A WICA claim follows a defined sequence: the injured employee reports the accident to the employer, the employer notifies MOM through the iReport system within MOM's reporting deadlines, doctors assess the injury, and compensation is computed under statutory limits — up to S$269,000 for death and S$346,000 for total permanent incapacity for accidents from 1 November 2025. The employee does not need to prove the employer was at fault, and does not need a lawyer to claim.
Step 1: Report the accident to the employer
The injured employee (or a colleague, if the employee can't) should inform the employer as soon as possible after the accident — ideally the same day. Prompt internal reporting matters for everyone: it triggers the employer's legal reporting duties, preserves evidence while memories are fresh, and starts the medical and insurance process moving. Employees should also seek medical attention promptly and tell the doctor the injury is work-related, so the medical certificate and records reflect it.
Step 2: Employer reports to MOM via iReport
Employers must report qualifying work accidents to MOM through the iReport online system — promptly, within MOM's reporting deadlines. Broadly, incidents involving medical leave or light duties beyond MOM's thresholds, hospitalisation, or death must be reported; check MOM's current criteria and timelines rather than relying on memory, as the thresholds are specific and non-reporting is an offence.
The employer should also notify its WICA insurer at the same time. The insurer will typically handle the compensation computation and payment once MOM's process runs its course. Employers must not deduct any claim cost from the employee's salary or pressure them to drop a report.
Step 3: Medical assessment
The employee's treating doctor documents the injury, medical leave and treatment. For injuries with lasting effects, a doctor assesses the degree of permanent incapacity once the condition stabilises — this percentage drives the lump-sum computation. During recovery, the employer pays medical leave wages (full average earnings for the initial outpatient period, then a reduced proportion, within WICA's statutory framework) and covers medical expenses up to the statutory cap: S$53,000 or expenses incurred within one year of the accident, whichever is reached first, for accidents from 1 November 2025.
Step 4: Compensation is computed
Compensation is calculated from the employee's earnings, age and the assessed incapacity, within the statutory ranges for accidents on or after 1 November 2025:
| Compensation type | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Death | S$91,000 | S$269,000 |
| Total permanent incapacity | S$116,000 | S$346,000 |
| Medical expenses | Up to S$53,000 or 1 year of expenses, whichever first | |
Partial permanent incapacity pays a proportion of the total-incapacity figure based on the assessed percentage. A notice of assessment is issued setting out the computed amount; if no one objects within the stated window, it becomes binding and the insurer (or uninsured employer) must pay.
Step 5: Disputes and objections
Either side can object to a notice of assessment within the objection period stated on it — for example over the incapacity percentage, the earnings used, or whether the injury arose out of work. Objections are handled through MOM's process and, where unresolved, can proceed to a hearing before the Assistant Commissioner. Employees who prefer to sue in court instead of claiming under WICA must make that election before accepting WICA compensation — once compensation is accepted, the court route closes.
Practical advice for employers: keep incident reports, CCTV, witness statements and medical documents organised from day one. Most disputes are evidential, and the party with a contemporaneous record usually prevails.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a WICA claim in Singapore?
Report the accident to your employer as soon as possible, seek medical attention and tell the doctor the injury is work-related; your employer must then report the accident to MOM via iReport within MOM's deadlines, after which medical assessment and compensation computation follow. You don't need to prove your employer was at fault, and you don't need a lawyer.
How long does a WICA claim take?
Straightforward claims — clear facts, short medical leave, no permanent incapacity — typically resolve within months, while claims involving permanent incapacity take longer because assessment waits for the condition to stabilise. Disputed claims that go to a hearing take longer still. Prompt reporting and complete medical documentation are the biggest accelerators.
How much compensation does WICA pay?
For accidents from 1 November 2025: death compensation ranges from S$91,000 to S$269,000, total permanent incapacity from S$116,000 to S$346,000, and medical expenses are covered up to S$53,000 or one year, whichever comes first. The exact figure depends on the employee's earnings, age and assessed degree of incapacity, and partial incapacity pays a proportion accordingly.
Can an employee sue instead of claiming under WICA?
Yes — an injured employee can sue the employer for negligence in court instead of claiming under WICA, but not both. Court claims can pay more if negligence is proven, but they take longer, cost more and can fail entirely. The election matters: accepting WICA compensation closes the court route.
What if my employer has no WICA insurance?
The employee can still claim — WICA compensation is owed by the employer whether or not insurance exists, and the uninsured employer pays the award personally. The employer separately faces prosecution: a fine of up to S$10,000, up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both, for failing to insure an employee who must be insured.
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