Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) compensation limits
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) recently announced on 5 October 2015[1] that from 1 January 2016, the maximum and minimum WICA compensation limits for death, permanent incapacity and medical expenses will be increased as follows:
| Existing Limit | New Limit | ||
| Death | Minimum | $57,000 | $69,000 |
| Maximum | $170,000 | $204,000 | |
| Permanent incapacity | Minimum | $73,000 | $88,000 |
| Maximum | $218,000 | $262,000 | |
| Medical expenses | Up to $30,000 or 1 year from date of injury, whichever reached earlier | Up to $36,000 or 1 year from date of injury, whichever reached earlier |
Additionally, treatments that facilitate early return to work will be claimable as part of WICA medical expenses. This would cover charges for physiotherapy and occupational and speech therapy, case management, psychotherapy, functional capacity evaluation and worksite assessment for purposes of rehabilitating an injured employee back to work, and the cost of medicines and artificial limbs and surgical appliances.
[1] See Work Injury Compensation Act (Amendment of Third Schedule) Order 2015; Third Schedule of the Work Injury Compensation Act.