7 Things to Consider Before You Contact Your Provincial WCB and Why It’s Important
Navigating phone calls with WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board) can be challenging and time-consuming. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of contacting WCB, WSIB, or Worksafe effectively, ensuring you have the right information at hand and know who to speak with.
We’ll discuss essential topics like who to contact depending on your situation, the information you should have before calling, differences in phone numbers and hours of operation among provinces, reporting WCB claims, and what to expect during the call.
Enhance your communication with your provincial WCB and achieve the best possible outcomes for your workers’ compensation concerns.
1. Who you talk to at WCB / WSIB / Worksafe matters!
This is for different reasons.
Who you call may differ if you are a company or an injured worker.
A company can call because of a WCB claim or their WCB account. A worker is most often calling to look into their WCB claim or report a WCB claim.
Most WCB / WSIB / Worksafe phone numbers lead you to a general answering machine that will ask you to “select from the following options” in order to get you to the right department.
As a company, if you are calling about a claim, I would recommend you choose the claim inquiry options as opposed to going into the accounts or assessment department. You get the person you need quicker to answer your questions.
If you have a WCB claim related question and the direct line to the claim owner then it advised to call them.
Otherwise, if you want to leave a note for someone or a call back, I would recommend calling the main line and speaking with an agent.
Read also: How do I File a WCB Compensation Claim?
2. What information should I have before contacting WCB?
The information you should have before contacting the WCB, if you are a company or a worker is:
- WCB claim number (if you don’t have it…no problem! You should then have…)
- The name of the worker
- SIN number or Birthday
- Date of accident
If you are a company (referred to as an “employer” in WCB speak), you’ll need the same information as above with one small difference.
A company / employer will need their WCB account number. At the very least their company name. You can find this on a rate statement or invoice.
If you’re calling the account department as the employee of a company. (Perhaps looking for a clearance letter or information about your WCB account.)
You will need to make sure ahead of time that authorization is placed on file for you to speak on behalf of your company for account related matters.
In some cases you may need to fill out an authorization letter.
3. Are all phone numbers the same?
No!
With some WCB / WSIB / Worksafe they use one main number with options or an agent to guide you. In other provinces, you will need to contact a separate number when calling for WCB claims or a WCB account.
I have put information to guide you below if this is the case.
4. Are WCB hours of operation the same in each province?
No!
Depending on the province each WCB / WSIB / Worksafe board has different hours of operation. For the most part this is included on the provincial WCB contact us page you are looking for.
You should also be mindful that when you contact WCB, the hours of operation are for the time zone that the province resides in.
For example:
If you are based in Ontario and you have a claim in Alberta, they are 2 hours behind you.
This is because Ontario is in Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Alberta is in Mountain Standard Time (MST).
If WCB Alberta isn’t open until 8 am MST then, you would have to call after 10 a.m. EST to reach someone.
5. Does WCB work on holidays?
Almost all WCB’s will close for the stat holidays at a national and provincial level.
In some cases they will tell you ahead of time on a recording if/when they are closed.
6. Should I report a WCB claim over the phone?
As a company or employer, I would highly recommend that you report all WCB claims within the time frame for your province in writing.
This means using their online system or by printing out the employers report and sending it in.
I recommend this to ensure that all the details about the incident / injury are recorded properly. If you are unable to do this, then at the very least call it in.
As a worker you can use any method to report your claim to WCB.
7. What will happen when I do call WCB / WSIB / Worksafe?
With most of the provincial boards, you will go through a series of options until you reach an agent.
With some of the boards, you will get an agent right away.
If you’re calling about a claim you can:
- Update on the status of a claim
- Find out information about a claim
- Leave a message for the claim owner
- Leave directions for a claim owner
- Get information on how to submit information to the WCB / WSIB / Worksafe
- Anything claim related.
If you’re calling about your account you can:
- Request a clearance
- Apply for a WCB account or Register a WCB account
- Pay your premiums
- Report estimated payroll
- Check the status of your account
- Inquire about a claim (some provinces)
If you’re not already familiar, let me tell you what is Workers Compensation in Canada anyway?
Establishing the proper communication with your provincial WCB will assist you in getting the best possible outcomes.
The agent will usually try to get you in touch with whoever is dealing with the claim.
They will also answer questions for you, but anything that has to do with making a decision on the claim will need to be done by the claim owner.
Conclusion
Effectively communicating with your provincial WCB, WSIB, or Worksafe is crucial for managing workers’ compensation issues efficiently. By considering the seven important factors discussed in this article and understanding their significance, you can enhance your interactions with the WCB and achieve better outcomes.
Remember that thorough preparation, having the right information at hand, and being aware of the differences in phone numbers, hours of operation, and procedures across provinces are key to navigating the complex world of workers’ compensation.
With these insights, you’ll be better equipped to protect your company and employees while handling WCB claims and accounts.
