Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB)
WCB’s first goal after a workplace injury is always to support a worker's recovery and safe return to work. Most workers return to work with the help of medical treatment, workplace accommodations, return-to-work support, and in some cases vocational rehabilitation services.
For some workers, a workplace injury causes a lasting impact that reduces their ability to earn what they did before — even with that support in place. When this happens, an Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB) provides ongoing income support. This page explains who qualifies, how the benefit works, and what to expect over time.
What EERB is
EERB is income support for workers who have a permanent medical impairment (PMI) from a workplace injury and who, because of that injury, cannot earn what they earned before.
EERB is different from the short-term income support (Temporary Earnings Replacement Benefit, or TERB) you may have received earlier in your claim. TERB supports you during recovery; EERB supports you if your injury has a lasting effect on your ability to earn.
Receiving EERB doesn't mean WCB stops supporting your return to work. If your ability to work or earn income changes, whether it be through recovery, retraining, or a new opportunity — we want to help support that, and your benefits can be reviewed at any time to ensure they match your situation
Who qualifies for EERB
Before EERB is considered, WCB works with you on recovery, treatment, and — wherever possible — a safe return to work. EERB applies when, even with that support, a permanent impairment means you still can't earn what you did before.
You may be eligible for EERB if all of the following apply:
- You have a permanent impairment from a workplace injury, confirmed through a permanent impairment assessment.
- You’ve reached maximum medical recovery — the point where further medical improvement is not expected.
- Because of the injury, you can’t return to your pre-injury earnings — either because you cannot return to work at all, or because the work you can do pays less than what you earned before.
Being unable to return to work in any way at all is rare, and something we always want to avoid. More commonly, EERB applies when a worker can work but the work they can safely do is different from what they did before, and earns less.
How EERB is calculated
EERB is calculated based on the difference between what you earned before the injury and what you can reasonably earn after the injury, doing suitable work.
Here’s what that means:
- WCB pays 85% of the difference between what you did earn and what you earn now, or what you are capable of earning in suitable available work
- Suitable work is work that fits within your functional abilities after the injury
- If you also receive Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D), you can get both — but CPP-D is factored into your EERB amount, so it's important to tell your case worker as soon as you're approved. EERB payments are made monthly
For the full calculation method, more about suitable work, and what functional abilities means see How long-term benefit payments are calculated.
See the monthly payment schedule
Reviews of your EERB
EERB is a long-term benefit, but your situation can change over time, including your ability to work or earn income. WCB reviews your EERB to make sure it continues to reflect what’s actually happening and to make sure we’re supporting any new opportunity for you to return to work or your ability to earn income independently.
Learn more about when reviews happen, what they cover, and what to expect.
Appealing an EERB decision
Any decision related to EERB can be appealed within 90 days from receiving a written decision.
Workers can find out more about appeals here.
Employers can find out more about appeals here.
Questions?
EERB rules can be complex, and every worker’s situation is different. For questions about a specific claim, contact your case worker.
Call us: 1-800-870-3331
Or sign in to WCB Online to send a secure message.