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      Workers Compensation
      Posted on 19 Feb 2026

      The 2026 WorkCover Process QLD: 6 Steps to Lodge Your Claim

      In Queensland, WorkCover provides a critical safety net for lost wages and medical expenses, but recent changes have made it more hands-on for workers. Since the 2025 privacy reforms, Queensland doctors can no longer automatically lodge claims on your behalf; you must now initiate the application yourself to access your benefits.

      Because the scheme is strictly time-sensitive, lodging your claim quickly is the only way to secure full backpay and immediate treatment funding. This guide provides a clear, six-step walkthrough of the QLD WorkCover claim process to help you navigate the manual lodgement requirements and meet all deadlines with confidence.

      The 2026 WorkCover Process QLD: 6 Steps to Lodge Your Claim

      2026 WorkCover QLD claim checklist

      What to doWhen to do it
      Report the injury to your employerFirst 24 hours (or ASAP)
      Get a Work Capacity Certificate (WCC) from your GP48 hours (or ASAP)
      Lodge your WorkCover claim early to secure backpaid wages to the date of injury20 business days
      Submit your WorkCover claim via the Worker Assist Portal before the final deadlineSix months

      How do I make a WorkCover claim in Queensland? (Step-by-step process)

      To secure your rights — and your income — follow these six steps to successfully lodge and manage your claim:

      Report the injury to your employer immediately. You must then see your GP to obtain a Work Capacity Certificate (WCC). This document confirms:

      • Your injury.
      • Your work capacity.
      • Recommended medical treatment.
      • Any return-to-work restrictions.

      Ensure your GP lists every affected body part so you’re compensated for the full impact on your life. For example, you might have suffered multiple injuries at once or developed secondary depression due to a back injury.

      As of 1 July 2025, a doctor sending a certificate to WorkCover does not automatically start your claim.

      Instead, you must manually lodge your claim via the Worker Assist Portal. You’ll need your Tax File Number (TFN) and bank details ready, as the portal requires these up-front to prevent processing delays.

      You may be eligible for provisional medical and wage support while WorkCover formally assesses your application.

      WorkCover Queensland generally aims to decide on claims within 20 business days. However, complex cases involving workplace bullying, harassment, or invisible injuries (like brain or soft tissue damage) often take longer as they require more detailed investigations and witness statements.

      • If your claim is accepted: You can begin (or continue receiving) treatment and your weekly wage-replacement payments will start. Typically, your employer pays for the first week of your absence, after which WorkCover manages your ongoing payments and rehabilitation costs.
      • If your claim is denied: You will receive a formal letter outlining the reasons. You have the right to request a review, but we strongly recommend consulting with a specialist lawyer first, as disputes are a highly technical process.

      Once your doctors agree you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), WorkCover will assess your Degree of Permanent Impairment (DPI).

      • Physical injuries: Assessed by an independent specialist measuring functional loss (e.g. range of motion).
      • Psychological injuries: These are under stricter scrutiny. Only the Medical Assessment Tribunal (MAT) can determine a permanent psychiatric DPI in Queensland.

      The NOA is the most important document in your claim. It states your DPI and includes a lump sum offer.

      • If you disagree with your DPI: You must request a review of the assessment within 20 business days.
      • If you agree with your DPI: You don’t have to accept the offer right away. If you aren’t ready to choose between the lump sum and a common law claim, you can defer the decision. The offer typically stays open for three years from the date of injury.

      Special rules for psychological injury NOAs

      Psychological injury claims follow stricter rules than physical injuries. Since a psychological DPI can only be assessed by the Medical Assessment Tribunal (MAT), the decision is final. This means you can’t request a standard review of a MAT decision. Your only options are:

      • New medical evidence: Submitted to WorkCover within 12 months of the MAT hearing.
      • Judicial review: Bring your case to the Supreme Court of Queensland, which looks only at whether the MAT followed the correct legal process — not the medical findings.

      Your DPI score determines your legal pathway. This is where many workers make a mistake that costs them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

      Your DPIYour legal options
      0% DPINo lump sum offer, but you can still pursue a common law claim for negligence.
      1% – 19% DPIYou must choose either the small statutory lump sum or a common law claim. You cannot have both.
      20% or moreYou can accept the lump sum and still pursue a common law claim.

      In Queensland, the 20% DPI mark is a critical threshold. If you are assessed at 19% or less, the moment you accept the lump sum offer, your WorkCover claim is legally closed forever. Do not sign the NOA until a lawyer has reviewed whether the offer is fair.

      Can I claim WorkCover?

      In Queensland, most people injured at work are eligible to make a WorkCover claim. It doesn’t matter:

      • Who was at fault for your injury or illness.
      • Whether you’re a full-time, part-time, or casual worker.
      • If you’re a subcontractor (in some cases).  
      • Whether your injury is physical or psychological, as long as it was caused or worsened by your work.

      As of 1 July 2020, most unpaid interns are also entitled to WorkCover for injuries on the job.

      Start your free online claim check

      Find out if you’re eligible for a WorkCover claim today.

      Check your claim nowIt only takes 2 minutes.

      How much WorkCover compensation will I receive?

