Not working when the accident happened? No income to replace? The Non-Earner Benefit exists for exactly this situation: students, stay-at-home parents, retirees, and unemployed individuals who suffer complete inability to carry on a normal life after an auto accident.
Eligibility
- Must not have been employed or self-employed at time of accident
- Must demonstrate "complete inability to carry on a normal life" (high threshold)
- 4-week waiting period before payments begin
- Maximum duration: 104 weeks (2 years)
- Amount: $185/week (non-negotiable, no higher limit option)
The "complete inability" threshold
This is harder to prove than income replacement eligibility. You must demonstrate that you cannot carry out substantially all of the activities in which you ordinarily engaged before the accident. Partial limitations do not qualify. It must be near-total.
Since July 2026: OPTIONAL
Like all non-medical SABS benefits, NEB became optional. If you are a student, retiree, or homemaker and did not add NEB to your policy, you receive $0 in weekly benefits after an accident. Only mandatory medical/rehab coverage applies.
Practical reality
$185/week ($9,620/year) for 2 years = $19,240 maximum lifetime payout from NEB. It is modest — designed as basic subsistence support, not income replacement. But for a retired person hit by a car with no other coverage, $185/week covers groceries and transport during recovery.
