The Victorian Parliament has introduced legislation correcting some anomalies that created unfairness to some injured employees and their families.

The Treasury and Finance Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, if passed in its current format, will allow a deceased worker's estate (note: in legislation an employee is known as a 'worker') to receive their lump sum entitlement if they pass away before the entitlement was paid. Previously, the worker's entitlement was extinguished upon their death.

The worker has to have lodged their claim for a permanent impairment benefit and undergone the independent medical examinations. In other words, their level of impairment has to have been determined in order for the benefit to be paid to the estate.

The Bill also amends the definition of family member to insert the word 'grandparents' into the definition. By inserting grandparents into this definition, they will be able to claim eligible expenses, for example, attendance at a hospital. Prior to this amendment, grandparents were not eligible to claim an allowance for visiting a family member in hospital.

As an outcome of this addition, the family and travel accommodation cap has also been increased from $5,000 to $20,000.

Redlich's Work Injury Lawyers applaud the Government for introducing these positive changes.

For more information about these changes to legislation, contact a member of our legal team on (03) 9321 9988.