Employer Services FAQ

All businesses operating within Nunavut and/or the Northwest Territories who have workers must report their payroll to WSCC.

WSCC accepts payments by:

• Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, Amex or Discovery paid through logging in to WSCC Connect 
• Online payment through your financial institution (search “WSCC of NWT Nunavut”)
• Cheque/Money Order
• Debit card, in person at our Yellowknife or Iqaluit office
• Email money transfer to: payments@wscc.nt.ca (include your WSCC Employer Number in the comments)
• Direct deposit. For banking information contact the Employer Support team:
  • Nunavut: 1-877-404-4407 (ext. 2) | Nunavut Email 
  • NWT:  1-800-661-0792 (ext. 2) | NWT Email 

Late payments receive legislated penalties of 2% per month.
 

Yes. Through WSCC Connect request a Letter of Good Standing at the beginning of the year with an estimated contract value. At the end of the year, through WSCC Connect request a Final Clearance Letter with an actual contract value.

When the contract is complete, and before you release final payment to your contractor, log-in to WSCC Connect to request a Final Clearance Letter. This letter releases you from liability and allows you to make final payment on that contract. 

At the beginning of a contract you can request a Letter of Good Standing. This letter advises that the hired company is in good standing. To obtain a Letter of Good Standing log-in to WSCC Connect and navigate to the “obtain a clearance” tab.  

Yes - through WSCC Connect you can log-in and request a Bidding Clearance letter. You can print or e-mail the letter immediately.

Under the Workers’ Compensation Act(s), employers are legally required to register with us. The WSCC provides a form of collective liability, which means all employers within an industry subclass share the risk. Registering and paying assessments is a legislated requirement for all businesses. The WSCC protects your company against lawsuits from injured workers. If a worker is injured or contracts an occupational disease while on the job, the WSCC covers the worker’s medical and wage-loss costs.

No, you don’t have to register, but you can if you need Bidding Clearance for bidding purposes. Non-employer operations, including independent operators and prospective bidders may register with the WSCC and receive an account number prior to establishing or commencing business.

In order to register and receive a WSCC account number, a non-employer operation must pay a $200 annual administrative fee. A non-employer operation registering for the first time must pay the full administrative fee regardless of how many days remain in the calendar year.

With payment of a $200.00 administrative fee you may request:

• A Bidding Clearance letter to submit when bidding for contracts in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut

This fee does not provide you, as an owner or director, automatic coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act(s). If you wish to obtain coverage as an owner or director, please apply using our Personal Optional Coverage form.
 

Under the Workers’ Compensation Act(s) you are liable for any outstanding assessments related to work performed on your behalf under a contract for service. 

If your contractor is not in good standing, you can withhold the amount of the assessment you now must pay to the WSCC, related to the contract. 

You are liable for any assessments your contractor owes relating to the work they perform on your behalf until you receive a Letter of Good Standing and/or a Letter to Release Final Clearance. If your contractor does not register, you must report the labour portion of their contract under your company. This also means you assume any claims of your contractor.  

Yes. To revise your payroll with WSCC, navigate to WSCC Connect and go to Report or Revise Payroll under ‘Employer E-Services’. For assistance submitting a payroll revision, please visit ‘How do I update my payroll (revise my payroll)?’ for step-by-step instruction. 

Contact the WSCC’s Employer Support team if you have questions or require assistance.   

• NWT: 1-800-661-0792 | NWT Email
• Nunavut: 1-877-404-4407 | Nunavut Email

The WSCC calculates the rate you pay based on your payroll and industry subclass.

You have 10 days from closing   your business or ceasing operations in Nunavut and/or the Northwest Territories  to notify the WSCC in writing with your actual payroll figures.  You can submit your final payroll figure through WSCC Connect. Select the option to ‘Report or Revise Payroll’. Contact the WSCC’s Employer Support team if you have questions or require assistance.   

• NWT: 1-800-661-0792 | NWT Email
• Nunavut: 1-877-404-4407 | Nunavut Email

The WSCC assigns employers subclasses based on the business they conduct, rather than their employees’ occupations. Employers are classified in subclasses that best reflect their overall business.

To determine assessment rates, Governance Council consults with independent actuaries on an annual basis. It sets rates by considering the current and future cost of claims, as well as the cost to administer the WSCC. The rate setting process promotes fairness and accountability and ensures that today’s employers pay the full cost of today’s claims, securing future benefits for injured workers.

We apply your subclass rate to every $100 of your assessable payroll.

When you register, the WSCC bases your assessment on your subclass rate and payroll estimate. You must keep a complete and accurate account of all your workers’ wages and earnings. You also need to keep records of amounts paid to contractors, subcontractors, and self-employed operators.

Your assessment covers compensation costs to injured workers or their dependents; payment of pensions, medical aid, and rehabilitation; and administrative costs.