Payment Specialist (On Demand - Variable)

About the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

We're here to help. When an injury or illness happens on the job, we move quickly to provide wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to help people get back to work. Funded by businesses, we also provide no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information. We are one of the largest insurance organizations in North America covering over five million people in more than 300,000 workplaces across Ontario. For more information, visit wsib.ca.

At the WSIB, you'll have the opportunity to:

• explore many career paths and follow your passion
• continuously learn and grow professionally
• be recognized for the great work you do
• participate in programs that support your health and wellbeing

We anticipate bilingual (French & English) and unilingual opportunities in the following office locations:

• Hamilton – Unilingual
• Hamilton- Bilingual
• Kingston - Unilingual
• Kingston - Bilingual
• London - Unilingual
• London - Bilingual
• Ottawa - Unilingual
• Ottawa - Bilingual
• Toronto - Unilingual
• Toronto - Bilingual
• Waterloo- Unilingual
• Waterloo - Bilingual

This is a temporary opportunity for up to 8 months in duration.

Hourly rate: $39.97 per hour

Hours: 0-14.5 hours per week

Job summary

As a member of a provincial team, review and assess approved claims for wage replacement and related benefits. Use your knowledge of legislation, operational policies, and guidelines to determine, calculate, and process benefits accurately and on time. This includes reaching out to workplace parties and case owners to request or clarify earnings information.

Support case managers and workplace parties by explaining complex benefit decisions and their results. Decide if a Long-Term Rate (LTR) recalculation is needed, request and review earnings details, calculate benefit rates, communicate your decisions, and reconsider any objections, all according to operational policy.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Validate and process benefit payments

• Check the accuracy of payment authorizations from case owners or through eAdjudication.
• Determine the correct earnings basis using current and previous legislation and operational policies before making payments in the WSIB systems.
• Contact workplace parties to gather or confirm information such as earnings, lost time, and modified duties. Document all information to calculate and process Loss of Earnings (LOE) benefits correctly.
• Make sure claims are sent to the right department and assigned the correct follow-up actions, based on the Return to Work (RTW) scenario.
• Review and cross-check claim documents to ensure enough information is available before processing payments.
• Set suitable temporary rates and request further earnings information when needed.
• Work with case owners to decide on payment actions, returning files for more action if required and documenting all instructions.
• Consult your manager for complicated payment issues, such as manual cheques or unusual cases.
• Decide if a Long-Term Rate (LTR) recalculation is needed and request the right earnings details. Communicate LTR decisions in writing and make adjustments as necessary.
• Handle payment calculations and ensure funds go to the correct payees (for example, employers, government agencies, or third parties).
• Process other benefit types like Non Economic Loss (NEL), Future Economic Loss (FEL), Temporary Total Benefits (TT), survivor benefits, and Loss of Retirement Income (LRI).
• Make manual calculations for complex cases and self-release payments up to $29,999.99 per file.
• Take corrective actions for any payment errors and notify the right departments.
• Work with management to review reports and ensure payments are accurate.
• Handle cheque issues such as cancellations, reissues, or stop-payments as needed, and update worker or payee profiles.
• Promote the use of online services and identify potential improvements in training or processes.

2. Provide technical advice and support

• Offer expert guidance on payment policies, procedures, and system use to case owners, Return-to-Work Specialists (RTWS), Customer Service Representatives (CSRs), and others at the WSIB.
• Respond to questions from case owners and workplace parties about benefit payment rules and processes.
• Help and mentor staff on new skills, and provide feedback to managers as needed.
• Advise case owners on financial and tax matters, and on calculating benefit coverage for self-employed workers.
• Guide case owners in setting up temporary rates to avoid overpayments.

3. Document and report payment information

• Keep detailed records of payment histories, payment statuses, and adjustments.
• Write clear explanations for any changes or overpayments and share them verbally or in writing with management, case owners, and workplace parties.
• Compare authorized benefits and actual payments, correct any differences, and report required information to the appropriate staff.

4. Verify and update payment histories

• Review claims to ensure all payments and periods are recorded correctly.
• Correct or recreate payment histories from previous systems, making adjustments as needed.
• Complete system correction requests when necessary.

5. Calculate and process interest on delayed payments

• Calculate interest owed on delayed payments after decisions by Appeal Resolution Officers or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT).
• Adjust employer accounts as needed and instruct the Treasury Department on any required changes.

6. Maintain statistics and assist with projects

• Track work processed, monitor caseloads, and support projects that improve payment service methods.

7. Correct or update system data

• Update information in all systems as needed and report any system issues to your manager.

8. Promote WSIB values

• Uphold the WSIB's values during phone calls with workplace parties and keep phone system data current.

9. Perform other related duties as needed

• Take on additional tasks as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education

• High school completion and certificate program of up to one year in accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, mathematics or finance.

Experience

• Total of four years and two months experience. One year prior experience in financial /mathematical concepts.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We respect and value the diversity of our people. We strive to create an environment where employees can be themselves and where our differences are celebrated.

We value and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating inclusive experiences for both our employees and prospective employees. We invite all interested individuals to apply. If you require accommodations in order to apply to this position please contact [email protected]. If you are invited to participate in the interview or assessment process, you can advise our Recruiter of your accommodation needs at that time.

Please visit our EDI Vision to learn more about what actions WSIB are taking to advance our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to support all employees participating and contributing to their full potential

Disclosing conflicts of interest

As public servants, employees at the WSIB have a responsibility to act in an ethical way at all times to create a respectful workplace and maintain public trust. Job applicants are required to disclose any circumstance that could result in a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is any situation where your private interests may impair or be perceived to impair the decisions you make in your official capacity. This may include: political activity, directorship, other outside employment and certain personal relationships (e.g. with current WSIB employees, customers and/or stakeholders). If you have any questions about conflict of interest obligations and/or how to make a disclosure, please contact the Talent Acquisition Centre at [email protected].

Privacy information

We collect personal information from your resume, application, cover letter and references under the authority of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The Talent Acquisition Centre and WSIB hiring parties will used this information to assess/validate your qualifications, determine if you meet the requirements of vacant positions and/or gather information relevant for recruitment purposes. If you have questions or concerns regarding the collection and use of your personal information, please contact the WSIB's Privacy Office at [email protected]. The Privacy Office cannot provide information about the status of your application.

As a precondition of employment, the WSIB requires that prospective candidates undergo a criminal records name check any time before or after they are hired.

To apply for this position, please submit your application by the closing date.