Coverage

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Coverage

On Prince Edward Island, most industries are required by law to have coverage under the provincial compensation system.

As an employer, you are also responsible for confirming the contractors and subcontractors you hire have coverage, also known as clearance, with the WCB.

The Workers Compensation Act Regulations describes the industries and employers that are not covered under the Act. If you are one of these employers, you may choose to be covered.

Employers in excluded industries can apply for optional coverage.
Employers and independent operators can apply for personal coverage.

Optional Coverage

If you are an employer in an industry not covered by the Act, you can apply for optional coverage. Simply register with the WCB using WCB Online Services or submit an Employer Registration Form.

If you would like more information about optional coverage, please contact us.
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Personal Coverage

Personal coverage is optional, and as an employer, independent operator, executive officer or director of a company, you may apply.

To find out if personal coverage is right for you, please contact us.
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Clearances for Contractors and Subcontractors

As an employer, it is in your best interest to request a clearance letter from the WCB whenever you hire contractors or subcontractors. The clearance letter confirms that the contractor's account with the WCB is in good standing.

Clearance ensures that the employer is protected and that all employers carry their fair share of the cost of the compensation system. Without clearance, as an employer, you may be liable for your contractors or subcontractors assessment.

Obtaining a clearance letter for your contractors and subcontractors can be done in two ways:

Electronically, any time and anywhere you have access to the Internet, with the WCB's Online Services.
By requesting clearance through WCB Employers Services. Simply contact us.

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More information about coverage and clearance can be found in the Information for Employers booklet and in the WCB employer services policies.

If you have any questions, or would like a copy of a form or publication, please contact us.

November 02, 2020

Injured Worker Survey

The Workers Compensation Board’s biennial Worker Survey is now underway. The telephone survey is being conducted by an independent research firm, Narrative Research, who will ask our clients about their satisfaction with our programs and services. Participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. The survey is one way the WCB gathers feedback from our stakeholders, so that we can continue to improve how we serve Island workers. For the results of previous surveys, please visit the Stakeholder Surveys section of the WCB website. For questions on this survey contact: Jenny White, Information Specialist, jrwhite@wcb.pe.ca or 902-368-6368.

October 23, 2020

Workers Compensation Board of PEI holds assessment rates into 2021

The Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island has announced that 2021 employer assessment rates will be maintained at the 2020 rate levels. “We are pleased that we are able to maintain rates for Island employers and provide some level of certainty in these uncertain times,” said Cheryl Paynter, Chief Executive Officer of the Workers Compensation Board. The cost associated with maintaining 2020 rates for 2021 will be funded from the Workers Compensation Board’s Fund Balance. This announcement comes following a decade of declining assessment rates, strong investment returns, a focus on injury prevention and return to work efforts and generally, an overall strong funded position and a funding policy that focuses on sustainability and minimizing volatility all the while offering service and supports to injured workers. The outbreak of COVID-19 and related responses have impacted economies on a local to global scale. Disruption of normal business operations, contraction of major industries and the volatility experienced in global equity markets have contributed to an uncertain global economic outlook. While it is not yet possible to reliably estimate the long term financial impact of COVID-19, we anticipate that assessment revenues, investment returns, claims costs and benefit liability valuations may all be impacted by COVID-19 well into the future. “The WCB’s funding and rate setting polices are performing in protecting Island workers and employers from extreme fluctuations while ensuring that the current and future costs of workplace accidents are fully funded,” said Jim MacPhee, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board.All Island employers will be advised of their individual assessment rates in December 2020, which are based on the costs of claims and the risks of workplace injury in their industries. For more information on the assessment rate groups, please visit wcb.pe.ca/2021rates. Aussi disponible en français.

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