Fun TImes Compensation High

First a little about me, I started working out of home at 13 , while going to school, as a stock boy and later pump jockey. I left home by 15 with a last academic grade completion of 6. I wrote a type of equivalency test for a welding course at 17, which gave me grade 12 equivalent, tried trade school 2 years later, but was unable to compete academically. About 10 years later I attempted an apprenticeship, succeeded to 4th year, stayed a 4th year for 6 years, with multiple injury claims between , all pertaining to an original injury in 1992. I had low scores but enough to pass, at that time there was a push for tradesman an as long as your experience was there , you basically passed. However I knew I would not be able to pass the Provincial test.
After my last injury WCB wanted to send me to school for electrical engineer, I did pass the entrance exam for pre-technology course, but not knowledged enough in academics for completion. WCB refuse me upgrading as was requested by an educational Institution,so I wanted to start my own business, hopefully with a little assistance from WCB. Although I already had a national retailer to be an exclusive to a portable work bench that I registered as an industrial design.
WCB informed me that I know nothing of Business so therefore I must go to Business Administration. We will send you right back to school then you can make the monies needed to build your business; pass , fail or drop out we are done with you.
Well, knowing that I would not be able to complete again due to class qualifications, even the Institution questioned it. WCB got me in from stating "well he was registered last year", (April/May 2003)the secretary allowed me in. I had started an appeal almost immediately, knowing that it would be a few months before I got any answer, by October I had not heard from appeals adviser pertaining to appeal, left message, I contacted claim supervisor to inform him of my situation, he took my statement down and wrote its as I wished not to got school due to vehicle problems and other reasons on file. This is where the fraud charges from non-attendance to school originated.Turned out Appeals Adviser was no-longer working there and I wasn't informed, appeal papers sat on managers desk for approx 6 months, the one year time limit for appeal had passed .
Earlier that spring, I had already been questioning 1 overpayment on my claim that had been removed 3 times, with your basic runaround by claims manger, and other over payment's that seemed to accumulate over night. I then received my T-5 for the year 2003, floored me, thought I was the highest paid WCB recipient ever, but knew it wasn't true. I then went through my cheques, talked to Revenue Canada, was told to send it back to WCB and have them correct it. That never happened,I requested an audit of my claim; instead about 4 months later I am under fraud investigation, I told them I was happy they are taking me to court so I can show how they manipulated my claim file, everything was good, until court day. My lawyer had assured me that we could beat , then court day I am informed that "we do not" have the necessary information to prove manipulation, what happened there I still do not know. He informed me to plead guilty for defrauding WCB for the months of October 13th 2003 to April 30th 2004 or face jail time. SO I did, as a father with young children and 1 that is handicapped I figured he knew best, boy was I wrong.

The rest is all documented though my blog, I now have more information about file manipulation , pertaining to that time and since. OH yes in 2007, just before court, I received a letter from my claims manager that"I WAS"offered upgrading but chose a different path, apparently it was offered at the time I was scheduled for school, same time THEY refused it. Talk about Manipulating information, no other record on file pertaining to such offer.

Auditor Generals Report on Alberta WCB

EXCERPS from Alberta Auditor Generals Office on WCB

http://www.oag.ab.ca/files/oag/ar2004-05.pdf Human Resources and Development; pages 243- 248 of 378

2003 audit of my claim also coincided with The Quality Assurance Group’s investigation into Alberta WCB, at which time I did not know about. I find it quite curious, especially pertaining to financial matter of my own concern that reflects directly to “possibly the validity of” this Report.

The Quality Assurance group completed a review of high dollar ELPs that

were established during 2003. Results indicated that there is room for

improvement in the entitlement decision of ELP cases.

High Dollar ELP’s? Would that be like when my T-5 for 2003 stated $ 44,000.00 income when my actual was approx $19,000.00. 

