Ten biggest mistakes you can make 
Here are the ten biggest mistakes you can make when dealing with the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission:
- Relying on a Commission delegate to fill in your claim form.
- Failing to obtain independent specialist medical advice (that is, advice from somebody who was not recommended by the Commission).
- Using an advisor who is not legally qualified to help you with your claim – or worse still, not seeking advice at all.
- Accepting the Commission’s view as to whether you have an injury or disease giving you a right to compensation.
- Accepting an offer of compensation without seeking independent legal advice – we see many clients who are tens of thousands of dollars worse off than they should be by accepting the Commission’s assessment.
- Accepting any decision involving the offsetting of your entitlements without having the calculations independently checked.
- Accepting the Commission’s view as to whether the ‘old’ or ‘new’ scheme is best for you if you have service spaning 1 July 2004.
- Thinking that the Commission has your best interests at heart when you are injured or unwell – just ask one of our clients what their experience was with the Commission or MCRS.
- Believing the Commission will quickly determine your claim – correspondence should be acknowledged within 28 days and your claim determined within 3 months.
- Believing that a rejected claim or lapsed time-frame means the end of the road.