The Policy, Regulation and Research Division of WorkSafeBC (PRRD) would like to advise you of policy changes reflecting legislative amendments to the Workers Compensation Act (Act) coming into effect on January 1, 2021.
On August 14, 2020, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2020(Bill 23) came into effect. Under Bill 23, 34 legislative amendments were made to the Act. Two of these legislative amendments concern permanent partial disability benefits and retirement age determinations and come into effect on January 1, 2021.
On November 18, 2020, the Board of Directors approved changes to 25 policies in the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II (RS&CM) to ensure policy is consistent with the Bill 23 amendments regarding permanent partial disability benefits. These policy changes are effective on January 1, 2021.
The Board of Directors also approved housekeeping changes to 12 policies in the RS&CM and the Assessment Manual consequential to re-formatting Chapter 6 of the RS&CM.
Please click here to view the Resolution regarding the Bill 23 amendments to permanent partial disability benefits.
On December 9, 2020, the Board of Directors approved changes to 3 policies in the RS&CM to ensure policy is consistent with the Bill 23 amendments regarding retirement age determinations. These policy changes are effective on January 1, 2021.
Please click here to view the Resolution regarding the Bill 23 amendments to retirement age determinations. WorkSafeBC’s Board of Directors approved policy changes in advance of stakeholder consultation to ensure WorkSafeBC policy aligns with the Act as amended by Bill 23 on January 1, 2021.
The PRRD plans to consult on these newly revised policies in 2021 to identify whether further policy changes are necessary.
Consultation will be open from January 8, 2021 to April 16, 2021.
Policy, Regulation and Research Division
WorkSafeBC
