WSIB announces that COVID-19 claims will not be charged to the specific employer’s accident cost record. The costs will be charged to the employers collectively as an administrative cost.
In a release issued April 3, 2020, the WSIB announced that COVID-19 claims would not be charged to the specific employer’s accident cost record. The costs will be charged to the employers collectively as an administrative cost and will not affect the individual employer’s premium rate under the new (2020) Rate Framework model.
The WSIB also confirms that this decision will apply to Schedule 2 employers (self-insured), although the specific methodology has not been provided.
Clarification is being sought, but presumably, this decision applies to all allowed COVID-19 claims, both physical and psychological. It is, therefore, important that employer’s track their claims and check cost statements and invoices as WSIB decisions and payments are made.
This is in addition to the financial relief for employers announced earlier – all WSIB payments can be deferred until August 31, 2020, without penalty or interest. This includes premium remittance and payments for Schedule 1 (collective liability) employers and per-claim invoice payments for Schedule 2 (self-insured) employers.