Process change for employer claim file requests
WCB is committed to balancing the privacy rights of workers with the interests of employers.
In order to be compliant with Section 147(3) of the Workers’ Compensation Act, effective September 1, 2010 we will require employers and employer representatives to complete a:
- C896 form (Intent for Request for Review or Appeal) in order to request a copy of a worker’s file or a
- C1096 form (Employer Request for Claim File Documents) in instances where a document from a claim file is being requested (not the whole claim file).
This change applies to all employer requests for claim files including those needed for cost relief.
C896 – Intent for Request for Review or Appeal
The new C896 form requires employers to provide an explanation of why they are requesting a copy of the file and the issue(s) the employer wishes to review.
This change creates a two-phase process:
- Phase One – Employers or employer representatives are provided a copy of the claim file upon their completion of the form and are given an opportunity to seek self-resolution of the concerns.
- Phase Two – If the employers or employer representatives decide their issues haven’t been resolved (e.g., they’d like to move forward with an appeal), they proceed with phase two of the process. They engage the claim owner, supervisor and Dispute Resolution and Decision Review body by filling out and submitting a G040 (Request for Review) form.
If the employer or their representative is requesting a document from a claim file, effective September 1, 2010, they will fill out the C1096 – Employer Request for Claim File Documents. This is a separate process.
See the C896 (fillable, 61KB) and C1096 (fillable, 50KB) forms.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Matthew Ross at matthew.ross@wcb.ab.ca.