A WorkCover payout can help you weather the financial turmoil of a work-related injury or illness that keeps you from doing your job. But many workers wonder: How long do I have to wait before my expenses start to get paid?
WorkCover Payout Timeline
Waiting for workers’ compensation can be very difficult. Here are several important things to know about timing when you make a WorkCover claim:
- You should notify your employer of a workplace injury or illness as soon as possible (ideally within 30 days), complete a Worker’s Injury Claim Form and provide it to your employer.
- The employer has 10 calendar days to notify their WorkSafe agent.
- The WorkSafe agent then has up to 28 calendar days to assess the claim and determine whether to accept liability.
- If the claim is accepted:
- WorkCover should start paying reasonable costs for approved medical services immediately.
- Any payments you make at the time of service will be reimbursed by WorkCover within 30 days.
- If you are issued a Certificate of Capacity, weekly payments should begin promptly once your ‘pre-injury average weekly earnings’ have been calculated and may continue for up to 130 weeks if your ability to work is impacted.
Lump sum compensation entitlements take longer to obtain. More money is at stake, so there are eligibility criteria and procedural requirements you need to meet. This can be time-consuming and frustrating to navigate on your own, which is why we encourage you to seek guidance from a proven WorkCover lawyer in Victoria.
Get Help from ADM Today
Arnold Dallas McPherson Injury Lawyers (ADM) have obtained some of Victoria’s largest recoveries in workers’ compensation matters. We strive to get all of the benefits you deserve and maximise your WorkCover payout.
Call ADM at 1800 242 588 if you were injured on the job in Melbourne, Bendigo or elsewhere in Victoria. Your initial consultation is FREE, and you don’t pay fees unless we secure a favourable result on your behalf.
WorkCover Payout FAQs
Every workers’ compensation claim is unique. You may be entitled to:
- Weekly payments to compensate you for lost income
- Coverage of medical expenses
- Support for mental injuries through provisional payments
- Contributions to super, if you receive weekly payments for more than 52 weeks
- A permanent impairment benefit, if you have a permanent injury
- Common law compensation for serious injuries due to an employer’s negligence
WorkCover solicitors at Arnold Dallas McPherson Injury Lawyers can evaluate your claim and fight for the full compensation you deserve. We have decades of experience representing injured workers throughout Victoria.
Providers will generally bill WorkCover directly if a claim has been accepted, in which case your providers will be reimbursed directly. If you have to pay for any ‘reasonable and necessary’ medical expenses out of your own pocket, submit the receipt to WorkSafe and you will be reimbursed within 30 days.
Entitlement to weekly payments is generally decided within 28 days of receiving your Worker’s Injury Claim Form and Certificate of Capacity. Once the claim is accepted, you should start getting weekly payments shortly after your ‘pre-injury average weekly earnings’ has been calculated.
Decisions about provisional payments are usually made within 5 days. This allows you to get prompt help for a mental injury related to your work.
The timing for lump sum payments (permanent impairment benefit and common law damages) can vary significantly and depends on the treatment you need. Skilled WorkCover lawyers can help you claim these entitlements and navigate any disputes.
The first step of lodging a WorkCover claim is to notify your employer of your injury as soon as possible. It needs to be recorded in the workplace Register of Injuries for your claim to proceed. You may be asked to enter the details yourself, or you can provide the information and your employer will record it on your behalf.
Notice must be given within 30 days of the injury, or 30 days of you becoming aware of it.
You also need to complete a Worker’s Injury Claim Form and provide it, together with a Certificate of Capacity, to your employer.
From there, your employer has 10 days to report the injury to their WorkSafe agent. The agent then has 28 days to accept or reject your claim.
Lump sum payments are not available in every workers’ compensation matter. They are reserved for workers who suffer permanent impairment or serious injuries due to the negligence of another.
It is important to determine whether you qualify for lump sum payouts, as they can provide significant financial support for life-altering injuries. The workers’ compensation lawyers at ADM can help you lodge claims for common law damages and the impairment benefit.
You should consult a lawyer about your WorkCover matter as soon as possible. ADM is available 24/7 to take enquiries online or by phone at 1800 242 588.
The process of lodging a WorkCover claim can be overwhelming when you’re struggling with the pain and mental distress of a workplace injury. Having an experienced solicitor is vital for obtaining all of the payments you are due, navigating the claims process and pursuing lump sum payouts.
What Types of Payouts Are Available Through WorkCover?
It is important to distinguish between WorkCover payments and lump sum payouts. The following payments are available from WorkSafe Victoria (the state’s compulsory workers’ compensation insurer) if you suffer a work-related injury or are diagnosed with an occupational illness:
Weekly Payments
You may need time off work whilst you recover from a work-related condition. Weekly payments compensate you for lost earnings whilst you are unable to work and are calculated based upon your ‘pre-injury average weekly earnings’ (PIAWE).
PIAWE is determined based upon the average of your earnings over the 52 weeks prior to your date of injury.
Weekly payments are then paid at the following rates:
- Week 1–Week 13: Your weekly payments total 95% of your PIAWE.
- Week 14–Week 130: You are paid 80% of your PIAWE.
- Post-Week 130: Weekly payments will continue at 80% PIAWE IF you have no capacity for work that is likely to continue indefinitely AND you are found to have whole person impairment of 21% or more.
