Claim Benefits You May Receive

When a claim is accepted, the WCB will begin paying benefits and help you access services as outlined in the Workers’ Compensation Act of Nova Scotia. The information below will help you understand the benefits and services available.

Whether you are recovering from a physical injury or a psychological injury, the benefits you receive are the same.

Dealing with a long term injury? See Long-Term Benefits and Other Services.

Talk to your case worker

Your case worker has an important role to play in helping you understand what benefits you will receive. Make sure you talk with them. Your case worker will know what services and supports are available for your specific situation. They will also know what is not covered.

Replacing your lost income

Temporary Earnings Replacement Benefits (TERB) give you an income while you are:

• Off work for a short period of time due to injury or illness, or
• Recovering at work in a way that pays less than what you made before the injury (e.g. working reduced hours or in a different job)

It’s important to understand that TERB is a short-term benefit. It is only designed to help you maintain an income while recovering from an injury. If your employer starts paying you during your gradual return to work, TERB payments will be adjusted to reflect the money you are making from that work.

How much will you receive?

You receive 75% of your employment income after taxes, unless your income exceeds the maximum (more about this below).

Here’s an example for someone whose employment income is approximately $39,000.

• First, your employer verifies your income from before the injury or illness. Then, we look at your net income. Net income means what you were paid after taxes, and other deductions like Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Employment Insurance (EI) were taken off.

  In this example, your pay is $750/week minus federal and provincial income tax, CPP, and EI = $591 a week.  This is your net weekly income.

• We multiply your net income by 75%. This is the amount of your TERB.

  E.g. $591 x 75% = $443 per week

In the unlikely event that you remain unable to work for more than 26 weeks, you’ll start to receive 85% of your pre-injury income after taxes.

• E.g. $591 x 85% = $502 per week

What’s the maximum?

This only applies to people whose income is more than $76,300, which is the maximum set for 2025 —and it’s important to know that there is a difference between gross and net earnings.

For Example:

Let’s say you earn $80,000. Your WCB benefits will be based on $76,300.

1. We cap your earnings at $76,300 (gross earnings).
2. We calculate your (net earnings) from that $76,300 based on standard deductions. For most people, net earnings would be approximately $53,800 after government deductions.
3. Your TERB will be based on 75% of $53,800 net yearly income.

To sum it up: It’s not 75% of $80,000, and not 75% of $76,300, but rather 75% of $53,800.

What is the waiting period and why is your first payment less?

There is an initial waiting period which WCB does not cover. It equals two-fifths (2/5 or 40%) of your first week off work.

This is why your first TERB payment is less than future payments. The first week is reduced by 40%.

• Example: if your TERB is $443/week, then take off 40% (2/5).
• $443 – $177.20 = $265.80 for your first payment.

In this example, your payment for the first week would be $265.80 and the payment for the next week would be $443.00. TERB is paid every 2 weeks so these amounts would be combined in a single payment.

If you are receiving TERB payments for more than 5 weeks, WCB will pay you back the waiting period amount ($177.20 in this example).

Payment Schedule

TERB is usually issued every 2 weeks while you remain eligible.

Medical coverage

In general, health care costs related to your workplace injury or illness will be covered by the WCB. Some services need approval by a WCB case worker:

• Physiotherapists
• Chiropractors
• Physicians
• Psychologists
• Dentists
• Counsellors
• Social workers