Get your free claim check.
Fill out the form below to find out how much you can claim. If you've already submitted a claim we'll tell you if you're entitled to additional benefits or a lump sum.
Fill out the form below to find out how much you can claim. If you've already submitted a claim we'll tell you if you're entitled to additional benefits or a lump sum. Call 1800 888 529.
Don’t risk missing out on benefits or lump sums you don’t know about!
Who assesses my application?
The CTP scheme is managed by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority – SIRA. However, SIRA doesn’t actually look at your CTP claim – your application goes straight to the insurer. Also, SIRA won’t tell you how to maximise your claim. It’s up to you to complete your application thoroughly, and make sure you don’t miss out on benefits you should be getting.
Your application.
After you’ve notified the insurer of the vehicle mostly at fault in your accident, you need to lodge an application for personal injury benefits. You have 28 days after the date of the accident to lodge this application to get back-payment for any lost wages. The final deadline for lodging your claim is three months from the date of the accident.
What many people fail to realise is that this application doesn’t cover any lump sum payments you might be entitled to – you need to apply for these separately.
Read our article on What you need to know before you lodge a lump sum claim for more information.
| Application Type | Entitlements Covered |
|---|---|
Application for personal injury benefits |
|
Lump sum claim |
|
Your benefits.
Your benefits will be based on your medical assessment and whether your injuries are classified as minor or non-minor. This is the most critical part of your application and you should pay careful attention to this part of the form.
If your injury is classified as minor you won’t be entitled to claim a lump sum for future loss of wages or pain and suffering, and your benefits will be cut off after a maximum of six months, even if you haven’t fully recovered.
Minor and non-minor injuries.
Minor injuries are “soft-tissue” or muscle injuries; non-minor injuries are more serious injuries like fractures, or injuries that affect your organs.
For more information on this, please refer our article on minor and non-minor injuries explained.
| Physical Injury Classification | Examples |
|---|---|
Minor (soft tissue injuries) |
|
Non-minor (fractures, organ damage) |
|
Non-minor psychiatric illness
To be assessed as having a non-minor psychiatric illness, your symptoms must continue for more than one month.
Here are some examples of these symptoms:
- Reduced ability to look after yourself (self-care and personal hygiene)
- Reduced social or recreational activities
- Reduced ability to travel
- Reduced ability to maintain relationships with friends and family
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Reduced ability to work
These symptoms can develop over time, and might not appear until after you’ve lodged your application for personal injury benefits. So it’s important to document how the accident affects you. Ask yourself the following questions from time to time and write down your answers:
- Do you have trouble falling asleep at night?
- Do you have flashbacks of the accident?
- Do you feel unusually irritable or angry?
- Are you easily startled?
- Have you put on or lost more than five percent of your body weight?
Your medical evidence.
If you need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist, then you should immediately request a referral from your GP and request approval for this treatment from the insurer. To prove that your psychological or psychiatric injury is non-minor you’ll need to show that you’ve had the symptoms for some time.
To make sure nothing’s missed when the doctor assesses your injuries, you should read our article on how to get a full head to toe assessment and download our head to toe self-assessment checklist.
Your income assessment.
You’ll need to prove what your income was prior to the accident so that the insurer can start paying your weekly payments to cover your lost wages.
You may be asked to provide 12 months’ pay slips, and the insurer will take an average over the 12 months to calculate your pre-accident earnings.
Please note that this method could work against you if you’ve had a period of no income or lower than normal income. Refer to our article on What you need to know about checking and disputing insurers’ decisions for more information on this.
| Weeks since the accident | Income support payments |
|---|---|
Weeks 1-13 |
|
Weeks 14-26 |
|
Beyond week 26 |
|
Your certificate of capacity.
After you lodge your application for personal injury benefits, you’ll need to continue to see your GP and get a new certificate of capacity every 30 days, or whenever your current certificate expires. You must do this to continue to receive your benefits.
Make sure all of your injuries, including any new injuries, are documented. If you’re suffering psychologically then you need to demonstrate that the injury has not simply come and gone.
What do I do next?
The next step is to go ahead and lodge your application for personal injury benefits, if you haven’t already done so. Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to proceed.
Take some time to understand more about minor and non-minor injuries, or review our list of commonly overlooked minor injuries.
Make sure you’ve documented all your injuries before you see your GP by completing a head to toe assessment.
If you have any questions about lodging your application, you can call 1800 888 529 and speak to a specialist CTP solicitor.
It’s a free service.
