Are you overwhelmed navigating the system?

Government programs, disability applications, tax credits, benefit claims — the support is real, and you may be entitled to it. But getting there means knowing which forms exist, which ones apply to you, who needs to sign them, what documentation to attach, where everything goes, and what happens next.

And then following up when nothing happens. And then following up again.

If that process has defeated you, you’re not alone. The system isn’t designed to be easy. It’s designed to be thorough — and thorough means complicated.

Do any of these sound familiar?

• You don’t know which form you need — or whether a form even exists for your situation
• You don’t know who has to fill out which section — you, your doctor, your employer, your commanding officer
• You started an application and got stuck halfway through
• You submitted something and never heard back — and don’t know if that’s normal or if something went wrong
• You meant to follow up but it kept getting pushed, and now months have passed
• You forget where things stand, what you sent, what’s missing, or what comes next
• You were told “no” once and assumed that was the end of it
• The paperwork pile on your table hasn’t moved in six months

None of that means you aren’t entitled to support. It means the administrative side of getting that support is hard to manage alone — especially when focus, follow-through, or capacity is already stretched thin.

Who I work with

Veterans

VAC disability applications, Pension for Life, rehabilitation programs, mental health services, and retroactive claims. Veterans are often entitled to benefits they’ve never been told about — and even when they know, the paperwork and follow-through is a full-time job. The VAC system has specific forms, specific processes, and specific timelines. Knowing which one applies to your situation — and what your doctor, commanding officer, or service record needs to contribute — is where most people get lost.

Adults with ADHD

The CRA Disability Tax Credit (form T2201), provincial disability programs, and workplace accommodation documentation. The T2201 alone requires a licensed practitioner to certify specific sections — and most people don’t know that, don’t know which practitioner qualifies, or don’t know how to ask. Provincial programs have their own forms, their own timelines, and their own renewal requirements. These are benefits you may already be entitled to that are simply sitting unclaimed.

Anyone stuck in a system

Federal and provincial benefits, government applications, insurance documentation, accommodation requests, disability support programs. If there’s paperwork you haven’t been able to get through — because it’s overwhelming, because you don’t know where to start, or because follow-through keeps falling off the table — that’s exactly where I work.

Common forms and processes I help navigate

• VAC Application for Disability Benefits (VAC 1879) — what to include, what your doctor needs to provide, how to document your service connection
• Pension for Life — understanding the three components and which applies to your situation
• VAC rehabilitation and mental health services — how to access them, what the referral process looks like
• Retroactive benefit claims — what can be reconsidered and how
• CRA Disability Tax Credit Certificate (T2201) — who qualifies, which practitioner must certify, how to submit
• Provincial disability support program applications — eligibility, documentation, timelines
• Workplace accommodation requests — what documentation your employer can ask for, what you’re required to provide

If you don’t know whether any of these applies to you, that’s exactly what the first conversation is for.

What I do

I’m EJ MacKenzie, a Benefits Navigation Consultant. I work with people who are stuck in the administrative side of getting what they’re entitled to.

Not a lawyer. Not a government representative. Your own hired assistant — someone who will:

• Research what you’re actually eligible for
• Figure out which forms apply to your situation and where to find them
• Identify who needs to complete which sections — you, your doctor, your employer, or someone else
• Help you gather the right documentation and get it organized
• Track where each application stands
• Follow up when things go quiet — and keep following up
• Keep things moving until it’s done

I don’t represent you before a tribunal or sign legal documents on your behalf. What I do is make sure the right paperwork gets completed, submitted, and followed through — so nothing keeps sitting on your plate.

I’m based outside Ottawa and work with clients across Canada via video call.

About EJ

I’ve spent decades working with adults navigating systems that weren’t built for them. As a Chief Administrative Officer in remote Arctic communities, Executive Director of a large organization, post-secondary instructor, and ESL educator, I’ve seen what happens when capable people are failed by bureaucracy and the assumption that everyone can just figure it out.

I work with veterans and adults with ADHD because the overlap is real: both groups are managing more than most people can see, often without the right organizational support. I believe in plain talk, practical help, and actually getting things done.

Ready to get things off your plate?

Start with a free 20-minute call. We’ll talk about where you are, what you need, and what support looks like for your situation. Pricing is based on scope — call to discuss a quote.

EJ MacKenzie provides personal navigation and organizational assistance. Services are not legal representation, formal advocacy before government bodies, therapy, or medical advice. You remain in control of your application at all times. If you are in crisis, please contact a qualified healthcare provider or call 988.