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Can I make a second claim for lump sum compensation for permanent impairment?

The assessment of whole person impairment is now vitally important as it effects all entitlements to workers compensation under the Act.

The Workers Compensation Act allows an injured worker to make only one claim for lump sum compensation for permanent impairment if the claim was made after 19 June 2012. You cannot return and try to increase the assessment of whole person impairment once the claim has been made.
Often injuries deteriorate over time or an injured worker may require further surgery some years after the initial injury and this may increase the level of whole person impairment.

However, if you have already obtained an assessment of whole person impairment the Workers Compensation Act prevents you from returning and trying to claim an increase in the level of whole person impairment.

Duration of Medical Expenses Coverage

Medical expenses are payable for a maximum of either two or five years (after the last day on which you receive weekly payments of compensation) unless you have a whole person impairment of 21% or greater.

What is 21% permanent impairment?

In NSW workers compensation, a 21% permanent impairment (PI) refers to a lasting impact on your whole body’s ability to work, assessed by a qualified medical professional. This rating signifies a moderately severe injury with limitations in your work capacity. Here’s what a 21% PI generally entails:

  • Weekly Payments: You might be entitled to ongoing weekly compensation payments beyond the usual five-year limit, subject to your ability to work.
  • Lump Sum Payment: You may be eligible for a lump sum compensation amount based on the assessed impairment level.
  • Medical Treatment: You’ll likely continue receiving medical treatment, rehabilitation, or other support services related to your injury.
  • Work Injury Damages Claim: you may be able to sue your employer for negligence

Criteria for Work Injury Damages Claims

You are unable to make a claim for Work Injury Damages (a negligence claim against your employer) unless your whole person impairment is 15% or greater.

It is important not to make any claim for whole person impairment unless you are satisfied that your injury is unlikely to deteriorate further, or you are satisfied that you will exceed 21% whole person impairment.

If you exceed 21% whole person impairment this entitles you to ongoing payments of weekly compensation until retirement age (subject to the insurer conducting work capacity assessments every 2 years) and payment of medical expenses for life.  It also allows you to investigate whether you may have a claim for Work Injury Damages, that is, a negligence claim against your employer.

What is 15% whole body impairment?

A 15% whole body impairment (WBI) indicates a lasting restriction on your overall work capacity. However, the limitations are typically considered less severe than a 21% rating.
Here’s what a 15% WBI might involve:

  • Weekly Payments: You’re generally entitled to weekly compensation payments for a maximum of five years.
  • Lump Sum Payment: You may be eligible for a lump sum compensation amount based on the assessed impairment level.
  • Medical Treatment: You’ll likely receive medical treatment and support services related to your injury up to a maximum of 5 years from when the weekly payments stop.
  • Work Injury Damages Claim: you may be able to sue your employer for negligence

Importance of Strategic Claim Planning

At Garling and Co we are starting to receive many enquiries from people who have seen a Lawyer and have had their whole person impairment assessed without considering that they only have one chance to make a claim for lump sum compensation.

Considerations Before Claiming Lump Sum Compensation

If you have obtained an assessment of whole person impairment of 14% or less, this will prevent you from making a claim for Work Injury Damages and you can only receive weekly payments for a maximum of 5 years and medical expenses for a maximum of 5 years thereafter.

It is therefore a very important decision to make as to when to make a claim for lump sum compensation and how this decision will affect you rights to ongoing weekly compensation and medical expenses and whether or not you can make a claim for Work Injury Damages.

You should ensure that this decision is not made lightly and that your Lawyer discusses with you the ramifications of what will happen to your future entitlements to workers compensation should you not obtain an assessment of 15% or 21% whole person impairment.

Having said that, it may be possible to make a further claim for lump sum compensation for whole person impairment in certain circumstances.

Reconsideration of Workers’ Compensation Decisions

Section 350(3) of the 1998 Act allows for a Certificate of Determination to be set aside or rescinded by the Workers Compensation Commission.

The Workers Compensation Commission considered in the matter of Samuel v Sebel that a Certificate of Determination may be set aside in consideration of the following:

  1. The Section gives the Commission a wide discretion to reconsider its previous decisions.
  2. While the discretion is a wide one it must be exercised fairly and with due regard to relevant considerations including the reasons for any delay in bring the application for reconsideration.
  3. One of the factors to be weighed in deciding whether to exercise the discretion is the public interest that litigation must not proceed indefinitely.
  4. Reconsideration may be allowed if there is new evidence that could not with reasonable diligence have been obtained at the first decision and is later obtained and that new evidence, if it had been put before an doctor on the first occasion, would have been likely to lead to a different result.
  5. A mistake or oversight by a legal adviser will not give rise to a ground for reconsideration.
  6. The Commission has a duty to do justice between the parties in accordance with the substantial merits of the case.

In taking all those matters into consideration the Commission may decide to rescind or set aside a previous Certificate of Determination assessing the level of whole person impairment if it is in the interest of justice to do so.

This may include cases where there has been a significant deterioration of a worker’s condition that was not foreseen previously or where a worker has sustained a subsequent consequential injury and would be entitled to additional lump sum compensation.

It is certainly a Section which will be looked at over the next few years to determine whether injured workers can return for a second assessment of whole person impairment under Section 350 of the Act.

If you need assistance with your claim, please do not hesitate to contact us as follows;

  1. Complete our Free case assessment form
  2. Email us
  3. Give us a call on (02) 8329 9500 and talk to our specialised lawyers

Insurance companies and their employees won’t tell you everything you need to know to get all the compensation you’re entitled to. You need to fight back by arming yourself with all the knowledge you can. Read this 6-point guide which will help you understand your rights and entitlements under Workers’ Compensation legislation when making a successful claim for work injury compensation or damages.

Garling & Co Lawyers

Matthew Garling

Matthew Garling is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law approved by New South Wales Law Society. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia. Matthew is also a member of...
Angie & B.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
Nelson B.
02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
Brad M.
02:19 28 Jun 24
I worked with Garling & Co for 3+ years, the team has been incredible and I could not have been happier with Kerry's support and the results produced!I highly recommend choosing them as your... representatives!!read more
Ray H.
07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
READ ALL TESTIMONIALS

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Angie & B.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
Nelson B.
02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
Brad M.
02:19 28 Jun 24
I worked with Garling & Co for 3+ years, the team has been incredible and I could not have been happier with Kerry's support and the results produced!I highly recommend choosing them as your... representatives!!read more
Ray H.
07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
University of Technology, Sydney
Member of Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of NSW Specialist Accreditation
University of Sydney
Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales
The law society of nsw professional standards scheme logo.
University of Technology, Sydney
Member of Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of NSW Specialist Accreditation
University of Sydney
Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales
The law society of nsw professional standards scheme logo.
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