      In Queensland, if you suffer a work-related injury or illness, you are generally entitled to three types of compensation under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.

      If your injury reduces your ability to work, WorkCover Queensland provides weekly payments to replace your lost income. Eligibility depends on your claim being accepted, your medical capacity for work, and your Normal Weekly Earnings (NWE).

      Weekly compensation rates

      • First 26 weeks: You generally receive 85% of your NWE or the amount payable under your industrial award. If no award applies, you receive the greater of 85% of NWE or 80% of Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings (QOTE), capped at your NWE (WorkSafe QLD weekly compensation guide).
      • 26 weeks to 2 years: Payments typically reduce to the greater of 75% of NWE or 70% of QOTE. As of 1 July 2025, the declared QOTE is $1,953.70.
      • 2 to 5 years: If your injury is assessed at 15% DPI or higher, you can continue receiving up to 75% of your Normal Weekly Earnings (NWE) for the full five-year maximum. However, if your impairment falls below this 15% threshold, your weekly payments will be reduced to the single Age Pension rate after the two-year mark.

      Treatment and recovery expenses

      WorkCover covers reasonable and necessary costs for your rehabilitation, including:

      • GP and specialist appointments.
      • Surgery and hospitalisation.
      • Physiotherapy and prescription medication.
      • Travel costs to and from treatment appointments.

      Once your injury has stabilised (reached Maximum Medical Improvement), you may be entitled to a lump sum payment if your injury causes permanent issues.

      A medical specialist assesses your Degree of Permanent Impairment (DPI) using the Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (GEPI) for physical injuries, or the Psychiatric Impairment Rating Scale (PIRS) for psychological injuries. In most cases, the higher your DPI percentage, the larger the compensation offer.

      Estimated lump sum payouts (2025–26)

      Your lump sum payout is calculated by multiplying your DPI by the maximum statutory compensation. In 2025–26, this is $422,292.26.

      Degree of Impairment (DPI)Estimated Total Payout (2025 – 26)
      5% DPI$21,115
      10% DPI$42,229
      20% DPI$84,458
      30% DPI$142,611
      40% DPI$275,140
      50% DPI$407,652
      65% DPI$587,965
      80% DPI$788,278
      100% DPI$844,584

      Extra lump sum payouts for DPI 30%+

      If your DPI is 30% or more, you can also get an additional lump sum payout. This is calculated based on the graduated scale in the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation 2025.

      If your injury was caused by your employer’s negligence (their failure to provide a safe system of work), you can pursue a common law claim. These settlements are often much higher than statutory benefits because they cover the total impact of the injury on your life.

      Compensation may include:

      • Total past and future loss of income and superannuation.
      • Loss of future earning capacity (if you can’t return to your old role).
      • Future medical care and domestic assistance.
      • General damages (pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life).

      WorkCover claim time limits in Queensland (20-day and 6-month rules)

      In Queensland, you need to lodge your statutory WorkCover claim within six months of:

      • The date the injury happened, or
      • The date a doctor first links your condition to your work (for illnesses or gradual injuries).

      Legislative backpay period (20-day rule):

      To receive backpay for your lost wages from the day you were injured, you must lodge your claim within 20 business days of the accident. If you wait longer, WorkCover is generally only required to pay you from the date you filed the paperwork.

      While the six-month rule is strictly enforced, the law provides safety nets for specific circumstances where a claim can still proceed:

      • Mental incapacity: Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 QLD, if an injury (like a severe brain trauma) prevents you from managing your own affairs, the clock is paused until you regain capacity or a guardian is appointed.
      • Fatalities (dependency claims): In the event of a workplace death, dependents have six months from the date of death to claim for funeral expenses and financial support.
      • Late-diagnosed injuries: Courts may grant an extension of time where a material fact — such as an injury that only becomes apparent on a later MRI — was not known, and could not reasonably have been known, within the original limitation period (as confirmed in King v WorkCover Queensland 2020).

      If you’ve missed the deadline to lodge a WorkCover claim, you may still have options.

      In some cases, the courts can allow an extension where there is a reasonable explanation for the delay. This may include medical issues that prevented you from lodging earlier or being outside Queensland for a significant period (Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 [QLD]).

      An extension may also be available if your employer prevented you from making a claim or from realising you were entitled to compensation. In those circumstances, the time limit may not begin until the employer’s conduct is discovered  (Limitations of Actions Act 1974 [QLD]).

      Extensions are not automatic, so it is important to seek legal advice before attempting to lodge a delayed claim. A lawyer experienced in WorkCover matters can assess whether an extension is likely to be granted and guide you through the process.

      How long can you stay on WorkCover?

      WorkCover is designed as a temporary support system, not a permanent pension. Your statutory benefits (weekly wages and medical coverage) will end as soon as you meet one of these three cut-off points:

      1. The five-year limit: This is the absolute maximum duration allowed for weekly compensation under the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. Payments cease at the five-year mark, even if you remain unfit for work.
      2. The statutory cap ($422,292): There is a statutory cap on all WorkCover claims, which sets the maximum amount you can receive. For the 2025–26 financial year, this limit is $422,292.26. This total includes all payments made on your behalf, such as weekly wages, surgery, rehabilitation, and GP visits. Once this cap is reached, all WorkCover support ceases.
      3. Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI): If your doctors determine you have reached MMI, you’ll receive a Notice of Assessment (NOA) and a lump sum offer based on your Degree of Permanent Impairment (DPI). Depending on your DPI, you can either accept the lump sum offer or start a common law claim — either way, your weekly WorkCover payments stop at this point.

