Before the TAC can make a decision about impairment, your injuries must be considered stable according to your health providers, and unlikely to change over time. The assessment process can take time, in some cases up to 18 months. This is because:
- you may need to attend more than one examination
- there may be waiting time to see a medical specialist for a specific injury
- it may take some time for the TAC to receive all relevant medical information needed to make a decision, or
- your injuries are not stable and are expected to change over time.
Step 1 – Starting the impairment process
If you are likely to be eligible for an impairment benefit, the TAC will contact you to start the impairment process. You or your solicitor can also start the process by contacting the TAC.
The steps for the impairment process may differ if you have a solicitor.
Step 2 – Getting information
You will be assigned a TAC impairment benefit coordinator who will manage the process. They will gather information about your injuries, treatment and progress from doctors or hospitals that have treated you.
If you have a solicitor acting on your behalf, they will gather the information and submit it to the TAC.
Step 3 – Attending medical examinations
Your medical examination will be conducted by a doctor who has undertaken government-approved training to conduct impairment assessments. We may ask you to attend multiple medical examinations as each doctor specialises in a different field.
If you have a solicitor, your impairment benefits coordinator will work with them to arrange these examinations. We call this the joint medical examinations process.
At the examination, the doctor may ask you questions about:
- your medical history
- your transport accident
- the injuries you sustained
- your current condition, and
- your health before the accident.
If necessary, the doctor may undertake a physical examination. The examination lasts between half an hour to more than an hour.
Your medical examination will be different to a visit to your family doctor or medical specialist. Most examinations are clinical assessments of your injuries. This means the doctor may not ask you certain questions about your injuries.
You can continue to talk to your regular doctor about your injuries.
Step 4 – How we assess your impairment
The TAC uses reports from the medical examiners to calculate your impairment rating. We combine the impairment percentages from each injury to arrive at a total score. We use a prescribed mathematical formula to do this.
Your impairment benefit coordinator will contact you to explain the result. If you have a solicitor, we will also contact them with the result.
Adults assessed as having an impairment of 11% or more will receive a one-off lump sum payment. For example, if you receive an impairment rating of 15% you will receive a payment of $16,270*. A full list of impairment payments can be found in the Payments tab.
*Impairment benefits are updated each year on 1 July.
Step 5 – Making the payment
If your total impairment is assessed at 11% or more, your impairment benefit coordinator will confirm how much we can pay. This payment will be made to you via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) into your nominated bank account.
If you have a solicitor, the TAC may make the payment to them. Your solicitor will then organise the payment to be made to you.
Working together
What we will do
Your TAC impairment benefit coordinator will:
- provide information to help you understand the impairment process
- keep you, or your solicitor up to date about the progress of your impairment claim
- provide information about the medical examination process and arrange your examinations (with your solicitor if you have one)
- assess the medical reports received from specialist impairment doctors, and
- issue the payment of your lump sum benefit if your impairment is assessed at 11% or more.
What you need to do
To help the process run smoothly, we expect you to:
- complete and return any required forms
- provide any information requested as soon as possible
- attend medical examinations arranged for you and contact the TAC if you are unable to attend
- keep us updated if your contact or bank details change
- contact your impairment benefit coordinator or your solicitor, if you have any questions about your impairment claim and/or the process.