Policy
Once an account is closed, the WSIB may re-open (reinstate) the account under certain circumstances. When the account is reinstated, the WSIB assigns to the employer the same account number and firm number under which the account was closed.
When the WSIB re-opens a closed account, the employer also assumes the accident record and account balance which form part of the account. If an account is reinstated, the WSIB will review the reinstated account for classification and premium rate setting purposes.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline why a closed employer account may be reinstated and how the WSIB treats the employer's account when it is reinstated.
Guidelines
Why a closed account may be reinstated
Some common reasons for reinstating an account are:
- the WSIB closed the account in error such as due to a misunderstanding, processing mistake, etc.
- the WSIB closed the account as unable to locate but subsequently, an alternate address is found
- the owner ceased business or employing help, and later begins to hire help again
- an owner is requesting optional insurance
- a by-application employer requests a new period of coverage, or
- an independent operator requests a new period of optional insurance
Business restarted under identical ownership
The WSIB reinstates a closed account if the business operation is restarted under ownership identical to the old, i.e., same sole owner, same partnership, or same limited liability company. If the former account was closed more than four calendar years before the year of reactivation, the WSIB usually opens a new account instead of reinstating the old account.
Premium rate setting for a reinstated account
When an account is reinstated, the WSIB will review the reinstated account for classification and premium rate setting purposes, see the Premium Rate Setting Administrative Practice Document for further details.
The WSIB may also review any associated employer's accounts that are associated with the reinstated account, see 14-01-06, Associated Employers.
If all of the employer's accounts are closed and one or more accounts are reinstated within four full calendar years of the year of closure, the employer's applicable insurable earnings and claims experience will be used for premium rate setting purposes, see 14-01-07, Single and Multiple Premium Rates and 14-02-01, Employer Level Premium Rate Setting.
The employer's prior insurable earnings and claims experience is not used if an account is closed and reinstated beyond four full calendar years of the year of closure.
Outstanding Amount on Account
When an account closes with an outstanding amount, the WSIB transfers this unpaid amount to a suspense account if it is uncollectable. Upon reinstatement of an account, the WSIB will also reinstate any previously outstanding account balance which may have been transferred to suspense.
Application date
This policy applies to all decisions made on or after March 1, 2021.
Document History
This document replaces 14-02-14 dated January 2, 2020.
This document was previously published as:
14-02-14 dated October 12, 2004
08-03-08 dated July 1989.
References
Legislative Authority
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 12, 74, 75(1), 76
Minute
Administrative
#9, April 6, 2021, Page 594