How long does it take to get WorkCover payments?
If the WorkCover insurer accepts your claim, it should take 4-6 weeks (approximately) from when you completed and signed the claim form, for you to get WorkCover payments.
If you want to read more about how long you have to actually lodge a claim, you can visit this page.
If your claim gets rejected, you may have to wait anywhere from 2 – 12 months (approximately).
However, there are a few variables to consider, which will be explored in this article.
Once you complete and sign the WorkCover claim form, your employer must send it off to their insurance company.
The insurance company then has one month to make a determination on your claim.
If they accept your claim, you’ll be paid WorkCover payments immediately. You’ll also be entitled to be backpaid payments.
If they reject your claim, then it could take anywhere from a few weeks to six months or more before you are paid WorkCover payments.
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Here’s a guide as to how long it might take before you receive WorkCover payments:
Claim accepted and accepted: |
4-6 weeks from lodgement |
Claim rejected and proceed to conciliation: | 2-5 months from lodgement |
Claim rejected and proceed from conciliation to medical panel (and succeed at panel): | 3-8 months from lodgement |
Claim rejected and proceed to Magistrates court from conciliation (and settle by negotiation or hearing): | 4-12 months from claim lodgement. |
Note: the above time periods are general estimates only.
There may be instances where it may take you longer to get WorkCover payments.
For example, if you need to be medically assessed by a specialist doctor, this can delay things.
Also keep in mind that you’ll need to have valid certificates of capacity in order to be paid WorkCover payments.
Any delay in obtaining these and providing them to the insurance company, will likely result in a delay in obtaining payments. Copyright – this is original content from TheWorkInjurySite.com.au.
Conclusion
If your claim is accepted you should be paid WorkCover payments within about 4-6 weeks after your claim has been lodged.
If your claim has been rejected, then it could take anywhere from 2-12 months, depending upon what avenues you choose to contest the rejection, and how contested it is by the insurance company.
Written by the Work Injury team
We’re experts in the law relating to work injuries, and enjoy writing helpful articles just like this one.