Posted on 19 Feb 2026

How to Lodge a WorkCover Claim in QLD: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Claim Form

Working for a self-insured employer?

If you work for a major company like Coles, Woolworths, Wesfarmers, or Brisbane City Council, do not lodge your application with WorkCover Queensland. These companies are self-insured, meaning they manage their own claims. You must submit your WorkCover claim form directly to your employer’s claims manager or HR portal.

2026 WorkCover QLD claim form downloads

To get your WorkCover Queensland claim form, either:

Access the online lodgement portal — Use this to fill out and submit digitally in one go.
Download the printable PDF claim form (FM106) (DOC) — Use this if you prefer to handwrite and post/fax your claim.

Am I eligible to lodge a WorkCover claim?

To see if you’re eligible for a WorkCover claim, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you a worker? This includes full-time, part-time, casual, and even some contractors/interns.
Did the injury happen at work? This includes on-site injuries, as well as accidents that occurred while travelling for work or during a work break.
Is work a ‘significant contributing factor’? Your job must be the main cause (or a major aggravating factor) of the condition.

Still unsure whether you qualify for a WorkCover claim? Use our free online claim checker to find out in minutes.

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How to lodge a Queensland WorkCover claim form

In 2026, it’s never been more important to follow the exact requirements for lodging a WorkCover claim form. The rules changed in 2025, meaning you need to take a more active approach to your claim to ensure you get all the benefits you’re entitled to:

1. Report the injury to your employer

Before you can file a WorkCover claim form, you’ll first need to report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. This creates a formal record of the injury and will be important evidence for your WorkCover claim.

2. Get a Work Capacity Certificate

See your doctor for medical treatment and to get a Work Capacity Certificate (WCC). This is not a standard medical certificate; it is a legal document used by WorkCover to determine your weekly payments and rehabilitation needs.

To ensure your claim is processed without delays, you must see an AHPRA-registered practitioner. Depending on your injury, this must be:

A medical doctor: Your GP or a psychiatrist.
A nurse practitioner: If your injuries are minor and have not developed over time. They can only certify total incapacity for up to 10 days; you must see a doctor for anything over this.
A dentist: Specifically for injuries involving the teeth or mouth.

If possible, see your regular GP to get a WCC. They have a baseline of your medical history, making it easier to prove that your current condition is work-related rather than a pre-existing issue.

The information on your WCC must be exhaustive, as insurers often use missing details as a reason to delay or dispute a claim.

Detail every symptom: Explain the injury clearly. Even if a symptom seems minor now (like a slight tingling in your hand following a back injury), make sure it’s noted.
Note secondary injuries: Many workers focus only on the physical trauma. However, if the pain or stress of the injury has led to anxiety, depression, or PTSD, your doctor should list this as a secondary psychiatric condition.
Make a provisional diagnosis: If your doctor is still running tests, they can tick ‘provisional diagnosis’. This allows your claim to start while the exact nature of the injury is being confirmed.
Outline work capacity: Your doctor must specify ‘suitable duties’ in your WCC. For example, you might be cleared for office work but barred from lifting over a certain weight. Ensuring these restrictions are accurate protects you from being pressured back into a role that might aggravate your injury.

Under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (QLD), you have specific legal protections during this process:

Total autonomy: You have the absolute right to choose your own doctor. You are not required to see a company doctor or a physician suggested by your employer.
Examination privacy: Your employer is legally prohibited from being present during your medical examination. This is your private time to discuss your health with your doctor.

3. Fill out your WorkCover claim form

In 2026, you can get a claim form by either downloading the printable PDF claim form (FM106) (DOC) or accessing the online lodgement portal.

The claim form will ask you for specific information about your injury, including:

Identity: Your legal name, date of birth, and contact info.
Employment context: Your job title, typical duties, and your employer’s details (name, location, and manager's contact). Providing an ABN or policy number helps speed up the link to their account.
The incident: The exact date, time, and location of the injury, plus a factual description of how it happened.
Medical diagnosis: The specific injury or illness diagnosed by your doctor, which must match the details on your Work Capacity Certificate (WCC).
Work capacity: Your current fitness for work: whether you are totally unable to work, fit for suitable duties, or ready for a graduated return to your normal role.
Wage: Your standard working hours and gross weekly earnings. WorkCover uses this data to calculate your weekly compensation.

4. Do the pre-submission checklist

Before submitting your claim form, double-check you’ve included:

Your bank BSB and account number (mandatory for 2026).
Your Tax File Number (TFN).
The exact date and time of the injury (matching your WCC).
Your employer’s ABN or Policy Number (if known, this speeds up processing).
A clear photo or scan of all pages of your Work Capacity Certificate.

