Are you an employee in Queensland who has been injured in the course of your duty and wish to be compensated? Or is one of your family members a victim of work-related injuries? Whatever the case, Queensland has an elaborate set legal system that provides for compensation of employees who are injured in the line of duty. You can lodge workers’ compensation claims to cover your medical bills rehabilitation costs, loss of income and lump sum payments arising from the injuries sustained. WorkCover Queensland will assess your eligibility and all the claims thereof for compensation, in line with the WorkCover compensation and Rehabilitation Act.
How to Start the Claims Process
Injured employees are supposed to lodge their claim for a rightful compensation through their employer using the workers’ compensation medical certificate. Your employer will then prepare all relevant information by filling the form to be forwarded together with other documentation. The Regional Office facilitates onward submission of the duly filled form in order to facilitate a timely determination of the claim by the WorkCover Queensland. It is important to note that this cover does not include non-work-related injuries such as sickness. Instead, employees who report sickness cases should apply for a seek leave in accordance with the regulations and leave policy. If you happen to have exhausted your sick leave, you are allowed to apply for 75% payments of your monthly incomes or wages as provided for in the Queensland Super’s eligibility criteria and income protection policy. In the event that you sustain permanent injuries leading to permanent disability, you are allowed to apply and claim disability benefits.
What Next After Making a WorkCover Claim?
After the claim has been lodged, it is forwarded to a WorkCover Queensland claims representative for further consideration and determination. Claims are determined as expeditiously as possible. Generally, the office handling the claims processing will contact the employer and the employee at least within 3 working days after the lodging of the claim. At this time, you will be given an opportunity to provide your details of the injury sustained before the claim is finally made. They will also contact the employer for further details, including wage details and to inform the employer that a claim has been lodged against their workers’ compensation policy.
How Your Workcover Claims in Queensland is Decided
The WorkCover Queensland follows the guidelines laid down by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. The Criteria used may consider but not limited to the following:
• That the claim was lodged within the regulation period
• The claimant was a worker by the employer at the time of the injury and the employer was not self-insured
• The person making the claim is an eligible worker
• The injuries are work-related
• Injuries were as a result or in the course of the employment or that the employment was a major contributor of the sustained injuries
WorkCover collects the information from the employer, doctors, and the worker and any other witnesses such as independent medical examiners. All the information obtained is aimed at helping WorkCover Queensland to make a decision. Once your claim has been determined and approved, they will ask you to provide bank details to allow remittance of payments to you.
