Earnings loss benefits

If you are only off work on the day of your injury, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) will only pay for medical treatment. If you miss work after the day of your injury, the WCB will pay benefits for lost earnings, provided you have medical support that is taking you off work.

The first payment on a straightforward claim is generally made within 14 days if the necessary information is received promptly. The rest of your payments are usually made every two weeks, for as long as you are medically unable to return to any form of work. You will receive earnings loss benefit payments equal to 90 per cent of your average net earnings up to our legislated maximum amount. 

While you’re eligible for earnings loss benefits immediately, your employer is responsible for covering your wages for the day you were injured. Earnings loss benefits from the WCB start on your first scheduled shift after the day of your injury. Your health-care costs are covered on the day of your injury and onward.

You will receive earnings loss benefits until you are able to return to work or have recovered from your injury. If your employer or a different employer can offer you light or modified duties and it's medically safe for you to do them, you will be able to return to work.

As directed by The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act), rates for minimum and maximum earnings loss benefits and other allowances are adjusted annually and approved through WCB policies and procedures. For more information and amounts from previous years, please refer to the maximum wage rates and consumer price index procedures in the WCB’s Policy and Procedure Manual.

Annual rates
To calculate the amount of earnings loss benefits you’ll receive following a work injury, the WCB gets your employment earnings from your employer. Your earnings loss benefits are based on what you were earning when you were injured, up to a maximum insurable amount.

Maximum wage rate
The Act (Sections 37 and 182) states that the maximums are to be adjusted every year according to the percentage change in Saskatchewan’s average weekly wage as reported by Statistics Canada. Any adjustments in your weekly earnings because of an increase in the maximum wage rate will occur on your annual benefit review date.

The Act references two maximum wage rates:

  • one for injuries that happened before Jan. 1, 2014
  • one for injuries that happened after Jan. 1, 2014

Frequently asked questions

Accordion content
Effective Date Maximum Wage Rate
Jan. 1, 2013 $55,000
Jan. 1, 2014 $57,037
Jan. 1, 2015 $58,941
Jan. 1, 2016 $58,941
Jan. 1, 2017 $59,127
Jan. 1, 2018 $60,441
Jan. 1, 2019 $62,038
Jan. 1, 2020 $62,454
Jan. 1, 2021 $63,995
Jan. 1, 2022 $66,342
Jan. 1, 2023 $68,102

Workers with an injury date prior to Jan. 1, 2014 will qualify for the 2023 maximum of $68,102 at their annual benefit review date.

Effective Date Maximum Wage Rate
Jan. 1, 2014 $59,000
Jan. 1, 2015 $65,130
Jan. 1, 2016 $69,242
Jan. 1, 2017 $76,086
Jan. 1, 2018 $82,627
Jan. 1, 2019 $88,314
Jan. 1, 2020 $88,906
Jan. 1, 2021 $91,100
Jan. 1, 2022 $94,440
Jan. 1, 2023 $96,945

Workers with an injury date on or after Jan. 1, 2014 will qualify for their 2023 maximum of $96,945 at their annual benefit review date.

A. Section 68 of the Act states that if your injury happened on or after Sept. 1, 1985, your earnings loss benefits will be 90 per cent of your employment earnings.

Gross employment earnings
MINUS Probable deductions (CPP, EI, income tax)
= Net employment earnings
X 90%
= Earnings loss benefits

Probable deductions will be based on the same information your employer uses to calculate deductions from your employment earnings for income tax purposes and that is available as of the commencement of your loss of earnings.

If your injury happened before Sept. 1, 1985, your earnings loss benefits will be 75 per cent of your gross employment earnings.

A. To receive your earnings loss benefits, you are required to:

  1. Attend medical and treatment appointments. 
    As part of your recovery, you are required to attend all medical and treatment appointments arranged or suggested by your care providers and the WCB. If you are unable to attend any appointments, you must notify your customer care facilitator immediately to discuss the reason and make alternate arrangements. 
    If you do not attend your scheduled appointments, this may result in a disruption of your earnings loss benefits
  2. Update your employer.
    You are responsible for staying in touch with your employer and working with them so you can return to modified duties until you are able to return to your pre-injury duties. 
  3. Return to work or alternate duties when it’s medically safe.
    You are responsible for contacting your customer care facilitator as soon as you return to work on modified duties or when you return to your pre-injury duties.

A. Yes. The minimum compensation for workers who are totally unable to work has increased to $564.95/week.  The minimum average weekly earnings for workers who have received benefits for at least 24 consecutive months has increased to $753.27/week. 

A. The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 (the Act) requires the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) to annually adjust benefits to keep up with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Your earnings loss benefits will be adjusted by the percentage increase in the CPI during your annual benefit review.

