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/

IS IT FINANCIAL MANIPULATION OR IS IT A RETURN TO WORK PROGRAM?

I have been dealing with WCB of Alberta for over 15 years now, the last couple years I have taken WCB to Appeals over overpayments, requesting audits due to overpayments and payments not sent out to me that I was entitled too, the amount involved here was over $ 25,000.00. Through their manipulation of files they had taken me to court for fraud all this was 3 years after I started with the audit to be done, which had been in front of that Appeals commission 3 separate times, the last time the Appeals Commission said that they would only look and see if the Audit was done correctly, not to review information about overpayments or monies owed to claimant. There is much more to this story pertaining to actions of WCB employees with threats and intimidation. To make a long story shorter the WCB of Alberta set me up with a deemed position for which I was to $32,000.00 a year as a sales clerk, in which I was to receive approx. $814.00 per month on my claim, however they were keeping this money due to over payment for $32,000.00 which they were not entitled to remove from me as they already had that money from not giving it to me 4 years before, with no income in our household to pay bills, we were forced to go to social assistance, after about 8 months of assistance I received a phone call informing me that I had not claimed the $814.00 monthly to the social worker and was therefore cut off and file sent to a collection agency. I have just received my T-5 for the year of 2008 from WCB of Alberta, it states that my income from them for the year is $943.11, yet they call social services and inform them that I am making $814.00 per month, causing my family to live below the poverty line and yet they still continue to make discussions on my claim without informing me of these decisions