Workers compensation benefitsThe Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba is dedicated to helping workers across the province. If you’re hurt at work, we’re here to help.Wage loss benefitsWage loss benefits are designed to replace your wages if you miss work due to a workplace injury. In most situations, your WCB benefit rate is based on 90 per cent of your regular take-home pay (net pay).Learn moreHealthcare benefitsWorkers compensation covers many healthcare costs.Learn morePermanent impairment awardsIf you sustain a work-related injury or illness that results in a permanent and measurable change to how the affected part of your body functions, you may be entitled to a permanent partial impairment (PPI) award.Learn moreCollateral benefitsCollateral benefits are income and benefits designed to replace lost wages that you are entitled to because of a workplace injury. Learn more Income assistance benefitsIf you meet their eligibility requirements, Employment Insurance (EI) and Income Assistance (EIA) may help you financially while you wait for a decision on your workers compensation claim. Learn more Dependants of fatally injured workersIf your spouse or common-law partner dies as a result of a workplace injury or illness, you may be able to apply for workers compensation benefits. Learn more Retirement and life insurance benefitsThe WCB sets aside funds for eligible workers in a retirement annuity account. This fund is intended to assist workers with their retirement income if it is affected by a work-related injury or illness. Learn more OverpaymentsIf you were paid more benefits than you were entitled to receive, you have been overpaid. Learn more FAQs What are average earnings? “Average earnings” is a term used to describe the amount of money the WCB determines you were earning before your workplace accident. Another way to think about average earnings is your yearly gross earnings.In general, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) uses one of two methods to determine the amount you were earning at the time of your workplace accident: your regular earnings – under this method, your earnings are calculated based on the amount of earnings you were regularly receiving from your employer in your normal pay period at the time you were injured.your average yearly earnings – under this method, your documented earnings over a longer period of time (generally 12 months, but sometimes longer) are used to calculate your gross earnings. The WCB often uses this method to calculate gross earnings when workers have an irregular earnings pattern due to the nature of their work (e.g., shift work, seasonal work, overtime, etc.)your probable future earnings – in particular circumstances, the WCB may calculate your average earnings using a method known as probable future earning capacity. Under this method, the WCB forecasts what it thinks your future earnings over the next 12 months will be, based on your past work history, if any, and your probable employment and earnings pattern going forward. This method is generally only used when the regular earnings or average yearly earnings methods do not accurately reflect your loss of earnings and there is certainty about what your future earnings likely would have been.The WCB will choose the method that best reflects your loss of earnings. Why would my benefits (average earnings) be reviewed? We want to pay you the amount that best represents your actual loss of earnings, but we also want to make sure that you get paid as quickly as possible once your claim has been accepted. To do this, we typically use the earnings information received from you and your employer at the time your claim is reported to the WCB. These earnings are used to establish your initial benefit rate. If it is anticipated you will have a loss of earnings beyond 12 weeks, we will complete another review of your pre-accident earnings. This review is called an Average Earnings Review. To help us ensure that your wage loss benefits are representative of your loss of earnings, it is important for you to provide all of your earnings information when you file your claim with the WCB. When are my average earnings reviewed? We will automatically begin a review of your average earnings after you receive eight weeks of benefits. However, you may request a review of your average earnings at any point if you believe the calculation is not reflective of what you typically earn. Additional information that supports your request must be submitted when a review is requested. Supporting information may include: a copy of your income tax and benefit return(s) with supporting documentation, such as copies of your information slips (i.e., T4s) from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) proof of income from other jobs you can no longer do because of your work-related injury including bonuses, piecework income, self-employment income, etc. proof of income you received from Employment Insurance (EI) How does the WCB do an Average Earnings Review? The WCB reviews any additional financial documentation or evidence you have provided, information obtained from independent sources, such as the CRA, and changes in your circumstances to determine whether the gross earnings amount it has been using to calculate your wage loss benefits is still the most appropriate. The WCB also determines whether it should be using a different method to calculate your average earnings going forward. As is the case when initially determining your average earnings, the method the WCB uses to calculate your average earnings for the purposes of an Average Earnings Review will be the one that best represents your actual pre-accident earnings. For example, your employment income may be averaged over the tax year(s) it was earned. If, for some reason, this average doesn’t accurately reflect your annual gross earnings, we will request further information from you, your employer or CRA to confirm your earnings. For instance, if you were unable to work because of a medical condition, we will look at excluding the periods you were unable to work. What types of income does the WCB include in my average earnings? We will consider all verifiable employment income when calculating your average yearly earnings. This includes: income from other jobs you are unable to perform because of your work-related injury bonuses, overtime, piecework income income from Employment Insurance (EI) self-employment incomeNote: Emergency relief benefits are specifically excluded from all earnings calculations. If my benefits change because of the review, when does the change become effective? Higher benefit rate – the increase will be effective on the date of your injury, and you will receive an adjustment. Lower benefit rate – the decrease is effective at the beginning of the thirteenth week of wage loss benefits. Note: If we cannot initially establish short-term average earnings due to insufficient information, an interim average earnings amount may be set. Upon receipt of verifiable information, a review will take place to establish your short-term average earnings, any upward or downward adjustments are effective as of the date of the accident.
