At its meeting on March 19, 2008 the Board of Directors approved changes to policy item #67.60 of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II. The policy provides direction on exceptions to the general rule for determining a worker’s average earnings when setting the long-term wage rate.

Key changes include amended policy language to ensure decision-makers are not limited to considering only the criteria set out in the policy when determining whether exceptional circumstances exist.  Additionally, prior periods of wage-loss compensation are now expressly excluded from average earnings calculations.

The changes were effective May 1, 2008