Ontario Accident Benefits

Accident benefits are an important part of your auto insurance coverage. These benefits help cover expenses should you be injured in an accident that involves a vehicle. The Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) is a mandatory part of every auto policy in Ontario. These benefits apply if you are injured as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist due to an automobile accident. Coverage applies regardless of fault.

While the compulsory coverage is included in your policy, there are also enhanced options which should be considered depending on your unique circumstances.

Below is a summary of what is included in the Standard Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), as well as the optional increased benefits. View or download the complete Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule from the Government of Ontario website.

Income Replacement, Non-earner, and Caregiver Benefits

Income Replacement

If you are unable to work, you may qualify for income replacement benefits up to 70 per cent of your gross income, capped at $400 per week with the option to increase your coverage up to $1000 per week. The following chart helps identify your income replacement needs.

* If you have other income replacement assistance available (e.g. sick leave from an employer), your benefit will be reduced in accordance with the amounts being received.
Income Range	Consider an Income Replacement Benefit at this level*
$30,000 - $44,000	$600 / week
$45,000 - $59,000	$800 / week
$60,000 +	$1,000 / week

Non-earner Benefit

If you don’t qualify for income replacement, are a student, and cannot continue daily life as before an automobile accident, you may qualify to receive non-earner benefits of $185 per week. There is a four week waiting period for this coverage.

Caregiver Benefit

If you can no longer provide care to a dependant residing with you (child or other) as a result of a catastrophic impairment, you may be eligible for the caregiver benefit. These benefits reimburse you for expenses associated with hiring someone to provide care while you are not able to do so.
The caregiver benefit includes:
Up to $250 per week for the first dependant
An additional $50 per week for each subsequent dependant in the household.

Standard accident benefit coverage only provides that payout for those suffering “catastrophic injuries,” but you can purchase additional coverage to get this benefit for all injuries. For the definition of a catastrophic injury, visit our FAQs.

Medical, Rehabilitation, and Attendant Care Benefits

Medical and Rehabilitation Benefit

This benefit covers costs of health care and rehabilitation as the result of an accident. Benefits include physiotherapy, prescriptions, chiropractic treatment, counseling, workplace and home modifications, as well as other services that are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or through your group insurance plan (if applicable). Medical care and costs that qualify are listed in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule.

Attendant Care

This benefit covers the cost of an attendant should you require one to care for you, either at home or in a healthcare facility. An aide or attendant helps with things like bathing, dressing, toileting, etc. This benefit is included if you’ve been seriously injured in an auto accident for the limits shown below.

This coverage for Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care is limited to $65,000 for non-catastrophic injuries and $1,000,000 for catastrophic injuries.

You can purchase the following increased limits:

Increase coverage for non-catastrophic injuries to $130,000
Add “all injury” benefit at $1,000,000 for non-catastrophic injuries ($2,000,000 for catastrophic injuries)
Increase catastrophic injury coverage by $1,000,000 (for a total of $2,000,000)
Option A and C
Option B and C (total eligible benefit amount for catastrophic injuries at $3,000,000)

Death and Funeral Expenses

If you die as the result of a car accident, this benefit will provide a lump sum payout to your spouse and dependants.
The benefit includes a payout of:

$25,000 to your spouse
$10,000 to each of your dependants
A maximum of $6,000 for funeral expenses

You can choose to increase this benefit payout to:

$50,000 to your spouse
$20,000 to each of your dependants
A maximum of $8,000 for funeral expenses

Other Expenses

Additional expenses may also be covered as a part of your accident benefits coverage. They include:

Lost Education Expenses

This benefit provides compensation for lost tuition, books and other education related expenses up to $15,000, for those who can’t continue studies as a result of injuries from an auto accident.

Expenses of Visitors

This benefit provides compensation for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by some of those closest to you if they must visit you during your treatment or recovery. It includes your spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, and certain other dependants and guardians. Expenses can be claimed for a maximum of 104 weeks after the accident, unless injuries are catastrophic.

Housekeeping and Home Maintenance

This benefit provides $100 a week if you experience catastrophic injuries due to an auto accident and need to hire someone to carry out your housekeeping or home maintenance responsibilities.

You can purchase optional coverage to extend this benefit to all injuries.

Damage to Clothing, Glasses and Other Belongings

This benefit will provide compensation for damaged clothing, glasses and other personal medical devices damaged during an auto accident.

Cost of Examinations

This benefit provides compensation for the cost of approved examinations related to treatments as part of your recovery from an auto accident.

Optional Benefits

Optional Dependent Care Benefit

This benefit will pay for additional childcare expenses due to injuries sustained from an auto accident. It provides coverage up to $75 a week for your first dependant and $25 for each additional dependant and can only be claimed if you were employed at the time of an accident. To be eligible for this benefit, you cannot receive the caregiver benefit.

Optional Indexation Benefit

This benefit provides an annual adjustment for inflation for certain accident benefits. Adjustments are done in accordance with the Consumer Price Index of Canada and applies to the following benefits:

Income replacement benefit
Non-earner benefit
Attendant care benefit
Medical and rehabilitation benefit

FAQs

What is a minor injury?

Minor injuries typically include sprains, strains, whiplash injuries and subluxations. These injuries have quick access to treatment and resolution with medical and rehabilitation benefits limited to $3,500.

View the full Minor Injury Guideline.

What is Catastrophic Impairment?

To be considered catastrophic, injuries need to significantly impact a person’s ability to function and the impairment must be permanent. Examples include blindness, paralysis and permanent brain damage.

See the full definition in section 3.1 of the SABS.

What is Non-Catastrophic impairment?

Non-Catastrophic impairment include injuries that don’t fall under the minor injury guideline or the definition of a catastrophic impairment (e.g. fractures).