When Your EERB is Reviewed

We help injured workers recover and return to work, when possible — to rebuild their income and independence, and because staying connected to the workforce supports better health. If your ability to work and earn income is impacted by an injury in the longer term, Extended Earnings Replacement Benefits (EERB) can provide financial support for your ongoing loss of earnings.

Because your earning capacity can change over time, we review 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 accuracy of your benefit over time.

Why Reviews Happen

Your earning capacity can change over time for several reasons. Examples include:

Your situation might improve:

• You complete training or education that increases your skills
• You start earning more, or get a job which pays more
• Medical treatment or rehabilitation helps your abilities improve
• You start receiving other benefits, such as a Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefit

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

When Reviews Happen

In the fall of 2025, Bill 144 amended the Workers' Compensation Act to allow WCB to review an Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB) at any time, instead of only at fixed periods. That change took effect January 1, 2026. Following public consultation, WCB's Board of Directors approved the final policy on how EERB reviews work in March 2026.

WCB can review your EERB at any time, for as long as you're receiving it — this doesn't stop after five years. Generally, you can expect a review once a year for your first five years. After that, WCB reviews your EERB as needed, for example if your circumstances change.

There are a few situations where WCB may adjust that review schedule:

• If your earning capacity is very unlikely to change, WCB may space reviews out further (for example, to your third or fifth year) or stop annual reviews altogether.
• If you're in a vocational rehabilitation plan that runs past your fifth year, WCB may keep reviewing your EERB annually until that plan wraps up.

WCB may also review your EERB on at any time when needed — most often when there is a change in your circumstances (see below).

The goal is to make sure your EERB accurately reflects your earning capacity throughout your life, adjusting as your circumstances change.

Read the full policy and how it was developed in Extended Earnings Replacement Benefit (EERB) Reviews: Final Policy Decision.

Your Responsibility to Report Changes

You must tell WCB right away if something changes that could affect your EERB. This includes:

• A change in your employment status or earnings
• Starting to receive CPP-D benefits
• A change in your functional abilities

What the Review Covers

When your benefits are reviewed, we will reach out to explain the process. Here's what a review looks at:

• Your earnings — WCB checks your actual earnings information from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and may also ask for pay stubs or other proof.
• CPP-D benefits — whether you're now receiving Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits.
• Medical and functional information — updated information about your condition and abilities.
• Labour market and vocational information — where relevant, information about work opportunities available to you.

After the Review, Your EERB May:

• Stay the same if nothing important has changed
• Go up if your earning capacity is reduced because of how your injury affects your abilities
• Go down if you're earning more, able to earn more, or receiving CPP-D benefits
• End if the review shows your work-related injury no longer causes any loss of earnings

WCB will adjust your benefit if the change in your loss of earnings would result in at least a 10% difference in your EERB amount — this threshold comes directly from the Workers' Compensation Act.

The main purpose of the review is to make sure your benefits still reflect your current situation.

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.

Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits

You may also be eligible for a Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit (CPP-D) in addition to your EERB. If you receive a CPP-D, WCB will always adjust your EERB to reflect it — this happens regardless of the 10% threshold that applies to other kinds of changes. Even with this adjustment, your overall monthly income may still be higher if you qualify for a CPP-D. Every situation is different, so talk with your case worker. They can explain how this 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.

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.