The Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB) has announced an increase to the claim cost threshold for no-time-lost (NTL) claims, which will rise from $1,900 to $2,000 for incidents occurring in 2025. The adjustment is part of WCB’s annual review of claim costs used in its experience rating system.
Under the experience rating program, employers with smaller claim costs may benefit from adjustments to their premiums. For large employers — those with at least $15,000 in industry-rated premiums over a three-year period — the change means that NTL claims costing less than $2,000 will not affect their experience rating until 2027. Claims exceeding the threshold, however, will be included in the calculation.
For small employers, defined as those with less than $15,000 in industry-rated premiums over three years, NTL claims do not impact experience ratings. Instead, premium adjustments are determined by the total number of lost-time claims (LTC) over a six-year period. Companies without any LTCs in five of the previous six years are eligible for a 5% discount, while those with five or more LTCs face a 5% surcharge.
WCB says the annual threshold review ensures the experience rating plan remains aligned with industry trends. The threshold amount has steadily increased over the years, reflecting inflation and rising claim costs.
