Optional personal coverage

A: Optional personal coverage is coverage that insures you against wage loss and provides medical and rehabilitation benefits if you are injured at work. Wage-loss benefits are based on the amount of coverage you have chosen (you may need to provide proof of earnings). The WCB may also provide travel expenses, vocational rehabilitation, lump sum payments for permanent functional impairment (PFI) and benefits for a worker’s family in the event of a workplace death or serious injury. Learn more about benefits and assistance for workers covered by the WCB.

Optional personal coverage also provides no-fault compensation. If an injury is work-related, the worker is eligible for benefits regardless of how the injury occurred. The worker and employer waive the right to sue. There is no argument over responsibility or liability for an injury.

A: Optional personal coverage may be purchased for any amount between the minimum personal coverage amount and the maximum assessable wage rate for the current year. The amount of coverage purchased should reflect actual employment earnings.

The cost of optional personal coverage depends on the type of industry you are in and how much coverage you purchase. For example, if your premium rate is $2.03 per $100 of coverage and you purchase $40,000 coverage, your assessment for the year will be $812.

* Please note there is a $100 minimum annual assessment.

Important information about personal coverage:

• Coverage is subject to a minimum of three months each year.
• Your Employer’s Payroll Statement (EPS) must be returned by Feb. 28 each year. If our office has not received this form by the due date, your coverage will be cancelled and you will be responsible for premiums due to date.
• Payments must be made by the due date on your statement of account or your coverage will be cancelled.

A: Optional personal coverage can be requested on your annual Employer’s Payroll Statement (EPS) or you can apply by calling the employer services department at 1.800.667.7590.

If you are a new employer, you can also complete an employer registration form online.

A: Your personal coverage takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after we receive your application or at a later date if you request it.

A: It is important to base the coverage you purchase on your actual employment earnings. The WCB uses this amount to determine the compensation you will receive in the event of a workplace injury or illness. The WCB sets the minimum and maximum amount of personal coverage every year. You can purchase coverage between the minimum and maximum. You must provide proof of earnings if you get injured.

A: The WCB accepts these documents as proof of earnings:

• A Statement of Business or Professional Activities as submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency.
• A declaration from a chartered professional accountant (CPA) verifying actual employment earnings.

If your proof of earnings is less than the amount of coverage you have purchased, we will reduce your coverage to the confirmed amount. If you do not provide proof of your earnings, we will reduce your coverage to the minimum. We will not give you a refund on your premiums, so please make sure you choose an amount that is no more than your actual earnings.

A: Your coverage is in effect until you cancel in writing or we cancel it due to non-compliance.

A: To cancel coverage, you must send a request in writing. We will cancel your coverage the day we receive your request and you will be responsible for premiums to the date of cancellation.

A: Optional personal coverage is only available to directors of an incorporated company who are not carried on the payroll. You may no longer be eligible for personal coverage and should call employer services to discuss.

A: Independent workers are eligible to apply for their own WCB employer account if they have secured contracts with more than one principal providing the same type of work within the current and three years prior to application for coverage.

An independent worker who is eligible for a WCB account may apply for personal coverage.

An independent worker who is not eligible for, or chooses not to elect personal coverage is considered a worker of the principal who is operating in a mandatory industry. This means that the independent worker is covered through the principal who is responsible to report and remit premiums on their behalf.

Information for principals

• An account cannot be set up until work is secured in Saskatchewan with a confirmed start date. A bid letter can be provided to the contractor without a confirmed start date.
• If you receive a “deemed” status on a clearance for a contractor, you are required to release payment, and responsible for paying premiums based on the labour portion of the contract, which will be reflected on your annual assessment.
• As per Section 164 of The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act), It is legally prohibited to recover the cost of the premiums from the contractor, unless they are supplying revenue producing equipment and an operator as per Section 8 of the Act.
• If any of your unregistered contractors are injured, they are covered through your account and you are responsible to submit the Employer’s Initial Report of Injury (E1) form.

A: Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the definition of a worker has changed under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013. Directors receiving wages reported on a T4 are no longer included in the definition of a worker.

As a result, directors of a corporation will no longer be considered workers and will no longer have automatic WCB coverage. This change offers more flexibility for directors of corporations’ coverage options and more choices for your coverage amount. You may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB. This means you may be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.

Because of this legislative change, the way you report worker wages on your Employer’s Payroll Statement (EPS) is changing. Any earnings for directors of a corporation should not be included as worker wages on your 2025 estimates of your EPS. Total assessable wages should not include wages of directors who receive employment income on T4 slips, as these individuals are no longer considered workers.

A: Yes. As a director of a corporation, you can opt out of WCB coverage, however if you do not choose to purchase optional personal coverage and you are injured at work, you will not be eligible for WCB benefits. Your premiums will also be the responsibility of the person who hires you if you do not purchase coverage with the WCB.

You may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB to be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.

A: Because of the legislative change to remove directors of a corporation from the definition of a worker under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, any earnings for directors of a corporation should not be included as worker wages on your 2025 estimates of your EPS.

You may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB. If you purchase optional personal coverage, you may be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.
 

A: Yes. If you are actively working in the business and receive a dividend, you can purchase optional personal coverage for yourself. 

No. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, directors of corporations are no longer considered workers under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 and no longer have automatic WCB coverage. You may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB to be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.

Because of this legislative change, the way you report worker wages on your EPS has changed. Any earnings for directors of a corporation should not be included as worker wages on your 2025 estimates of your EPS. Total assessable wages should not include wages of directors of corporations, as these individuals are no longer considered workers.

A: No. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, directors of corporations are no longer considered workers under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 and no longer have automatic WCB coverage. You only need to report earnings for work completed in Saskatchewan. 

You may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB. This means you may be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.

Because of this legislative change, the way you report worker wages on your EPS has changed. Any earnings for directors of a corporation should not be included as worker wages on your 2025 estimates of your EPS. Total assessable wages should not include wages of directors of corporations, as these individuals are no longer considered workers.

A: No. This policy only impacts corporations.

A: No. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, directors of corporations may be able to purchase optional personal coverage with the WCB to be eligible for benefits if you are injured at work.

A: If you choose to purchase optional personal coverage, the amount of earnings loss benefits you receive will be based on the amount of coverage you choose to purchase. If you are injured at work, you will need to provide proof of your earnings.

A: Benefits are based on a worker’s earnings at the time of injury or an average of the worker’s earnings for the 52 weeks prior, whichever is greater. Earnings loss benefits are then based on 90 per cent of net earnings (gross earnings minus probable deductions for income tax, Canada pension and employment insurance).

Read more on earnings loss benefits.

A: No. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, directors of corporations on payroll are no longer considered workers under WCB legislation. Regardless of if voluntary coverage is in place for your corporation, you are only eligible to apply for optional personal coverage.