WORKCOVER UPDATES

WorkCover WA

New prescribed amount

Injured workers in WA have a range of statutory entitlements available to help them recover from their workplace injury.

There is a maximum amount (Prescribed Amount) an injured worker can receive in terms of weekly payments for loss of earnings during the life of their compensable claim. The Prescribed Amount is indexed annually.

The new Prescribed Amount of $235,971 came into effect on 1 July 2020.  

Changes to entitlements include:

• Weekly Compensation Payments: the prescribed gross weekly compensation amount is $2,645.90 (maximum weekly entitlement)
• Medical and Hospital Expenses: these are capped at a maximum of 30% of the Prescribed Amount (or $70,791) for reasonable expenses
• Vocational Rehabilitation: this is capped at a maximum of 7% of the Prescribed Amount (or $16,518) for approved vocational rehabilitation providers to assist workers with their functional capacity
• Vehicle Running Expenses: $0.48 per kilometre is the prescribed rate for reasonable expenses.

For more information, visit WorkCover WA.

EBMs 2020/21 Notice to WA Workers’ Compensation Clients is also available and summarises revised worker’s entitlements, effective 1 July 2020.

icare NSW

Insurance premiums frozen

The icare workers’ compensation scheme, which protects 3.2 million workers across more than 325,000 businesses, has been instructed to keep its premium rates unchanged from 30 June, saving businesses more than $325 million.

icare advised premiums will be maintained at 1.4% of average base wages. icare had already reduced premiums by $52 million for more than 10,000 businesses in anticipation of lower wages caused by closures and other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. It also paused more than $43 million in premiums for 2,000 customers facing financial hardship. Together with the premium rate freeze, businesses will receive $420 million in financial relief this year.

For more information on workers’ insurance premium relief delivered for NSW businesses, please visit icare.

Changes to the NT Return to Work Legislation 2020

The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has passed amendments to the Return to Work Act 1986 and Return to Work Regulations 1986. The Act will commence on the 29^th of July 2020.

For complete details on changes to the Return to Work Act 2020, visit NT Worksafe.

WorkCover Queensland

New laws now in effect

Following the passing of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2019 by the Queensland parliament last October, new rules commenced 1 July.

As of 1 July, employers are now required to report all injuries within 8 business days and any payments made to workers to their insurer.

Workers’ compensation coverage has also been extended to unpaid interns and employers who meet the criteria need to provide the details of their rehabilitation and return to work co-ordinators to their insurer.

For more information please visit WorkCover Queensland.

EBM’s specialist Injury Management team

Workers’ Compensation is complex, and EBM can assist you with every aspect of your Workers’ Compensation policy. Please contact us to see how we can help.

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