Published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 6 November 2014
Thomas, in his late 50’s, works as a sawyer in a local saw mill. Unfortunately, Thomas has an accident at work whereby he suffers an injury to his lower back. The injury prevents him from working.
Thomas has worked in the saw mill industry his entire life and he has no other skills that would allow him to take on a “light duties” role.
A claim is made by Thomas through his employer to the Workers Compensation Insurer and Thomas receives weekly payments equal to 95% of his wage for a period of 13 weeks after which the payments reduce to 80% of his wage.
Thomas sees his Solicitor about his rights.
He is informed that unfortunately, he will only be able to receive 80% of his wage from 14 weeks to 130 weeks.
He is also informed by his Solicitor that after just 130 weeks (2.5 years), he will not receive any Workers Compensation payments unless he is working more than 15 hours per week because he is not “totally incapacitated”.
He is also informed that even if he is able to work more than 15 hours per week, he will only receive payments up until 260 weeks (5 years), unless his level of impairment is more than 20% whole person impairment, which is a very high level of impairment.
Thomas is informed that he will only receive payments to cover his medical expenses up until one year after the weekly payments discontinue or if he has more than 30% whole person impairment.
Unfortunately, the injury to Thomas puts his plans for a comfortable retirement at risk as he will not be able to earn an income past approximately two and a half years because of the nature of his injury and his inability to work.
It is most unfortunate that after working hard his whole life, Thomas will soon be forced to apply for Centrelink benefits as opposed to receiving workers compensation payments and he will not have the treatment he feels he is in entitled to in the future.
