Basic weekly payment

An insurer will pay a worker a basic weekly payment when they don’t have enough information to calculate weekly compensation.

The basic weekly payment is calculated as a percentage of Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings (QOTE).

• Full-time workers: will receive 55% of QOTE.
• Part-time and casual workers: will receive a prorated amount of 55% of QOTE based on their usual hours over the past 4 weeks.

The first payment will be made on either the 6th day after an insurer approves a claim, or the end of the excess period, whichever comes later. The excess period is up to the first week a worker is unable to work.

An insurer will continue to provide the basic weekly payment until they receive all the necessary wage information from an employer to finalise a worker’s normal weekly benefit. Any under/overpayment will be reconciled when a worker’s normal weekly benefit commences.

A worker will only be paid the basic weekly payment for the time their doctor says they need off work.

Read more about weekly compensation payments here.

Requesting wage information from employers

An insurer will send a written notice to employers asking them to provide the wage details needed. Once received, an employer has 5 business days to respond to this notice.

Failure to respond to a request for wage information

If an employer fails to comply without a valid reason, there may be a penalty.

If they receive a penalty, they can apply in writing to have the penalty waived or reduced. The application should explain the circumstances and why the penalty should be adjusted. An  insurer will review the request and decide whether to waive or reduce the penalty, or if they need to uphold it.

If an employer is not happy with an insurer’s decision, they have the right to request a review.