Fact sheets
This series of fact sheets provides information for workers on a variety of topics.
Accountability
Appeals
Claims and benefits
-
Medical investigation benefits
This fact sheet outlines when wage loss benefits may be paid during a medical investigation.
-
Claims process
Learn what to do if you've been hurt at work, including your responsibilities at each stage of the claims process.
-
Cost of living adjustment
It's important that your wage loss benefits fairly reflect what your earnings were at the time of your accident. The annual cost of living
adjustment (COLA) shows your date-of-accident earnings in current dollars so today's benefits reflect your real wage loss.
-
Determining compensation rates for permanent and non-permanent workers
This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set for permanent and non-permanent workers, including factors that can impact your rate.
Select another language...
-
Determining compensation rates for sub-contractors and owner operators (without personal coverage)
This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set for sub-contractors and owner operators (without personal coverage), including factors that can impact your rate.
Select another language...
-
Determining compensation rates for personal coverage holders
This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set for personal coverage holders, including factors that can impact your rate.
Select another language...
-
Determining 90 per cent of net for compensation rates
This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set, including factors that can impact your rate.
Select another language...
-
Hearing loss - general
Information about different types of hearing loss and how WCB determines work-relatedness.
-
Hospitalization benefits
Learn about the costs covered by WCB if you have to be hospitalized for a work-related injury or illness.
-
Permanent clinical impairment
Some injuries can result in permanent disability. Learn about how we determine if a disability is permanent and the benefits available.
-
Permanent disability compensation
If you have suffered a work-related injury that permanently impacted your ability to work, you may be eligible for permanent disability compensation.
-
Personal care allowance (PCA)
If you've been severely injured, you may be entitled to additional support to help you continue to live at home. Learn about the benefits that might be available and how eligibility and needs are determined.
Select another language...
-
Personal care allowance (PCA) payment dates
Find out exactly when you can expect to receive your PCA payment each month.
-
Requesting a claim file
You are entitled to request a copy of your claim file at any time. Find out how to do so.
-
Retirement benefits
If your work-related injury led to permanent work restrictions and reduced earning potential, you may qualify for an economic loss payment. It's important to understand when an ELP payment changes to an ELP retirement benefit and this fact sheet covers legislation, calculations and examples.
-
Shift cycles and compensation rates
This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set using the shift cycle you were working on the date of your accident. Your payments may vary depending on your work schedule at the time of your injury.
-
T5007 statement of benefits
This fact sheet provides information about your T5007 statement of benefits and who to contact if you need to change incorrect information.
-
Travel costs
Depending on your medical needs and location, you may need to travel to receive medical care. This fact sheet outlines the acceptable expenses and how to claim them.
-
Vehicle purchase and modifications
If you've been permanently injured and require the use of a wheelchair, you may be eligible for a modified vehicle. This fact sheet provides information about how this benefit is determined and what the benefit includes.
-
Wheelchair costs
Learn about wheelchair costs including eligibility, maintenance and repairs, how we assess your wheelchair needs and who to contact for more information.
-
Work-related fatalities (survivor benefits)
Workplace fatalities are a loss felt by everyone, especially by those directly impacted. This fact sheet outlines supports and costs covered to help families through this difficult time.
-
Young worker and student rate adjustment
When a young worker or student has a significant loss of function due to an injury, they may not be able to gain the experience or education required to reach their earnings potential. For accidents and injuries that occur on or after September 1, 2018, WCB has the ability to adjust the compensation rate to more accurately represent their earning potential and lessen their financial hardship.
Coverage
-
Understanding the cause of your injury or illness
How WCB determines the work relatedness of your injury and compensation coverage.
-
Bullying/harassment in the workplace
Every Alberta worker is entitled to a harassment free workplace. If you are experiencing bullying or harassment at work, we want to help support you. This fact sheet offers information about when and how WCB-Alberta can help.
Select another language...
-
Contact with blood and other bodily fluids
Learn about the risks of exposure to blood and other bodily fluids and what to do if this happens to you at work.
-
Employer-provided premises
If you've hurt yourself on your employer's premises and you aren't sure if your activity was related to your work, these scenarios will help you understand the factors we consider to determine entitlement.
-
Employer-provided transportation
In some circumstances, if you're injured during your commute you could be covered. Learn about the factors considered to determine workers’ compensation coverage in several different situations.
