Employer excess
If your claim is accepted and you receive weekly compensation, your employer will be required to pay an excess.
The excess is very similar to the excess a person would pay on any other insurance policy. In the case of a WorkCover claim, it represents the first payment of weekly compensation, which is paid to the worker by their employer.
From 1 July 2011, the excess amount is calculated as the lesser of:
- 100% of Queensland full-time adult's ordinary time earnings (QOTE) (this amount is declared annually by the Australian Statistician) or
- the worker's weekly compensation (in most cases this is 100% of the award or 85% of normal weekly earnings, whichever is the greater).
QOTE is $1263.20 (this rate applies to all claims with a date of injury on or after 1 July 2011). The amount payable for the excess is set out in the Act under sections 65 and 66.
For claims with an injury date before 1 July 2011 or for more information on excess and how it is calculated, call us on 1300 362 128.How long does the employer have to pay the excess?
When a claim is accepted, your employer must pay the excess within 10 business days of WorkCover notifying them of the amount.
If an employer fails to pay the excess within this time, we'll pay you on behalf of the employer. We may then recover the excess from your employer, together with any penalty as outlined under section 66(6) of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.