Payment for permanent impairment

If you are severely injured, you may be entitled to permanent impairment compensation if:

• you have sustained a permanent physical or psychological condition caused by a motor vehicle accident 
• your medical condition is permanent and stable
• you are assessed as having a whole person impairment (WPI) of 5% or more resulting from your motor vehicle accident.
  

In some cases, a benefit reduction or exclusion may apply, depending on the circumstances of the accident. 

Examples of a permanent impairment may include but are not limited to:

• spinal cord injuries 
• permanent psychiatric or psychological conditions 
• brain injuries.

Injuries that you can recover from do not usually lead to permanent impairment such as: 

• a broken leg that fully heals after treatment 
• muscle strain that gets better 
• general pain and suffering caused by an injury. 

If your doctor believes you are likely to have a permanent impairment, your TIO MAC case manager will arrange for your injuries to be assessed by an independent doctor or specialist.

There are prescribed clinical guides for assessing a permanent impairment.  A whole person impairment  assessment is made by an independent medical practitioner, using the American Medical Association (AMA) Guide 6th edition. 

Your injuries and the impact on your day-to-day functioning including your body movement and organ function will be assess and you will be given a whole person impairment percentage rating.

In some cases, more than one Whole Person Impairment assessment may be necessary to determine your entitlement to lump sum compensation. Your TIO MAC case manager will arrange appointments for your assessment at a time and place convenient to you. Any necessary travel and accommodation expenses will be cover by MAC.

It usually takes between 12-24 months from the time of the accident for most injuries to achieve their maximum improvements after medical and surgical treatments. To finalise your compensation, your recovery and condition must be stabilised, and your medical assessments expect no further improvement.

After all necessary assessments have been completed, MAC will calculate your benefits and advise you of the decision. Your MAC case manager will call you to discuss the outcome and the amount of compensation payable. 

If you do not agree with the decision for your permanent impairment compensation, there are the options and steps to follows for a review.

After compensation has been paid, you cannot claim any additional compensation for your injury. Compensation for permanent impairment is only paid to you if you are in Australia at the time of payment.