Document name

Allowance – Clothing

Document number

POL 19/2010

Section 79 of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the “Act”) states that the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) may pay a worker an allowance in any amount that the WCB considers appropriate for the replacement or repair of clothing worn or damaged by reason of the worker wearing an artificial limb or appliance supplied by the WCB with respect of the worker’s injury and to provide for personal care required as a result of their injury.

1. Workers are eligible for an allowance for damaged clothing provided for by Section 79 of the Act as the result of:
   1. a prosthetic device for upper, lower or both upper and lower limb amputations;
   2. a rigid back, neck, leg or full-length brace or similar rigid supportive device; or
   3. confinement to a wheelchair as the result of a compensable injury.
2. Initial eligibility for clothing allowance begins as of the date of the provision of the prosthesis, brace or wheelchair. Initial eligibility does not require proof of repair or damage to clothing. Payment in the case of rigid braces or supports is contingent on confirmation of need and the continued wearing of the device.
3. Where the worker requires a rigid brace or support on a temporary basis due to a work injury, clothing allowance will be issued monthly. Payment of clothing allowance on a monthly basis will continue until the brace or support is no longer required.
4. Where the worker permanently requires an appliance, clothing allowance will be paid on an annual basis.
5. Payment of clothing allowance will continue as long as the worker continues to meet the eligibility criteria for an allowance for damaged clothing noted in Point 1. Eligibility for clothing allowance will be reviewed annually on the anniversary date of the commencement of loss.
6. Since both the upper and lower body clothing of workers confined to wheelchairs are susceptible to damage, clothing allowance in such instances will be considered equivalent to upper and lower limb amputations.
7. The annual indexing of clothing allowances is based upon increases in the Regina-Saskatoon All Items Consumer Price Index as of November 30 (rounded to the nearest dollar). Increases are indicated in the Clothing Allowances schedule in the Consumer Price Index procedure, for that applicable year.
8. Where a worker dies after the issuance of an annual clothing allowance payment, and the payment made extends for a period beyond the date of death, no recovery efforts will be made by the WCB.