March 13, 2008 - Each year the WCB makes adjustments to certain benefits to apply the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a measure of changing price levels in Canada. When prices increase, the WCB increases benefits to reflect these price changes.

The annual CPI payment process currently occurs in two stages:

Phase 1 – February to April - eligible benefits are adjusted for the current year (January 1st to December 31st) by applying the CPI increase, which is 0.95% for 2008. Cheques and letters will be sent out to eligible workers by early April.

Phase 2 - July to September - CPI adjustments are issued for retroactive payments that have been processed. Further information regarding this phase will be available in July.

Not all types of benefits are indexed. Those benefits which are indexed include: monthly Permanent Impairment Benefits; Extended Earnings-Replacement Benefits; Survivor Pensions; Dependent Child Benefits; Clinical Rating Scale Benefits (CRS Pensions); Amended Interim Earnings-Loss Benefits (AIEL Pensions); and Temporary Earnings Replacement Benefits, if temporary benefits have been paid for more than 12 continuous months.

In addition to the annual CPI payment process, we have begun a large scale project to automate the process, on a yearly basis, for eligible long-term benefits only. This will improve service by providing workers with their CPI increases on a more regular and timely basis. Starting January 2009, regular monthly long term benefit cheques will include the monthly CPI increase.

Check out our Q&As and sample calculation sheet for more information about CPI benefits.