Workers’ Comp Doesn’t Have to Cover Injured Worker’s Moving Expenses

In 1972, a worker suffered a work-related leg injury that eventually forced him to retire early. His plan was to live out the rest of his days in the house he built for himself and his partner and painstakingly upgraded so he could move around easily. But by 2017, the mobility problems stemming from the leg injury finally got the better of him and forced him to move out of his beloved home. And because that injury was work-related, he thought workers’ comp should pay his moving expenses and monthly rent. But the WCB begged to differ. And so did the Appeals Tribunal in upholding the denial. Although the worker’s story was truly sad, it wasn’t the basis for a claim. If the Accident Fund had to pay for all of the consequences flowing from workers’ work injuries, the system would soon go broke [2018-378-AD (Re), 2019 CanLII 11170 (NS WCAT), Feb. 7, 2019].