Difference between revisions of "Workers' Compensation"

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A WorkSafeBC officer will examine your claim and decide if you get benefits, and if so, the type and amount. WorkSafeBC won’t decide about any permanent disability until your condition becomes stable, meaning that it stays the same and does not get any better or worse.
A WorkSafeBC officer will examine your claim and decide if you get benefits, and if so, the type and amount. WorkSafeBC won’t decide about any permanent disability until your condition becomes stable, meaning that it stays the same and does not get any better or worse.


Deciding whether you get benefits can be complicated. You should discuss your case with your union, a lawyer, or the Workers’ Advisers Office. Workers’ Advisers work for the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services to help workers with their claims. They are separate from WorkSafeBC and there’s no charge for their service. Their website is www.labour.gov.bc.ca/wab and their phone numbers are 604.713.0360 in Vancouver and 1.800.663.4261 elsewhere in BC.
Deciding whether you get benefits can be complicated. You should discuss your case with your union, a lawyer, or the Workers’ Advisers Office. Workers’ Advisers work for the Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services to help workers with their claims. They are separate from WorkSafeBC and there’s no charge for their service. Their website is [http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/wab www.labour.gov.bc.ca/wab] and their phone numbers are 604.713.0360 in Vancouver and 1.800.663.4261 elsewhere in BC.


'''Reviews and Appeals''' – if you disagree with the WorkSafeBC decision
==Reviews and Appeals – if you disagree with the WorkSafeBC decision==
If WorkSafeBC decides that you are not eligible for benefits, or if you don’t understand its decision, ask the WorkSafeBC officer handling your claim for an explanation. Ask for a decision letter if you didn’t already get one. If you’re still not satisfied, you can ask the Review Division of WorkSafeBC to review the decision. But you must ask for a review within 90 days of the date of WorkSafeBC’s decision letter or, in some cases, within 90 days of the date when WorkSafeBC told you its decision orally. WorkSafeBC should automatically give you a copy of your claim file and you can use the information in it for your review. After you request a review, you will receive a letter setting a time to make written submissions. The Review Division does not normally hold oral hearings.
If WorkSafeBC decides that you are not eligible for benefits, or if you don’t understand its decision, ask the WorkSafeBC officer handling your claim for an explanation. Ask for a decision letter if you didn’t already get one. If you’re still not satisfied, you can ask the Review Division of WorkSafeBC to review the decision. But you must ask for a review within 90 days of the date of WorkSafeBC’s decision letter or, in some cases, within 90 days of the date when WorkSafeBC told you its decision orally. WorkSafeBC should automatically give you a copy of your claim file and you can use the information in it for your review. After you request a review, you will receive a letter setting a time to make written submissions. The Review Division does not normally hold oral hearings.


The Review Division considers the written submissions and WorkSafeBC’s file and gives its decision, usually within 150 days. The WorkSafeBC website, at www.worksafebc.com, has more information on reviews. The phone numbers for the Review Division are 604.214.5411 in the lower mainland and 1.888.922.8804 elsewhere in BC. At the same time, if you feel that WorkSafeBC has treated you unfairly, you can also complain to its Fair Practices Office and the Ombudsperson of BC (www.ombudsman.bc.ca and 1.800.567.3247).
The Review Division considers the written submissions and WorkSafeBC’s file and gives its decision, usually within 150 days. The WorkSafeBC website, at www.worksafebc.com, has more information on reviews. The phone numbers for the Review Division are 604.214.5411 in the lower mainland and 1.888.922.8804 elsewhere in BC. At the same time, if you feel that WorkSafeBC has treated you unfairly, you can also complain to its Fair Practices Office and the Ombudsperson of BC ([http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca www.ombudsman.bc.ca] and 1.800.567.3247).


If you’re not satisfied with the decision of the Review Division, in most cases you have the right to appeal to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal ([http://www.wcat.bc.ca www.wcat.bc.ca]). You must appeal within 30 days of the date of the decision of the Review Division.
If you’re not satisfied with the decision of the Review Division, in most cases you have the right to appeal to the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal ([http://www.wcat.bc.ca www.wcat.bc.ca]). You must appeal within 30 days of the date of the decision of the Review Division.
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