Domestic Services for Accidents on or before 31 December 2004

This policy relates to domestic services for accidents on or before 31 December 2004.  Refer to the Home Services policy for accidents after this date.

POLICY

The TAC can pay the reasonable costs of domestic services for a client unable to undertake household tasks independently for their primary residence where required as a result of a transport accident injury under section 60 of the Transport Accident Act 1986 (the Act).

The TAC will periodically review a client's entitlement to domestic services to ensure that the services are still reasonable for the transport accident injury and are payable under the Act.

BACKGROUND

This policy relates to domestic services for accidents that occurred on or before 31 December 2004. For accidents that occurred after this date, please refer to the Home Services policy.

This policy must be read in conjunction with the following:

• Attendance Services policy
• Benefits and Support Services Assessments policy
• Equipment policy

DEFINITIONS

In this policy, domestic services are defined as regular and routine household tasks that a client would perform for themselves and not for other members of the primary residence.

GUIDELINES

What can the TAC pay for in relation to domestic services?

The TAC can pay the reasonable costs of domestic services for a client unable to undertake household tasks independently for their primary residence that are:

• required as a result of a transport accident injury
• reasonable, necessary or appropriate in the circumstances
• safe and effective
• in accordance with the TAC's policies.

The TAC cannot pay for more than a total of 40 hours per week of domestic services in combination with attendance services.

Cyclical tasks
The TAC can pay the reasonable costs of cyclical tasks such as gutter, window cleaning and pruning for a client who used to do the tasks themselves and can no longer perform these tasks because of their transport accident injuries.

Grocery shopping home delivery
The TAC can pay the reasonable costs of grocery shopping home delivery, including delivery memberships, from Coles and Woolworths supermarkets for client's who:

• cannot access the community independently because of their transport accident injuries, and
• did not pay for shopping home delivery before the transport accident.

Absence from primary residence
The TAC can pay the reasonable costs of domestic services when a client is absent from their primary residence if they are admitted to hospital because of their transport accident injuries.

The TAC cannot pay for domestic services for a client living in a residential facility as domestic services are provided by the facility and are included in the bed fee.

The TAC will consider paying the reasonable cost of gardening for a client's family at the client's pre-accident primary residence after a client starts living in a residential facility when:

• the reason for moving in to the residential facility is because of the client's transport accident injuries 
• the client did the gardening before the transport accident
• the same family members generally occupy the pre accident residence; and
• the client visits their pre-accident residence on a regular basis.

Who may provide domestic services? 

Domestic services may be provided by an agency or individual authorised by the TAC. You can search for a provider on this website.

The TAC is not responsible for the safety of workers in clients' homes under the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004. Employers are directly responsible for the health and safety of their workers. Clients are responsible for advising a worker of any hazards in their home (the workplace) and to take steps to reasonably manage any risks within their control. For example, a client has a responsibility to ensure that a dog is sufficiently contained during a worker's visit.

What information does the TAC require to consider paying for domestic services?

Domestic services may be approved for clients with a 'severe injury' as part of the independence planning process in consultation between the TAC coordinator and the client's treating occupational therapist and/or medical practitioner.

All other clients must provide a request from their medical practitioner that outlines the:

• client's transport accident injuries
• specific household tasks that the client is unable to perform as a result of their transport accident injuries
• the recommended period of time per week/fortnight/month that domestic services are required; and
• the expected duration of the client's inability to perform domestic services.

The TAC may also request a Benefits and Support Services Assessment to:

• determine if the need for domestic services is related to the client's transport accident injuries
• recommend an appropriate level and duration of support; and
• recommend the provision of equipment to assist the client to perform home services independently.

The TAC will consider the following criteria in determining a client's entitlement to domestic services:

• whether the client received household support before the transport accident (either paid for by the client or provided free of charge)
• the client's functional ability before the transport accident
• the client's contribution to household tasks before the transport accident
• the client's transport accident related functional limitations and whether they prevent them from performing household tasks independently. The TAC will refer to medical or treatment reports for this information; and
• the client's social circumstances and accommodation.

The TAC will generally accept domestic services requests for a period of no more than 3 months unless otherwise agreed as part of the independence planning process.

When will the TAC respond to a request? 

The TAC will respond to written treatment and service requests as set out in the TAC Service Charter.

What are the TAC's invoice requirements? 

Please refer to the How to Invoice the TAC information page.

What fees are payable for domestic services?

Please refer to the Home Services (Preferred Providers) and Home Services (Non-preferred Providers) fee schedules.

In relation to domestic services, what won't the TAC pay for?

The TAC will not pay for:

• home services for a client absent from their primary residence for reasons other than a hospital admission due to their transport accident injuries, such as a holiday
• home services for a condition that existed before, developed after or that is not a direct result of the transport accident injury
• services not authorised by the TAC under the Transport Accident Act 1986
• services performed by the domestic services worker which are not approved by the TAC 
• services subcontracted to, or provided by a non-registered provider
• fees associated with cancellation or non attendance
• fees for services such as waste removal or tip fees
• fees for cleaning products, materials or equipment required to facilitate the performance of domestic services
• fees for heating materials such as wood
• services requiring a permit (i.e. for collecting wood on state land) which the client did not hold before the transport accident
• the cost of food or other items not related to the transport accident injuries
• cancellation or non-delivery fees for the home delivery of groceries
• home delivery fees for items which are not part of a grocery order
• more than one grocery shopping home delivery per week
• services provided outside the Commonwealth of Australia
• services provided by telephone or other non face to face mediums 
• telephone calls and telephone consultations between providers and clients, and between other providers, including hospitals
• services provided more than two years prior to the request for funding except where the request for payment is made within three years of the transport accident. Refer to the Time Limit to Apply for the Payment of Medical and Like Expenses policy.