How much does WorkCover pay in Queensland?
WorkCover Queensland provides a number of benefits to injured workers, including weekly compensation, designed to supplement your weekly age while you are unable to work.
If you want our specific opinion on what you’re entitled to, give us a call on 1300 WARMINGS (1300 927 646) or request a call back here. Clear, reliable AND obligation free advice. We don’t give you generic advices full of ‘maybes’.
If you’re just looking for information, keep reading.
How much you are entitled to receive depends on a number of factors including:
- The extent you are unable to work;
- Whether you are full-time of casual;
- Whether your employment is governed by an industrial instrument;
- Whether you have one job, or more than 1 employer.
Definitions
Normal weekly earnings means:
“the normal weekly earnings of a worker from employment (continuous or intermittent) had by the worker in the 12 months immediately before the day the worker sustained an injury.”
If a worker has not had employment for the 12 months immediately before the day the worker sustained an injury, normal weekly earnings are the normal weekly earnings of the worker from employment (continuous or intermittent) had by the worker in the period in which the worker has had the employment.
QOTE for the financial year means:
“the amount of Queensland full-time adult persons ordinary time earnings declared by the Australian Statistician in the original series of the statistician’s average weekly earnings publication most recently published before the start of the financial year;”
or
“if the amount mentioned in paragraph (a) is less than QOTE for the previous financial year—the amount that is QOTE for the previous financial year.”
As at 1 July, 2024, the current QOTE figure is $1,844.70.
How much are you entitled to?
If your employment is not governed by an industrial instrument you’ll receive the following:
- For the first 26 weeks of the incapacity, the greater of 85% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or 80% of QOTE;
- From the end of the first 26 weeks to 2 years of the incapacity, the greater of 75% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or 70% of QOTE;
- From the end of the first 2 years of the incapacity until the end of the first 5 years of the incapacity:
If you can demonstrate your injury may resulted in a DPI of more than 15%, the greater of 75% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or 70% of QOTE. - If you cannot demonstrate your injury may result in a DPI of more than 15%, an amount equal to the single pension rate.
If your employment is governed by an industrial instrument (i.e. local government or public service) you’ll receive the following:
- For the first 26 weeks of the incapacity, the greater of 85% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or the amount payable under the industrial instrument that governs your employment.
- From the end of the first 26 weeks to 2 years of the incapacity, the greater of 75% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or 70% of QOTE.
- From the end of the first 2 years of the incapacity until the end of the first 5 years of the incapacity:
If you can demonstrate your injury may resulted in a DPI of more than 15%, the greater of 75% of your Normal Weekly Earnings, or 70% of QOTE. - If you cannot demonstrate your injury may result in a DPI of more than 15%, an amount equal to the single pension rate.
Example
Let’s assume James is a concreter who earns $1,750.00 per week. James suffers a back injury on 1 February and is unable to return to work until 1 October, being a period of 34 weeks or 8 months.
First 26 Weeks
- For the first 26 weeks, being from 1 February 2024 to 1 August 2024, James will be paid the greater of 85% of his Normal Weekly Earnings, or 80% of QOTE.
- 85% of his Normal Weekly Earnings is $1,487.50. 80% For the 2024 year QOTE is $1,844.70. 80% of QOTE is $1,475.76.
Outcome
- Because 85% of his Normal Weekly Earnings is higher, he will be paid $1,487.50 each week for the first 26 weeks.
End of 26 weeks to 1 August 2024
- From 1 August 2024 to 1 October 2024, James will be paid the greater of 75% of his Normal Weekly Earnings, or 70% of QOTE.
- 75% of his Normal Weekly Earnings is $1,400.00. 80% For the 2024 year QOTE is $1,844.70. 80% of QOTE is $1,383.53.
Outcome
- Because 80% of his Normal Weekly Earnings is higher than 70% of QOTE, he will be paid $1,400.00 each week until he returns to work on 1 August 2024.
Why aren’t you getting your full wage?
We are often asked why injured workers don’t receive their entire pay while the are unable to work.
As unfair as it seems, the reason behind it, is to balance:
- the need to compensate injured workers;
- the priority of protecting the low paid;
- the belief that there should be financial incentives to return to work quickly; and
- the need to minimise expenditure and hence employer premiums under the scheme.[1]
If you want some advice, call the team at Warmings on 1300 WARMINGS (1300 927 646), or request a call back below.
