📊 WSIB Appeal Gap: The Missing 139,083 Workers
Tracking Ontario workers' compensation claims from registration through appeal to final outcome (Annual Average 2020-2025)
⚠️ Data Sources Mixed: WSIB registered/denied claims from external WSIB Safety Check Portal. WSIAT appeals calculated from 98,992 decisions (1987-2026) = ~2,538/year average. Success rate shows 12.0% detected rate from keyword matching (6.1% coverage), but independent research suggests 60-70% for represented appellants. Appeal gap calculation demonstrates systemic access barrier regardless of actual success rate.
Registered Claims/Year
207,735
Denied Claims/Year
141,558
WSIAT Appeals/Year
2,475
Only 1.75% appeal
Appeal Gap
139,083
Workers who don't appeal
💡 Key Insights
- 98.25% of denied workers do not appeal to WSIAT - a systemic access barrier
- WSIAT Success Rate Disputed: Our keyword detection shows 12.0% (limited to 6.1% of decisions with outcome keywords), but independent advocacy research suggests 60-70% for represented appellants. The actual rate matters less than the massive appeal gap
- 139,083 workers/year disappear from the system without pursuing available appeals - whether success rate is 12% or 70%, they never find out
- Annual Pattern: Based on 98,992 WSIAT decisions spanning 1987-2026 (~2,538/year), showing consistent low appeal uptake over decades
- Barriers: Process complexity, 6-month deadline, lack of legal support, fear of employer retaliation, mental health impacts from injury contribute to low appeal rates
- Most Common Denied Claims: Back/Spine (15.3%), Hearing Loss (9.7%), Chronic Pain (7.6%), Shoulder (6.3%), Knee (4.9%), Mental Stress (4.6%)