As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of emergency declared by the Province of Manitoba, businesses are experiencing dramatic changes as they attempt to apply social distance strategies in the workplace, and in some circumstances, have extended continuance pay or potentially issued temporary lay-offs.
Given the economic uncertainties, businesses may be challenged with cash flow and require temporary relief from their WCB payment obligations. In response, the WCB of Manitoba will:
- Defer premium payments until the end of May.
- Late payment penalties will be waived until further notice.
- Extend the payroll reporting deadline without penalties until the end of May.
- Ensure that coverage remains active for accounts that choose to defer. payments until the end of May. Clearances will remain in good standing.
Note: These dates may change as we continue to assess the situation.
Account registration and assessments continue
The WCB offices are temporarily closed to the public and we have transitioned the majority of our employees to work remotely, allowing us to maintain our core functions from a distance.
We encourage employers to leverage technology to improve the efficiency of our interaction; options include making premium payments online, website chat with an assessment account representative or submitting an email with an inquiry or callback request.
Change your payroll estimate
Businesses that are expecting to see a dramatic change in their payroll compared to what they initially reported to the WCB earlier this year can submit a revised 2020 payroll estimate to the WCB and this year's premium will be adjusted accordingly. The quickest and most effective way to submit revised payroll would be to send an email with your account number to assessmentservices@wcb.mb.ca.
Request deferred payments
Given the uncertainty of how long the pandemic will last, making a premium payment after May 2020 could still be difficult. The WCB will continue to monitor the situation and timeframes will change accordingly. Rest assured that if your business requires additional time to make a payment, we will work with you to discuss alternate payment options or deferring future pre-authorized payments.
For more information contact Assessment Services
Email: assessmentservices@wcb.mb.ca
Web chat: wcb.mb.ca/tell-us-about-yourself
Winnipeg: 204-954-4505
Within Canada toll free: 1-855-954-4321, ext. 4505