Fact sheets

Accountability

• Private sector privacy legislation
  Your privacy is important to us. Find out what we're doing to protect it.

Appeals

• Employer claim file disclosure
  When an employer requests a claim file, we protect personal and sensitive information protected under the Workers’ Compensation and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acts.
• Interim relief
  Learn about interim relief while waiting for a decision on an issue under review or appeal.
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• Questioning a WCB-Alberta decision
  Learn about how the process works if you would like to have a claim decision reviewed.
• Payment of interest on retroactive benefits - appeals commission decisions
  Find information about how interest may be paid to you if your claim is awarded retroactive disability benefits.

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.
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• 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.
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• Determining compensation rates for personal coverage
  This fact sheet outlines how your compensation rate is set for personal coverage holders, including factors that can impact your rate.
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• 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.
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• 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.
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• Personal care allowance (PCA) payment dates
  Find out exactly when you can expect to receive your PCA payment each month.
• Protecting the workers' compensation system
  When someone is intentionally dishonest to obtain money or services to which they are not entitled, there are repercussions for all of us. Find out more about how you can help protect the workers' compensation system from misuse.
• Requesting a claim file
  You are entitled to request a copy of your claim file at any time. Find out how to do so.
• 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.
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• 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.
• COVID-19
  You may be covered if you contract COVID-19 while at work. This fact sheet explains workers’ compensation coverage and reporting if you contract the novel coronavirus while on the job.
• COVID-19 and psychological impacts
  Learn about common signs of chronic or workload stress (also referred to as “burnout”) that may impact those working through COVID-19 and when to reach out to WCB to submit a claim.
• COVID-19 and return to work
  Information for workers who are returning to work after recovering from a COVID-19 related illness.
• COVID-19 vaccine reactions
  Understand when an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine can be accepted by WCB as work-related.
• Employer vaccination mandates
  Your employer may require you to be vaccinated as a condition of your employment. If you choose not to vaccinate, this may impact your eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits and successful return to 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.
• 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: general
  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.
• 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 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.
• Telecommuting
  In some circumstances, telecommuting workers may be covered by workers' compensation insurance.
• Temporary foreign workers
  Learn about workers' compensation coverage for temporary foreign workers.
• 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.
• 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.
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• 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.
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• Supported job search benefits – regional unemployment rate
  Learn more about supported job search benefits and regional unemployment rates.
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• 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.
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Online services for workers

• Direct deposit payment service
  With this service, your payments can be deposited directly into your bank account.
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• Direct deposit application form
  If you'd like to sign up for our direct deposit service, complete this form.
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• FAQ online services for workers
  Common questions and answers about our online services for workers.