      What can I do if my WorkCover claim is denied?

      Of the nearly 100,000 WorkCover claims submitted each year in Queensland, about 7% are denied. This figure is significantly higher for psychological injury claims, which currently face a rejection rate of approximately 50% (Queensland Workers Compensation Scheme Statistics [PDF]).

      If your claim is rejected, you will receive a formal letter outlining the reasons for the decision. You are entitled to challenge this decision through a three-step appeal process:

      You have three months from receiving the rejection to request a review of the decision by applying to the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR).

      To get the decision overturned, you must provide new evidence that specifically counters the insurer’s reasoning. For example, if a physical injury was denied as pre-existing, you can provide a new report from an Independent Medical Examiner (IME) or a specialist to prove that work was a significant contributing factor to your injury.

      Make sure you don’t just resubmit the same paperwork. Approximately 58% of reviews fail, meaning the OIR is statistically more likely to uphold WorkCover’s original decision unless you fill the legal gap with new, compelling evidence.

      If the review is unsuccessful, you have 20 business days to appeal to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). This is a formal legal process known as a hearing de novo, meaning the Commission hears the case from scratch (Workers Compensation Appeal Guide).

      Unlike the review stage, which is mostly paper-based, a QIRC appeal involves:

      • Explicit orders: A roadmap is issued by the QIRC for when documents and witness lists must be filed.
      • Compulsory conferences: An attempt to resolve the dispute or narrow the issues before a full hearing.
      • A hearing: This is a formal trial where witness evidence is given orally and tested under cross-examination.

      If you are dissatisfied with the QIRC’s decision, you may have a final right of appeal to the Industrial Court of Queensland (ICQ). This appeal must be lodged within 21 days and is typically restricted to either:

      • Errors of law: Where the ICQ misapplied the law, or
      • An excess of jurisdiction: Where the ICQ made a decision it didn’t have the power to make.

      If you wish to appeal on any other grounds, you must first get leave (permission) from the ICQ (Industrial Relations Act 2016).

      Very few matters progress to this level. The 2024–25 Annual Report of the Industrial Court shows that only 26 appeals were lodged during the entire reporting period, reflecting that most disputes are resolved during OIR or QIRC reviews.

      Why legal representation is vital for an ICQ appeal

      We strongly advise engaging a lawyer for an ICQ appeal. At this level, proceedings centre on technical legal arguments, statutory interpretation, and judicial precedent rather than just the facts of your injury. Critically, the ICQ’s decision is final, leaving no further avenue for appeal.

      Unlike the QIRC, the ICQ strictly enforces the ‘loser pays’ rule. If your appeal fails, you could be ordered to pay WorkCover’s substantial legal costs. Professional legal advice is essential to assess your prospects of success before you lodge. Even if you self-represented previously, a lawyer can help you avoid a significant financial loss by identifying whether your appeal has a genuine chance of success.

      Is there any financial support available during the appeals process?

      Appeals can take several months. If you are unable to work, you can access financial support in this order:

      • Accrued leave: Use sick leave first (as it isn't paid out if you leave the job), followed by annual and long service leave.
      • Income protection: Check your superannuation to see if you’re eligible for monthly income protection payments. Many policies pay up to 75% of your income while you are unable to work, providing a critical safety net.
      • Government support: Apply for government payments like JobSeeker or the Disability Support Pension. Note that if your appeal eventually succeeds, you will usually need to repay Centrelink from your backpaid WorkCover wages.

      How legal advice can help with your WorkCover claim

      In 2026, lodging a Queensland WorkCover claim is no longer as simple as visiting your doctor and waiting for payments. With nearly half of psychological claims rejected and new manual lodgement rules in place, working with an expert lawyer is the best way to secure your full benefits.

      Our team identifies the tactical gaps where claims fail, ensuring your application withstands insurer scrutiny and Medical Assessment Tribunal (MAT) reviews.

      How we assist at every stage:

      • Initial lodgement: We file your claim quickly and correctly through the Worker Assist Portal so you don’t lose weeks of pay — because back pay only covers the last 20 days, regardless of when you apply.
      • Provisional support: We ensure you get up to 12 weeks of medical and wage funding while your claim is still under investigation.
      • Full review of your DPI and NOA: We audit your Notice of Assessment to ensure your impairment is fairly rated. We’ll also advise whether to accept a statutory lump sum or pursue a significantly larger common law settlement.
      • Securing ongoing benefits: If you’re nearing the five-year limit or the $422,292.26 statutory cap but still need time off work or financial help, we can assist you in accessing additional benefits, including income protection or a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim through your super.
      • Dispute advocacy: If you’re unfairly denied, we handle the technical appeals at the Office of Industrial Relations or the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to overturn the decision.

      Get free legal advice

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