WorkCover payments extended for long-term injured workers

Injured workers who’ve had their payments terminated in the last five months are now legally entitled to receive them for a further six months, thanks to a raft of changes announced by the Victorian State Government.

The Victorian State Government changes will result in many long-term injured workers being entitled to an extra six months’ worth of weekly payments.

The new laws will ensure those who are due to transition off the payments are supported if they are unable to find employment due to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

Previously, WorkCover insurers were only required to provide three months’ notice before terminating payments for workers once they had received payments up until the 130 week mark. The new laws have temporarily extended this notice period to nine months.

The changes to the 130 week notice period will apply from 1 December 2019 onwards, meaning they will be backdated and may be available for workers to claim.

The COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill 2020 was passed through the Victorian parliament on 23 April and includes a range of temporary measures to ensure people are supported throughout the coronavirus crisis.

If you have had your payments terminated at 130 weeks from 1 December 2019, I encourage you to contact Slater and Gordon as soon as possible, to discuss how the law changes impact you.

- Slater and Gordon Practice Group Leader James Casey