high-cost claims and firm premium rate volatility caused by exceptional circumstances that are considered a disaster.
When the WCB provides cost relief, an employer may request to have their previous years’ experience rating reviewed under WCB policy Experience Rating Program – Discounts or Surcharges (POL 27/2016).
For specific information on the disaster reserve, please refer to the WCB’s policy manual at wcbsask.com/policy-listing.
A: Requests must be in writing and contain supporting information explaining how the injuries or injury event would be considered an exceptional circumstance or disaster that would unfairly burden an employer or group of employers and that may warrant cost relief, in accordance with POL and PRO 07/2022.
Send all submissions to the WCB's employer services assessment committee at employerservices@wcbsask.com.
Submissions can also be made in writing:
Employer services assessment committee
Saskatchewan WCB
200 – 1881 Scarth St.
Regina SK S4P 4L1
Fax: 306.787.4205
Contact the Employer Resource Centre
For general inquiries, contact the Employer Resource Centre
Contact our employer services department
For specific inquires if you are:
- ready to register your business
- requesting a clearance or a letter of good standing
- revising or updating your payroll
- discussing your statement of account and/or making a payment