Long-Term Benefits Review (EERB)
We want to help injured workers recover and return to work, when possible — to rebuild not just their income, but their sense of purpose, their independence, and their connection to the workforce. When returning to work can’t happen in any capacity, Extended Earnings Replacement Benefits (EERB) provides financial support for an ongoing loss of earnings.
Because your earning capacity can change over time, we review your EERB to make sure it continues to reflect your actual situation. Adjustments will only be made when there is a meaningful change so you can rely on stability while WCB maintains the ability to ensure accuracy over time.
Why Reviews Happen
Your earning capacity can change over time for several reasons:
Your situation might improve:
- You complete training or education that increases your skills
- You get a new job which pays more
- Medical treatment or rehabilitation helps you gain new abilities
- You start receiving other benefits, such as Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D)
Your situation might worsen:
- Your injury-related condition deteriorates
- New limitations (from your injury) develop that affect your ability to work
- Your earnings decrease due to your injury-related limitations
You’re required to notify us about changes to your circumstances—but it’s also in your best interest. Reporting changes promptly keeps your benefits correct and helps you avoid having to repay overpayments.
When Reviews Happen
In the fall of 2025, Bill 144 amended the Workers' Compensation Act to allow the WCB to review an Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB) at any time instead of only at fixed periods (at 3 and 5 years). The change became effective on January 1, 2026.
To support the implementation of this change to the Act, the WCB has drafted a new EERB review policy. Please see “Policy Background Paper: Review of Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB)” for the draft policy and supporting background information.
The new approach means:
- If things get worse for you, you don’t have to wait years for your benefit to be adjusted
- If you develop new earning capacity, your benefit can be adjusted more promptly to reflect that reality
- Your compensation stays in-step with your actual ability to earn
The goal is to ensure your EERB accurately reflects your current loss of earning capacity throughout your life, adjusting as your circumstances change.
What the review covers
When your benefits are reviewed, we will reach out to explain the process.
Here are the basics of what the review covers:
- Your medical condition—has your injury improved, worsened, or stayed the same?
- Your work situation—are you working, or not able to work? What is your working history since you started to receive EERB?
- Your income—has your income changed? Are you receiving Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefits? We review your income information from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
- Ongoing needs—do you still need treatment, support, or accommodations to stay at or return to work?
After the review, your EERB may:
- Stay the same if nothing important has changed
- Go up if you’re earning less due to your injury
- Go down if you’re earning more, or receiving CPP-D benefits
- End if your injury no longer limits what you can earn
We’ll adjust your benefit if the change in your loss of earnings would result in at least a 10% difference in your EERB amount.
The main purpose of the review is to make sure your benefits still reflect your current situation.
It’s important to file your taxes
It’s important to file your taxes on time to ensure your WCB benefits can continue uninterrupted at review time.
When changes take effect
If your EERB needs to be adjusted after a review:
- Your current benefit amount continues until the end of the month when the review is completed
- The new amount starts the following month
- In some cases, we may need to adjust your benefit retroactively to the date when the change in your earnings actually occurred
If an adjustment results in an overpayment, we’ll work with you on a repayment plan.
Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
You may also be eligible for Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits (CPP-D) in addition to your EERB. It’s important to know that receiving CPP-D will change the amount of your EERB, because CPP-D is treated as another form of income replacement. Even with this adjustment, your overall monthly income may still be higher if you qualify for CPP-D. Every situation is different, so talk with your case worker. They can explain how CPP-D might affect your benefits and help you understand what it means for your financial situation.
How CPP-D changes your EERB payment amount
If you start receiving CPP-D, your EERB is reduced by 50% of the amount you receive from the federal benefit. This is because EERB is designed to replace lost income. If CPP-D is paying part of that lost income, WCB makes up the difference—not the full amount. See an example calculation.
Visit Canada Pension Plan for more information.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must contact your case worker right away if you begin to receive CPP-D. If you receive both CPP-D and EERB, and WCB does not know about your CPP-D, this can cause an overpayment of your EERB, which you may need to pay back to WCB. We don’t want anyone to be in that situation.
Stay in contact
We’re here to support you with your recovery and benefits. If you have questions about an upcoming review of your EERB benefits, contact us.