Document name

Family Support – Seriously Injured Workers

Document number

POL 06/2019

Immediate family member, for the purpose of this policy, means a spouse, parent, legal guardian, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling.

The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 authorizes the WCB to provide support to the dependants of workers who are seriously injured (Sections 19(1)(a), 20(1)(a) and 115(j)). It is the WCB’s intent to extend this support to immediate family members defined above, even if they are not considered financially dependent on the worker’s earnings.

1. For the purpose of this policy, a seriously injured worker is someone who sustains a life-threatening injury, or an injury that results in a permanent loss of function or significant disfigurement. These types of injuries can be both physical and/or psychological in nature. Such injuries may include, but are not limited to, quad or paraplegia, upper or lower limb amputation, severe head injury, severe burns, blindness.
2. When a worker becomes seriously injured, immediate family members may attend the treating facility and remain with the worker immediately following the injury/diagnosis. The WCB will provide support by reimbursing reasonable expenses resulting from the family's attendance at a treatment facility.
3. This support could include, but is not limited to, the following:
   1. Travel.
   2. Child care.
   3. Family member earnings loss benefits.
   4. Counselling.