What Do Workers’ Compensation Claim Payments Actually Cover?

7 October, 2020

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance payment to employees if they are injured at work or become sick due to their work.

Workers’ compensation includes payments to employees to cover their:

  • Wages while they’re not fit for work
  • Medical and hospital expenses
  • Rehabilitation costs

Injured workers have a range of statutory entitlements available to them in the Western Australian workers’ compensation scheme to assist them to recover from their workplace injury and return them to suitable and sustainable employment.

Wages

The Prescribed Amount is the maximum amount an injured worker can receive in terms of weekly payments for loss of earnings during the life of their claim. The Prescribed Amount is indexed annually based on changes in the Wage Price Index.

The Prescribed Amount for the 2016/2017 financial year is            $221,891.00.

 

Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses

All reasonable medical and rehabilitation expenses are covered by workers’ compensation including:

  • medical
  • hospital
  • nursing
  • occupational
  • rehabilitation, and
  • ambulance services

Medical expenses such as doctors, chemists, physiotherapy and chiropractic bills are also covered.

Work Cover may also approve payment for attendant care, modifications to a home or car, home help and transportation costs.

The maximum Prescribed Amount for the 2016/2017 financial year for these expenses are:

Medical and Hospital:                                     $66,567.00

Vocational Rehabilitation Expenses:             $15,532.00

*You can download the full Variations in Prescribed Amount and other Workers’ Compensation Payments effective 1 July 2016 here.

 

For more answers to frequently asked questions regarding workers’ compensation claims, please click here

This is not intended to be exhaustive advice in relation to the benefits available to workers’ compensation claims. If you have any questions, please contact our office on (08) 9581 4339. We provide an initial consultation at no cost to discuss your current claim and possible entitlements.  We also act on a no win no fee basis if we are able to assist with your claim.