LAWMATTERS RMB AWYERS WORKING RETIREES WILL RECEIVE COMPO COVERAGE The Federal Government's Jobs and Skills Summit in early September included inducements to encourage people on the aged pension back into the workforce to help overcome worker and skills shortages RMB Compensation Lawyer STEVE BAKER reports on the workers compensation implications if such workers are hurt on the job: The recent Jobs and Skills Summit increased by $4000 the amount people on aged pensions can eam without affecting their pension, taking the total figure to almost $12,000 in eamings without losing part of their annual $26,700 payment It is designed to encourage pensioners to re-enter the workforce, so that older Australians can help overcome the huge skil and worker shortages that currently exist in the Australian economy. The Workers Compensation Act typically limits payments for injured workers depending on their entitlement to compensation for lost wages. In most cases workers will lose their entitlement to income support payments when they reach one year beyond the age when they are eligible for the aged pension while their rights to medical expenses end two years after their rights to income support payments and But what happens when someone is injured while working after they reach retirement age? There is an exception to the aged pension limitation where workers are injured after they reach eligibility for the aged pension. In these cases, workers have a right to claim income support payments for up to 12 months. Because the time limit for claiming weekly benefits is extended beyond retirement age for people injured after retirement age, their rights to claim medical expenses is also extended. Typically, an injured worker will be eligible to receive medical expenses for two years after their entitement to claim weekly benefits ends. In summary, a worker injured after retirement age could potentially claim income support payments for one year and medical expenses for that same year plus a further two years after that. In cases of more serious injuries, the right to claim medical expenses can be extended for more than two years. If more retirees return to the workforce as a result of these new inducements, they should feel confident that if they are injured at work, they will have support in the form of treatment and income support payments from the relevant workers compensation insurer. This is a rare example of the law being prepared for changes in society and the economy, rather than having to catch up with social and economic change. Always where you are Business Low Dispute Resolution Conveyancing & Property Law Wills and Estates Compensation Low Criminal Law Relationships Low 3 & Family & BOWRAL 387 Bong Bong St MOSS VALE 300 Argyle St 4862 1411 www.rmblawyers.com.au LAWMATTERS RMB AWYERS WORKING RETIREES WILL RECEIVE COMPO COVERAGE The Federal Government's Jobs and Skills Summit in early September included inducements to encourage people on the aged pension back into the workforce to help overcome worker and skills shortages RMB Compensation Lawyer STEVE BAKER reports on the workers compensation implications if such workers are hurt on the job : The recent Jobs and Skills Summit increased by $ 4000 the amount people on aged pensions can eam without affecting their pension , taking the total figure to almost $ 12,000 in eamings without losing part of their annual $ 26,700 payment It is designed to encourage pensioners to re - enter the workforce , so that older Australians can help overcome the huge skil and worker shortages that currently exist in the Australian economy . The Workers Compensation Act typically limits payments for injured workers depending on their entitlement to compensation for lost wages . In most cases workers will lose their entitlement to income support payments when they reach one year beyond the age when they are eligible for the aged pension while their rights to medical expenses end two years after their rights to income support payments and But what happens when someone is injured while working after they reach retirement age ? There is an exception to the aged pension limitation where workers are injured after they reach eligibility for the aged pension . In these cases , workers have a right to claim income support payments for up to 12 months . Because the time limit for claiming weekly benefits is extended beyond retirement age for people injured after retirement age , their rights to claim medical expenses is also extended . Typically , an injured worker will be eligible to receive medical expenses for two years after their entitement to claim weekly benefits ends . In summary , a worker injured after retirement age could potentially claim income support payments for one year and medical expenses for that same year plus a further two years after that . In cases of more serious injuries , the right to claim medical expenses can be extended for more than two years . If more retirees return to the workforce as a result of these new inducements , they should feel confident that if they are injured at work , they will have support in the form of treatment and income support payments from the relevant workers compensation insurer . This is a rare example of the law being prepared for changes in society and the economy , rather than having to catch up with social and economic change . Always where you are Business Low Dispute Resolution Conveyancing & Property Law Wills and Estates Compensation Low Criminal Law Relationships Low 3 & Family & BOWRAL 387 Bong Bong St MOSS VALE 300 Argyle St 4862 1411 www.rmblawyers.com.au