WCB claims that all cheques issued to in my name are considered income. On the T5 taxation for the year 2003, states that I made over $44,000.00, which included computer, reimbursements, travel & meal allowance, loan/advance, school tuition and supplies, according to Revenue Canada only paid benefits were to be on T5 : repercussion of as of June 2004, caused my family to lose our GST rebate and lowered our child tax credits,: In May 2004, my WCB benefits were originally cut off , by end of May reinstated, which time my benefits were set at a deemed position as if I had passed my schooling and working in that profession.

Were claims altered to make them seem larger in order to keep premiums high and then lower the actual income for injured workers by disguising claimant income for that year?

From attending school the year before there were no additions (tuition, travel, expenses) on my T5, only paid benefits! 2004 T5 was the done up same as the T5 in 2002, except no school involved. 2006 T5 was done with benefits only also, which had training involved.

The WCB again made satisfactory progress in implementing this

recommendation as follows:

• WCB made a policy change to require a review of ELP entitlement and

rate setting after the first three years and then annual reviews

thereafter. This should allow management the opportunity to identify

and account for changes in worker entitlement and earnings over time.

• New ELPs require supervisor and manager review and approval.

• Claims staff and management have completed training and been

provided comprehensive tip-sheets, checklists and procedures

detailing the adjudication processes that need to be completed prior to

implementing an ELP award.

• Monthly reports providing detailed ELP information are distributed to

management.

When we completed the follow up of this point in March 2005, the Quality

Assurance group was in the process of obtaining management responses to

the findings for 2004.

To implement this recommendation, WCB’s Quality Assurance group must

finalize its review of the 2004 entitlement decisions and management must

demonstrate that changes made to the control environment have been

effective.

Yes changes were effective, as my benefits were cut at that time, cut right off, then reinstated at a lower rate of benefit. I remember my claims manager mentioning this to me, as due to the delay of my benefits being processed, same time as they lowered benefits (re-calculating?).

Makes one wonder as to what kind of training, tip-sheets, check lists and procedures detailed for the process of determining the implementation of the ELP award.

For the Quality Assurance Group I am not sure if this was internal or external, however a point of interest, the only financial business I found pertaining to that name, belongs to a division of the World Bank.(It was not them ) 

The “padding” my benefits would *benefit WCB down the road, even better considering all the “overpayments” they have collected off me, not even mentioning the “Fraud charges” for which they are collecting almost 3 times the stated amount in court documents. Charging me did 3 things, damaged my credibility to pursue the financial truth that I started prior by requesting an audit on my claim, criminal record and poverty. All from a T-5 that was purposely created, but then again in 2008, WCB claimed I made $816.00 monthly for income to a Government Financial Assistance agency, when my T-5 states $943.11 for the same year; and again a Fraud investigation against me.

*Implications and risks

If the ELP classifications and calculations are not accurate, the WCB may

pay inaccurate benefits to injured workers and charge incorrect costs to

employers.

Is this the reason that my rate calculations are all different but mysteriously calculated by their payment specialists to same amount?

More confusion like the financial reports that have the payments scattered around so bad that it takes a week to separate and put into proper order?

The WCB’s 2003–2004 strategic plan describes four strategic themes to guide

the organization:

• Commitment to fairness

• Focus on return to work

• Leveraging prevention

• Financial stability

Who does this apply too?

This is only part of the report I find pertaining to my case only, with possibly more information yet to be discovered.

Canadian Federation of Independent Business , Alberta District, tried to abolish the tribunal ( appeals) system at the WCB, due to cost. Tribunal alone $45 million and premiums increased 77% on average.
http://www.cfib.ca/legis/alberta/pdf/5179.pdf

GEE that relate to posting ? 

 http://abusebyalbertasworkerscompensation.blogspot.com/2009/05/abuse-and-coverup-by-quasi-judicial.html

Same time frame when all this was happening!
Making our employers aware of what they/ we are getting for which they pay for?
Over a Billion Alberta WCB, in their pockets right now!
Go to the site and see if it pertains to yours!

I brought this to the attention of the Auditor General office and was informed that they do not get involved with individual claims of the WCB, I requested to have an investigation by the A.G.O and the only reply I received back is 

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/news-views/news/province-accused-of-muzzling-auditor-general-3615/