The same percentages and entitlement periods apply if you are able to do some work after the injury. However, weekly payments will be reduced based on your current earnings.
As of 1 July 2025, the statutory maximum for weekly payments through WorkCover is $2,930 per week.
Treatment Expenses
WorkCover will pay the reasonable cost of medical care for workplace injuries and illnesses. Generally, this includes appointments with medical providers, hospitalisation, necessary surgeries, prescription medications, physiotherapy and more. Treatment expenses are paid one at a time as you receive care for your injuries.
Disputes may arise on whether a treatment is ‘reasonable’ or ‘necessary’. We strongly suggest consulting a workers’ compensation lawyer if WorkCover refuses to pay for medical care recommended by your doctor.
Provisional Payments
If you suffer a psychological injury related to your work, provisional payments from WorkCover can help you access mental health care. You are entitled to these payments for up to 13 weeks, even if your WorkCover claim is not ultimately accepted.
Permanent Impairment Benefit
Claims for lump sum compensation are generally the entitlements most people associate with a WorkCover payout.
The permanent impairment benefit is a one-time payment that compensates you for a work-related condition that permanently prevents you from living or working as you did before. For example, you may have a permanent impairment claim if an on-the-job injury causes paralysis, leaves you with reduced range of motion in your arms, etc.
Permanent impairment must be evaluated by a qualified medical practitioner in accordance with the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (fourth edition). The value of the payment is based on the percentage of permanent impairment.
The maximum payout for permanent impairment in 2025–26 is $759,510.
Common Law Damages
All of the WorkCover benefits we’ve discussed so far are provided on a no-fault basis. If you suffered a serious workplace injury due to the negligence of your employer, you may be entitled to common law damages.
Common law compensation is paid as a one-off lump sum. It provides you with financial relief for the loss of past and future earnings, as well as pain and suffering. A skilled work injury lawyer can help you calculate damages for economic and non-economic loss and pursue maximum compensation.
Before you can make a claim for common law damages, you must firstly be granted a Serious Injury Certificate by the Victorian WorkCover Authority or a Court.
A ‘serious injury’ means:
- An injury which is assessed as a 30% or more whole person impairment, or
- permanent serious impairment or loss of a body function, or
- permanent serious disfigurement, or
- permanent severe mental or permanent severe behavioural disturbance or disorder, or
- loss of a foetus.
You will also need to provide evidence of negligence on your employer’s part, such as failure to provide adequate training or safety equipment.
In 2025–26, the maximum compensation for common law damages in WorkCover claims for economic loss is $1,744,530 and the maximum for pain and suffering is $759,510.
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How Long Do WorkCover Payouts Take?
Weekly payments, treatment expenses and provisional payments begin shortly after your claim is accepted. Lump sum payments take longer.
How Long for a Permanent Impairment Benefit?
You need to wait at least 12 months for your injury to stabilise before you can be evaluated for permanent impairment. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you complete the Worker’s Claim for Impairment Benefits Form and advise you what to expect at the impairment assessment.
Once the assessment is complete, the doctor will send a report to the WorkSafe agent handling your claim. The agent has 120 days to make a decision on your impairment benefit. If you accept the degree of impairment and compensation offer, your permanent impairment benefit will be paid within 14 days.
How Long for Common Law Damages?
You have up to 6 years to lodge a claim for common law damages with WorkCover. We recommend taking action much sooner so evidence can be preserved.
Before an injury can be deemed ‘serious’, it must first be considered stable. This can take 12–18 months. There are documents which must be prepared in support of a Serious Injury Application together with gathering medical evidence. Once these documents are prepared, your Application will be lodged with the Victorian Workcover Authority.
The Victorian WorkCover Authority must respond to the application within 120 days, or approximately 4 months. If they accept that your injury is serious, you will be asked to attend a pre-litigation conference and participate in the Statutory Offer and Counteroffer process.
Common law claims may be resolved in as little as 6 to 8 months if there is strong evidence and the Victorian WorkCover Authority is agreeable. If there are disputes or the matter goes to Court, however, it may be years before the claim is resolved.
Get Help Securing a WorkCover Payout
Being injured on the job is painful and frustrating. Recovering from the injury can be long and difficult. Payments from WorkCover can cover the cost of medical treatment and help make up for lost earnings, but your future might seem uncertain if the effects of the injury are persistent and your ability to work is impacted.
ADM’s work injury lawyers can help you pursue additional compensation. We investigate thoroughly and gather evidence to prove you are entitled to one or more WorkCover payouts.
Our team has advocated for injured workers and their families since 1994. We have in-depth knowledge of the criteria for lump sum payments. Skilled solicitors at ADM can represent you in settlement conferences and, if necessary, prepare the matter for Court if it means getting the WorkCover payout you deserve.
Contact ADM Today
The last thing you need is a lawyer who talks over your head. At ADM, you can expect honest and plainspoken legal guidance. We believe in winning the right way, which means supporting you in your time of need while we put our expertise to work on your behalf.
For assistance with your WorkCover claim, call ADM at 1800 242 588 today. We have offices in Melbourne, Bendigo and communities throughout Victoria, making us a truly statewide firm.
Our team take your claim on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis. Your initial consultation is FREE, and you are only responsible for professional costs if we obtain compensation for you.