-
Employer vaccination mandates
Some employers may require their workers to be vaccinated as a condition of employment. If your employer has a vaccination mandate in place, you are typically covered for any related vaccine reactions.
-
Firefighters with cancer
If you are (or have been) a firefighter and have developed a primary site cancer, the cancer may be presumed to be work-related and you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits.
-
Good samaritan acts
Learn what a good samaritan act is and when it would be covered by WCB.
-
Infectious diseases
Learn when infectious diseases are considered work related and the factors considered to determine coverage.
-
Injured workers pursuing medically assisted death
If your compensable condition qualifies you for medically assisted death, we will accept the medically assisted death as a work-related fatality and provide benefits and services to surviving dependents.
-
Interprovincial transportation
WCB Alberta has an agreement with Canada’s provincial and territorial workers’
compensation authorities for workers and employers whose business take them into
more than one jurisdiction. WCBs across Canada have simplified the registration
and premium payment process for workers in specified transportation industries.
-
Medical_cannabis
Information on medical cannabis coverage for the treatment of a work-related injury or disease.
-
Out-of-province accidents
Learn what to do if you are injured in another Canadian province or territory outside of Alberta.
-
Presumptive coverage for traumatic psychological injuries
If you are a first responder, emergency dispatcher or correctional officer and had a traumatic work-related incident resulting in a psychological injury, you may be entitled to presumptive coverage.
-
Psychological impacts of workplace stress
Learn about common signs of chronic or workload stress (also referred to as “burnout”) that may impact you at work.
-
Psychological injuries as a result of stressors that occurred over time at work (chronic onset)
Experiencing excessive and unusual stressors occurring over time or one stressor that lasts for a long time at work, can result in a psychological injury or stress that can be personally devastating. A claim for a psychological injury can be accepted when the condition develops as a result of an emotional reaction to these stressors.
-
Psychological injuries as a result of traumatic event(s) at work
When you experience traumatic event(s) at work, this can result in a psychological injury or stress that can be personally devastating and require treatment to resolve. A claim for a psychological injury can be accepted when you develop a confirmed psychological injury after experiencing a traumatic event(s) at work.
-
Student coverage
Learn about workers' compensation coverage for students in college or university.
-
Temporary foreign workers
Learn about workers' compensation coverage for temporary foreign workers.
-
Working from a designated workspace (including home)
Whether you work from home, perform hybrid work, telecommute or do telework, you may be covered if you perform employment duties outside of your employer’s premises or specific worksite.
Learn about coverage while performing work from a designated workspace.
-
Psychological injuries - Frequently asked questions
Answers to questions about psychological injuries, diagnosis and the process for accepting these types of claims.
Injury support and return-to-work services
-
Back injury program
This program offers support for back injuries including a specialized exam.
-
Comprehensive psychological and psychological-vocational assessments
These assessments determine the psychological impact of your work-related injury or incident, identify any work limitations and abilities you might have and provide treatment recommendations.
-
Duty to cooperate
Workers and employers both have a duty to cooperate in all aspects of a worker’s safe return to work. Find out more about the role you play in your safe recovery and return to work.
-
Egregious conduct
In the event your modified work ends or is suspended due to your own egregious conduct, WCB will pay benefits as though the modified work is still in place. Learn more about egregious conduct.
-
Independent medical examinations - Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions on IMEs, the roster and what to expect during and after the exam.
-
Know your obligations after a workplace injury
If your date of accident was between September 1, 2018 and March 31, 2021, your employer has to hold your job for you while you recover.
-
Medical panels
Medical panels provide impartial, independent decision making to resolve medical issues that affect an injured worker's right to compensation.
-
Neuropsychological assessments
This assessment is arranged when an injury affects your brain's functioning.
-
Opioids/narcotics
If you've been prescribed opioids to help with your recovery, we will monitor your prescription and needs closely to avoid complications that can result from these drugs.
-
Personal circumstances that influence finding a job
Learn more about personal circumstances that influence finding a job.
Select another language...
-
Return-to-work planning meetings
These meetings give you, your employer and your claim owner an opportunity to develop a customized return-to-work plan together.
-
Shoulder injury program
Shoulder injuries can be challenging. This program includes a specialized exam and customized plan to provide you the treatment and care you need to recover from your shoulder injury.
-
Supported job search benefits
Learn more about supported job search benefits.
Select another language...
-
Training-on-the-job (TOJ)
If you aren't able to return to work with your original employer, we have a program that can help you find new work with a new employer.
Select another language...
Online services for workers