Since the early 1990s, the time on benefits has been increasing for Ontario workers’ compensation claims. In particular, over the last decade there has been a notable increase in the number of total compensated days per lost-time claim and an increase in the rate of claims remaining active and open for extended periods of time. This trend is in contrast to the trend of declining claim rates experienced over much of the 1990s.
This plenary profiles a study that investigated how Ontario workers’ compensation claimants from different time periods fared in terms of labour-market earnings recovery. More specifically, this study investigated the labour-market earning patterns of Ontario workers’ compensation long-term disability claimants from three different time periods and receiving benefits under three different programs. The study provides insights into the individual and contextual factors that contribute to labour-market engagement and earnings recovery.