Know the Kinds of Compensation Under WICA Before Claiming

The Singapore Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) allows an employee to get the following kinds of compensations for any work-related injury or a medical condition. Read more about this at Allegiance’s Work Injury Compensation webpage.

  • Medical leave wages
  • Medical expenses
  • High compensation

Medical leave payments 

This is payable for the working days one is on medical leave due to an injury or disease caused during work. This covers the period for which the employee has to stay in a hospital or covered by the Singapore registered doctors. Medical leave wages are not payable for all days of no work including the days of break and the public holidays. It is not taxable because this is not an income but a compensation.

One is entitled to get medical leave pays under WICA as per the limits and rates below.

  • Amount of casualty medical leave compensation: The complete average monthly income up to 14 days or less. And from the 15th day to 1 year from the date of the accident, the entitlement is 2/3rd of the average monthly income.
  • Amount of hospitalization compensation: The average monthly income up to 60 days or less. And the entitlement comes to 2/3rd of the average monthly income from the 61st day to 1 year from the date of the accident.

Additionally, the employees who are allotted light duties instead of availing medical leave or hospitalization are also entitled to get compensation for any shortfall of earning from September 2020.

They are to receive compensation for the actual shortfall of income from their average monthly income when it is for 14 days or less. And they will be compensated the actual shortfall form 2/3rd of their average monthly income for the period from 15th day to 1 year.

Medical expenses

One is entitled to get paid for the medical expenses that help an early restoration of work. The following are some examples of the types of medical expenses allowed.

  • Ambulance charges for emergency medical transport
  • Artificial limbs
  • Cost of medicine
  • Medical consultation fees
  • Medical report fees
  • Surgical appliances
  • Treatment fees
  • Ward charges

One is also entitled to get compensated for Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Chiropractic treatment, and Traditional Chinese Medicine only when those are prescribed and charged by medical practitioners registered in Singapore.

The current maximum limit for this is $36000 or 1 year from the date of the accident, whichever is earlier. However, it will be raised to $45000 from January 2020.

Lump-amount compensation

When an employee turns permanently incapacitated due to a work-related accident or illness, he or she is entitled to such compensation. The amount is calculated as average monthly income x age multiplying factor x % permanent incapacity assessed by registered medical practitioners. In case of death, this is calculated as average monthly earnings x age multiplying factor and paid to the dependant of the deceased.

From January 2020, the limit of compensation for permanent incapacity is raised from $88000 to $97000 minimum and $262000 to $289000 maximum.

The compensation for death is also raised from $69000 to $76000 minimum and $204000 to $225000.