6.1.5.1.4 Types of Immediate Support payments

Agents and Self-insurers have the discretion to make the following types of Immediate Support payments (provisional payments) to those eligible provided the criteria have been met.

See: Who can apply for entitlements | Circumstances where Immediate Support payments may be considered

AC s99(1)
WIRC s224

Medical and like expenses

Provisional payment of the reasonable costs of medical and like services incurred between the worker’s injury and subsequent death. The maximum amount payable is based on the date of death – the current amount is $11,320, (indexed 1 July each year).

For prior amounts, see: Indexation of medical and like expenses (ISP)

Burial or cremation expenses

Provisional payment of the reasonable costs for the deceased worker’s:

  • burial or cremation can be made. The maximum payable is $15,230 upon receipt of the invoice.

  • repatriation of their body or remains for the purpose of a burial or cremation can be made. The maximum payable is $15,000 upon receipt of invoice or other evidence.

See: Burial or cremation

Travel and accommodation to attend a burial or cremation service

The reasonable travel or accommodation expenses incurred by immediate family members In relation to a work-related: • severe injury for which immediate inpatient treatment in hospital is received • eligible progressive disease • fatal injury a ‘family member’ means a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of the worker or of the worker's partner. Note: this definition is not the same as a close family member. of the deceased worker may be paid where:

  • a burial or cremation service is held in respect of the worker;

  • the service is held at least 100 kilometres from the normal residence of the worker’s family members.

The maximum amount payable is based on the date of death – the current amount is $6,340 (indexed 1 July each year). The amount is for the entire family (i.e. not an individual amount).

See: Travel & accommodation for family members

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Family counselling, therapy and other supports

Provisional payment of the reasonable costs of family counselling and other support services provided in Australia to the deceased worker’s immediate family members.

Family counselling will only be paid if performed by a medical practitioner, registered psychologist Registered psychologist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student). or a WorkSafe approved social worker social worker means a person accredited with the Australian Association of Social Work and registered with WorkSafe to provide social work services (other than as a student).

Therapy and other support services will only be paid if performed by a person or class of person approved by WorkSafe.

Note: The types of therapy and other support services which can be funded will be set out in directions made by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette.

The maximum amount payable is based on the date of death – the current amount is $10,000 (indexed 1 July each year). The amount is for the entire family (i.e. not an individual amount).

For prior amounts and more information, see: Family counselling and other supports

Forensic cleaning

Provisional payment of the reasonable costs for cleaning and decontaminating services incurred by immediate family members of the deceased worker to make the home safe and habitable again where the death:

The maximum amount payable is determined by WorkSafe.

Note: Agents should direct all requests, quotes and invoices for service exceeding $5,000 to the Co-ordinator, Death and Dependency Claims at WorkSafe.

See: Forensic cleaning

Weekly pension to a partner

A provisional weekly pension, for a period of up to 26 weeks, may be paid to the dependent partner only. If the partner has a disability and has a court-appointed trustee, the pension is paid to the trustee as indicated in the court orders.

Only one partner of a deceased worker may receive provisional payments.

Note: If the partner of the deceased worker was residing with the worker at the time of death, he/she is deemed to be dependent on the worker’s earnings.

The pension is:

  • calculated the same way as a standard claim for partner pension
  • paid one week in advance (once the initial arrears from the date of death till the current period has been made)
  • is not an additional payment as any pension payment made on an Immediate Support basis will form part of the overall three year entitlement period.

See: Weekly pension | Centrelink payments

When the Agent or Self-Insurer determines Immediate Support payments to a partner:

Timeframe Action
Within seven days The Agent or Self-Insurer must commence the pension payment
Upon receipt of a standard death claim

The Agent or Self-Insurer must liaise with the allocated legal panel firm to ascertain the current status of the standard death claim and associated dependency claims.

Ideally, the transition from the Immediate Support weekly pension to the standard weekly pension should not cause interruption in payment to the dependent partner.

At 13 weeks after the date of death

The Agent or Self-Insurer must ensure that a liability decision on the standard death claim can be made before the provisional pension ceases.

If it is foreseeable that the dependent partner, at the end of the 26 week period, will not be in receipt of any pension payment, the Agent or Self-Insurer must assist the dependent partner or their court-appointed trustee to access other financial support.

Once a standard death claim has been determined The Agent or Self-Insurer can continue paying the weekly pension to the dependent partner if the standard death claim has been accepted and the Agent is awaiting Court approval (e.g. trust applications for child’s entitlements).
Multiple dependent partners

If Immediate Support payments have started in the form of a weekly pension to a dependent partner and subsequently a second dependent partner is identified, pension payments under Immediate Support liability will cease.

Claims where a second dependent partner has been identified must be referred to WorkSafe for further consideration. Further entitlement must be determined by way of a standard death claim for each applicant.

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