WORK RIGHTS SINGAPORE

Objecting to a WICA Notice of Assessment

You have 14 days from the date of your Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Notice of Computation (NOC) to object, according to the Ministry of Manpower. That is a short window, so it is worth understanding the process before the notice even arrives: what counts as a valid dispute, who pays for it, and roughly how long it takes.

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Most useful for senior and management-level roles and larger claims.

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The two types of dispute

MOM splits a WICA dispute into two kinds, and they run through different paths:

If your dispute is really about whether your employer is cooperating at all, rather than the figure itself, see what to do if your employer refuses to report the accident instead.

How to file

  1. Check the 14-day windowPer the Ministry of Manpower, the clock runs from the date of the Notice of Assessment or Notice of Computation, not from when you first read it.
  2. Submit the objection notice onlineFile through the "Management of Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Claims" eService.
  3. Use the paper form if you cannot file onlineGet the objection form from whoever is processing your claim (the insurer or MOM), and mail it to MOM Services Centre, 1500 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 339946.
  4. Provide evidence for an "other objections" disputeSupporting documents matter here: an unsubstantiated objection can be struck off at the pre-hearing conference.

What happens after

Most disputes resolve within 2 to 4 months, per the Ministry of Manpower; it takes longer for cases that need to be heard before the Assistant Commissioner (Work Injury Compensation). Once the dispute is resolved, the Ministry of Manpower issues a Certificate of Order to you, your employer, and the insurer, and all parties then have 21 days to pay the compensation it sets out. Failing to pay is an offence: the Ministry of Manpower states the penalty as "a fine of up to $15,000 or jail up to 12 months, or both," for a first offence.

If the notice you are disputing is your only recourse because your employer never engaged with the claim properly in the first place, read what to do if your WICA claim is disputed or rejected for the fuller picture.

Case review

Disputing a low assessment? Get matched with a law firm

Tell us what happened. Your enquiry comes to the Work Rights SG team and we read every one. We do not have a referral arrangement with a law firm in place at the moment, so we are not passing enquiries to anyone.

Not every case needs a lawyer. This is most useful if you were in a senior or management role, or the money at stake is substantial. For straightforward cases the free MOM and TADM route these guides describe usually gets there on its own.

If we set up a referral arrangement, can we match you with an employment law firm?

Nothing is passed to a law firm today, either way: we have no referral arrangement in place. This records what you would want if we set one up, and we would ask you again before passing anything on.

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Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to object to a Notice of Assessment?

You have 14 days from the date of the Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Notice of Computation (NOC) to object, per the Ministry of Manpower. You, your employer, or the insurer can all file within that window.

What are the two types of WICA dispute?

An objection to the percentage of permanent incapacity assessed, or "other objections" such as whether the injury was work-related, or whether the average monthly earnings figure on the notice is correct.

Who pays for a permanent incapacity re-assessment?

The objecting party pays the Work Injury Compensation Medical Board fee and the cost of any tests the board requires, whatever the outcome. If the fee is not paid in time, the Ministry of Manpower says the objection may be struck off.

How long does a dispute take to resolve?

Most disputes resolve within 2 to 4 months, per the Ministry of Manpower. It can take longer if the case needs to be heard before the Assistant Commissioner (Work Injury Compensation). That is the clock on the dispute only; the Ministry of Manpower puts a whole WICA claim at within 8 months for most cases.

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Work Rights SG provides general information about employment rights in Singapore. It does not create a lawyer–client relationship. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified employment lawyer.

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