In some States, and now under Comcare, employees do not have workers’
compensation coverage if they are injured while travelling from their residence
on their normal journey to work or on the return journey. Journey Insurance
provides benefits as detailed in the Product Disclosure Statement and Policy
(attached at right) should you sustain an injury (as defined) while engaged in
direct travel between your normal place of residence to and from your place of
employment for the purpose of starting and ending the day’s work.
Is cover provided if a deviation is made to the journey to and from work?
Cover is provided for any deviation to attend an educational institution to
undertake study relevant to your occupation.
Is cover provided while on meal breaks?
Yes. Cover is provided while on any authorised meal break provided your
journey is limited to a radius of five kilometres from your place of work.
Injuries sustained in sporting or theatrical activities are not covered, however
injuries sustained during walking or running are covered.
Is cover provided if I become sick?
No. The policy only responds if you suffer an injury as defined in the policy
wording.
Why is the union providing journey insurance?
The package that has been put together does not reinstate all of the
components of the previous system. We believe the Government and employers
should be responsible for this coverage. However, we have arranged this coverage
to help protect members with limited reserves of accumulated sick leave from the
risk of extreme financial hardship while we continue to campaign for decent and
fair workers’ compensation coverage.
When do benefits become payable?
Weekly benefits are subject to an excess period of 14 days. Compensation will
only be paid after the first 14 days of disablement and paid sick leave is
exhausted. The period of disablement commences with the first day of total or
partial disablement for which medical treatment was sought in respect of any
injury. Once indemnity has been granted, weekly benefits will be paid monthly in
arrears.
For how long are benefits payable?
The benefit period in relation to any temporary disablement is 104 weeks for
members aged up to and including 65 years. For members aged between 66 and 70
years the benefit period is 52 weeks and for members aged between 71 and 75
years the benefit period is 26 weeks.
What benefits does the Journey Policy provide?
Cover is provided for a broad range of specified events including:
lump sum benefits for an injury resulting in death, disablement,
loss/use of body parts
weekly benefits for injury resulting in temporary total disablement; and
weekly benefits for injury resulting in temporary partial disablement
How much are the benefits?
Accidental Death Benefit
$100,000
Capital Benefits
$100,000 (compensation is paid for specified events / injuries as a
percentage of the capital benefits sum insured as per the policy
wording)
Weekly Benefit Temporary Total Disablement
The amount payable for weekly benefits is 85% of your weekly pre-tax
income including commissions, bonuses, overtime payments, shift work
payments and other allowances averaged during the period of six months
preceding the commencement of disability or $2,000 per week, whichever
is the lesser.
Weekly Benefit Temporary Partial Disablement
25% of benefits payable under Temporary Total Disablement where
there are no light/alternate duties or the difference between what the
member usually earned and what the member was able to earn while
engaging in light/alternate duties
Will my ongoing medical and treatment expenses be paid?
No. Due to the National Health Act, no coverage is provided under this
insurance for medical expenses.
Is there any Age Limit?
Yes. Cover is provided up to age 75 years. However, there are some modified
benefits and policy terms for people aged between 66 and 75 years.
What does the current SRC legislation cover?
The Safety Rehabilitation Compensation Act applies to all Commonwealth and
ACT public servants. Compensation is administered through Comcare and applies in
the following situations;
if you suffer an injury in the workplace
if you suffer an injury out of the workplace but doing an activity
associated your employment or at the direction of your employer
if you suffer an injury while travelling for the purpose of work (except
for travel between home and work)
if you suffer an injury while at a training or educational facility or
travelling to such a facility at the direction or with the approval of your
employer or fulfilling a requirement that is a condition of your employment;
and
if you suffer an injury as a result of an act of violence that would not
have occurred but for your employment.
What is no longer covered?
As a result of the Howard Government’s changes to the Safety Rehabilitation
Compensation Act compensation is no longer applicable in the following
circumstances:
injuries incurred during normal travel between an employee’s residence
and usual place of work
injuries incurred during an authorised break when you are outside the
workplace
injuries suffered as a result of reasonable administrative action; and
injuries where employment materially contributed but not to a
significant degree.
This document is provided as a guide only intended to assist members, and it
does not in any way replace or supersede the Policy and Products Disclosure
Statement which is attached. The Policy and Products Disclosure Statement
provides a full explanation of the extent of insurance coverage and the benefits
payable and is the authoritative document by which claims will be assessed. We
recommend reading the Policy Document carefully to familiarise yourself with the
terms and conditions of coverage.
Workers’ compensation: we have you covered- 1 October 2008 CPSU has renewed group insurance emergency income protection coverage for union members who are injured or involved in an accident travelling to and from work.
