How to lodge a Weekly Payments Claim for compensation < Back

In order to claim weekly payments or medical expenses it is necessary to submit a completed ' Workers Injury Claim Form '. This form can be obtained from your employer, the WorkCover Authority (ph 9641 1555), a post office or by phoning Workforce Legal (ph 1800 134 204) as part of our WorkCover claim kit.

You should complete the form carefully. Remember that your description of the injury may have some ramifications at a later date if, for example, you were claiming damages due to negligence. It is generally better to complete the form in a matter of fact and unemotional manner. Generally, brief general descriptions of how an injury occurred are better than overly specific descriptions. If the claim relates to a stress claim, you should read the material contained on the Workforce Legal website about stress claims.

When you have completed the claim form you should attach a WorkCover medical certificate certifying your incapacity. This certificate is generally obtained from your General Practitioner. It is important to remember to complete the declaration on the rear of the certificate which asks about any work you may have performed during the period of the certified incapacity.

It is necessary to have both a certificate and a completed and signed claim form to constitute a ' valid claim '. Receipts for any medical expenses you have incurred should be attached. You should retain a copy of the claim form for your records.

Generally, a claim form is served on an employer. If you anticipate some difficulty with your employer then it can be wise to serve the claim by registered mail. If you believe that your employer will refuse to accept the claim or, alternatively, if your employer is no longer in business or cannot be located, the claim can be served on the Victorian WorkCover Authority which is located at 222 Exhibition St Melbourne Victoria. If you are sending the claim to WorkCover direct you should include an explanation why this is necessary.
  • Your employer is required to forward the claim form within 10 days to the employer's Claims Administration Agent. This is usually a commercial insurance company. Some large employers are self insured which means they manage their own claims.

  • The agent has 38 days from receipt of your claim form by the employer to reject or accept your claim.

  • You can contact the Victorian WorkCover Authority on 9641-1555 to find out the name of your Claims Administration Agent. It is possible to ring your agent to find out whether they have received a claim.

  • WorkCover may arrange for you to be medically examined by doctors retained by WorkCover. The Workforce Legal website contains some useful tips for attending these examinations.

  • WorkCover may contact you to take a statement from you. You are not obliged to do so, but it can improve the chance of acceptance of the claim if you do. Before you agree to provide a statement, you should read the information on the Workforce Legal website about providing statements.

  • If your claim is rejected, you can refer the matter to the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service for conciliation. The Workforce Legal website contains detailed information about referring the matter to conciliation. To obtain a referral form or information about referring your matter to the Accident Compensation Conciliation Service telephone Workforce Legal on 1800 134 204.

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