5. Submit your claim form

As of July 2025, a medical certificate sent by your doctor to WorkCover does not automatically start a claim. You must manually register your claim using one of the following digital or manual pathways.

In most cases, you have six months from the date of your injury to submit your claim. However, we strongly recommend lodging your claim as soon as possible.

Digital submission (Recommended)

The fastest way to get your claim processed is to submit it online via the WorkCover online lodgement portal.

Once that’s done, you can download the Worker Assist app to track your claim, upload receipts, and update medical certificates in real-time.

Manual and offline options

If you prefer to submit a paper application, you can print the claim form (DOC) and deliver it using one of the following methods:

Upload: Scan and upload your completed document through the online portal.
Fax: Send to 1300 651 387.
Post: Mail to GPO Box 2459, Brisbane QLD 4001.

Expert tips for filling out your WorkCover claim form

While filling out your WorkCover claim form, keep these three golden rules in mind:

Be direct, not detailed: You are not a doctor, so you’re not expected to write like one. If your back hurts, simply write ‘back injury’ and avoid trying to self-diagnose with medical terms. If your formal diagnosis changes later, any inconsistencies on your form can be used to challenge your claim.
Link your injury to work: Don't just say what happened; say how. Instead of ‘my knee was injured’, you could say, ‘I twisted my right knee while lifting a 20kg box on an uneven surface’. This establishes the clear link to your work duties.
Specify the timeline: If the injury happened in a single moment, list the exact date and time. If it developed over weeks (like carpal tunnel or a psychological injury), state that it occurred via a gradual process, rather than guessing a specific day.

Warning on time limits

You must lodge your claim within six months of the date you first saw a doctor about the injury. While there are rare special circumstances that allow for late lodgement, these are difficult to prove without legal help. If you are close to the six-month mark, don’t delay — lodge your form now.

What happens after my claim form is submitted?

Once you lodge your application, WorkCover Queensland begins their formal assessment. In 2026, the standard timeframe for a decision is 20 business days, though straightforward claims are often processed within 10.

If your case is complex — such as a psychological injury or one requiring a specialist medical report — WorkCover will notify you if they need more than 30 days to investigate.

Can I get financial help while I wait for WorkCover’s decision?

While WorkCover makes their decision, you can access early funding to cover:

Early intervention medical support: Such as initial physiotherapy, GP appointments, counselling or psychological sessions, medications, and travel expenses between appointments.
Lost wages: WorkCover can also issue a ‘basic weekly payment’ if there are delays in getting payroll data from your employer. Full-time workers will receive 55% of the Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings (QOTE). This is $1,953.70 as of July 2025, meaning you can expect around $1074.50 per week. Part-time and casual workers receive a prorated amount of 55% of QOTE based on their usual hours over four weeks before their injury.

The 'no repayment' guarantee

If your claim is eventually rejected, you do not have to pay back any provisional medical or wage support you received during the assessment period.

What happens if my claim is accepted?

You will receive a notification via the Worker Assist portal or SMS confirming that WorkCover has accepted your claim. This means you can expect:

Wage support: Weekly payments will commence to cover your lost income. Generally, your employer pays for the first week, after which WorkCover takes over.
Cover for medical costs: WorkCover will cover reasonable medical expenses, including GP visits, physiotherapy, and medication.
A return-to-work plan: Within 10 business days of acceptance, a personalised return-to-work plan must be established between you, your doctor, and your employer.

What happens if my claim is denied?

You will receive a formal ‘Reasons for Decision’ letter. Claims are often rejected if WorkCover believes your employment wasn’t a significant contributing factor to your injury or if the application was lodged outside the six-month time limit.

You have three months from the date of the decision to lodge an application for review with the Workers Compensation Regulator.

Because the review process is based purely on written evidence and legislation, we recommend consulting a specialist lawyer before submitting your dispute to ensure your evidence is presented correctly.

When should I speak to a lawyer?

Most people successfully lodge their own WorkCover claims. However, we suggest speaking with a specialist lawyer if:

Your employer is disputing the injury: If they claim it didn't happen at work or wasn't work-related.
The injury is psychological: Claims involving complex mental health issues or bullying are notoriously difficult to prove without expert legal strategy.
Your claim has been rejected: If WorkCover has denied your application and you need to lodge a formal review.
You suspect employer negligence: If your injury happened because your employer failed to maintain a safe workspace, you could get a much larger payout through a common law claim. However, these claims are more fragile and technical than people realise. Having a lawyer control the flow of evidence from the start ensures you don't go on the record with statements that prejudice your interests or accidentally build a case against yourself.

The best part? Your first consultation is completely free, so it costs nothing to find out where you stand and whether you’re entitled to extra compensation for your work injury.