Province proposes injured workers' income-replacement benefits increase
· Toronto Sun
The Ontario government is proposing the first increase in nearly 30 years to income-replacement benefits that workers receive through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) if injured on the job.
The changes, increasing from 85% to 95% of workers’ take-home pay, would also update the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act so that workers continue to receive benefits if they plan to work past age 65.
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“No worker should have to worry about paying their bills while they recover from a workplace injury,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, in a statement.
“By proposing the first increase to income replacement benefits in nearly 30 years, our government is helping ensure injured Ontarians can focus on getting better. Ontario’s workers built this province, and we will always have their backs.”
These proposed changes would, if passed, increase WSIB Loss-of-Earnings (LOE) benefits to 90% of a worker’s take-home pay, up from 85%, meaning workers would keep more of their income while they recover.
Changes also proposed for workers older than age 65
Ontario will also be introducing changes recognizing that more workers are choosing to work past the age of 65.
If passed, the changes would allow eligible workers to continue receiving LOE benefits after age 65 if they kept working, instead of automatically losing those benefits at age 65 currently.
“Workers should not be financially penalized as a result of being injured on the job, we support increasing Loss-of-Earnings benefits so injured workers can focus on recovery, while also ensuring those who choose to work past age 65 continue to access the support they need,” said Steve Chaplin, the Senior Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment at EllisDon Corporation, in a statement.
Since 2023, the average retirement age in Canada has exceeded age 65.
According to Statistics Canada, about 444,000 Ontarians aged 65 and older remained in the workforce in 2025 (about 5.4% of Ontario’s labour force that year).
Proposed changes would, if passed, apply to eligible workers on or after the date the legislation is proclaimed.