If you are injured at work, you may be eligible for benefits from the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB): https://www.wsib.ca/en.
WSIB is often called “Workers Compensation” and covers many but not all workers in Ontario. WSIB is funded by Ontario employers.
WSIB is often called “Workers Compensation” and covers many but not all workers in Ontario. WSIB provides benefits for workers who have workplace-related injuries and illnesses, including:
- money
- prescription drugs and some health care benefits that are related to the work injury or illness
- return to work supports
- some counselling, and
- funeral benefits for workers who die due to work-related injury or illness.
There are different types of WSIB benefits for workers, their “survivors”, funeral and other costs. The WSIB rules are very complicated so it is a very important to get legal advice right away about your WSIB claim.
You can appeal most WSIB decisions. The time limit to appeal WSIB decisions can be as short as 30 days so you should get legal advice right away.
The Office of the Worker Advisor provides free help with WSIB cases to non-unionized workers and has offices in many communities in Ontario: toll-free telephone 1-800-435-8980, http://www.owa.gov.on.ca/en/Pages/default.aspx.
If you are a member of a union, contact your union for assistance with WSIB.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) provides information on its website: https://www.wsib.ca/en.
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) has booklets about WSIB that are available on the CLEO website or in print: www.cleo.on.ca/en/resources-and-publications/pubs?language=en&field_legal_topic_tid_i18n=85.
For information about other Ontario Drug Programs, please visit our Ontario Drug Programs page.
Getting legal help
Some Ontario community legal clinics provide free legal help with WSIB problems. There are also two Ontario community legal clinics that specialize in WSIB:
- Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario: telephone 416-924-6477 or toll-free 1-877-230-6311, www.iavgo.org/
- Injured Workers Consultants: telephone 416-461-2411, www.injuredworkersonline.org/
- You can contact your local community legal clinic to find out about services in your community. You can find your local community legal clinic as well as specialty legal clinics using the Legal Aid Ontario website: https://www.legalaid.on.ca/services/legal-clinics/.