Effective year: CPI increase

2022 3.4%
2021 0.9%
2020 1.8%
2019 0.8%
2018 3.9%
2017 0.1%
2016 2.1%
2015 2.1%
2014 1.3%

Rates for other allowances, such as burial, dependent children, clothing and personal care, are also adjusted annually to reflect the CPI. See the WCB procedure Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Annual Increase in the Policy and Procedure Manual for current amounts.

The WCB will continue earnings loss benefits as long as the injury continues, but not after age 65. Some exceptions could apply. If you receive earnings loss benefits, you will be paid every second Thursday following your first payment.

A. Workers 63 years of age or older on their employer’s payroll are covered and entitled to benefits if they are injured. Most benefits will continue as long as the injury necessitates, regardless of the worker’s age. The only restriction is earnings loss benefits.

A. CPP provides disability benefits to people who have made enough contributions to the CPP and who are disabled and cannot work at any job on a regular basis. You may be entitled to both earnings loss benefits under the Act and CPP disability benefits for the same period of entitlement for the same work injury. 

A. Yes. Because earnings loss benefits are calculated on employment income, you must tell your customer care facilitator if you are missing work at more than one job due to the injury. You must also let them know  when you:

  • return to work or start any job with a new employer
  • earn any other income while receiving WCB benefits
  • start a business
  • are already self-employed or involved in partnership activities

A. Yes. You must tell the WCB in a timely manner when you go back to work. If you do not, the WCB will create and recover an overpayment if earnings loss payments continue after you go back to work.

A. Your earnings loss benefits are based on your employment income. While you are getting earnings loss benefits, you must tell your customer care facilitator if:

  • You go back to work for the same employer you had before your injury or start work with a new employer.
  • You earn any other income.
  • You start a business or are already self-employed or involved in a work partnership from which you receive income.

If you have more questions, contact your customer care facilitator.

A. The WCB bases your earnings loss benefits on 90 per cent of what you were earning when you were injured up to the maximum insurable amount. The WCB adjusts the annual maximum wage rate in accordance with changes to Saskatchewan’s average weekly wage. The WCB also reviews and adjusts earnings loss benefits annually to keep up with changes in the Consumer Price Index (subject to the maximum insurable amount).

A. Benefits are calculated from the first day you lose wages after the date of your injury. The first payment on a straightforward claim is generally made within 14 days if the necessary information is received promptly.

The rest of your payments are usually made every two weeks, for as long as you are medically unable to return to any form of work.

The WCB usually pays your earnings loss benefits directly to you. However, your employer might agree to continue to pay your wages and be reimbursed by the WCB.

A. Most benefits, except earnings loss, continue as long as they’re required by your injury, regardless of your age. If you’re injured prior to age 63, your earnings loss benefits will stop when you reach 65. If you suffer a work injury at age 63 or older, earnings loss benefits can be paid beyond age 65 but only for a maximum of two years from the date those earnings loss benefits begin, provided you’re unable to earn all or part of your earnings because of your injury.

A. You can still get compensation for as long as you’re medically unable to return to work, or as long as you still lose some earnings because of your injury. Earnings loss benefits stop at age 65, except where it’s noted in the Act.

A. Only disability benefits under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) will reduce your earnings loss benefits from the WCB.

Twelve months after your injury caused a loss of earnings, 50 per cent of any CPP or QPP disability payments you received for that same injury will be treated as earnings and will be deducted from future WCB compensation benefits.

Your WCB earnings loss benefits aren’t affected by any income you get from social assistance or other insurance plans. However, these other sources may reduce what they pay you while you’re getting WCB earnings loss benefits. To make sure you don’t have to repay any overpayments, let these other sources know as soon as you start getting WCB benefits.

In the event of a workplace motor vehicle collision, the WCB is the first insurer. If you think your collision is related to your employment, you must first submit your report to the WCB. If it is determined that the collision is not related to your employment, then an application can be pursued with SGI.

A. If you’re going to need medical treatment, or if you’re already getting it, contact your customer care facilitator before leaving the province. Your customer care facilitator will let you know how this might affect your compensation benefits.

A. Moving out of the province can affect your benefits and your medical treatment or rehabilitation. Before moving, contact your customer care facilitator for details on how it could affect your claim.

A. A workplace injury can affect your retirement income. If you get earnings loss benefits for more than 24 months in a row, the WCB will put away extra money to help you build retirement income.

In the 25th month, the WCB will set aside an amount equal to 10 per cent of the earnings loss benefits you have been paid up to that time. The WCB will continue to put away an extra 10 per cent of your earnings loss benefits for as long as you stay on compensation. The WCB holds these funds and the funds earn interest.

When you reach age 65, this money must be used to buy an annuity (a sum of money paid out at regular intervals), which will give you retirement income.

Claim referral package

Claim referral package

Find out what earnings loss, medical and travel benefits the WCB may provide after you are injured at work, as well as what your responsibilities are.

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