If you are injured travelling to or from work, you should contact the Association immediately for advice. Either complete the Contact Us form on this website or call 1300 367 962.
You must have been a financial member of the Association in order to be covered by our Journey Accident Insurance.
Below is some information about the claims process that is important to understand.
Waiting period
There is a 14-day waiting period before Journey Accident Insurance benefits apply. This means that if you are off work for less than 14 days as a result of your accident, you are not entitled to any benefit. If your claim is accepted, you will not receive income replacement benefits for the first 14 days following the certified date of the injury (‘certified’ meaning the date of the medical certificate/document(s) evidencing the injury).
For motor vehicle accidents
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident your first point of insurance is Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. You should lodge a claim on your CTP insurance.
Importantly, the CTP initial income replacement benefit is higher than JAI, and CTP can also cover medical expenses whereas JAI cannot.
How to make a claim
- If your accident involved your motor vehicle, lodge a claim on Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
This is an important first step for you to address as soon as possible after your accident. Here is the link to access claim information: https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/claiming-compensation/motor-accidents-injury-claims - Contact the Association to register your request to claim and to receive more information and claim forms
We will guide you through how to lodge a claim and the documentation required. This documentation includes but is not limited to:
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- Completion of claim forms
- Provision of payslips (to evidence your salary)
- Medical certificates and supporting medical documentation (e.g. hospital discharge letters, x-ray reports).
NSWNMA will lodge the claim and liaise on your behalf with the insurer, CHUBB. CHUBB will assess and respond to the claim within 5-10 business days. CHUBB may ask for additional information depending on the circumstance of the claim.
How long until I receive benefits?
The wait time to receive benefits from the insurer is dependent on each individual case. In some cases, the insurer will require additional reports, information or investigation before they can approve a claim and make payment. However, here is a general guide regarding timing:
- If the claim involves a motor vehicle accident, the insurer will seek a police report which can take 6-8 weeks. Therefore claim approval may take at least 6-8 weeks.
- If the claim does not involve a motor accident, and there are no other extenuating circumstances that require additional reports or investigation, the claim approval may be around 10 days.
Requirements over the life of the claim
For claims that are assessed to be more long term, you will be requested to provide updated information which may include:
- Updated medical certificates stating the medical condition and period of incapacity (payments cannot be paid unless there is medical evidence of incapacity)
- Depending on the nature of your injury, six months after the disability has commenced a rehabilitation assessor or other provider may be appointed to interview you. This is to provide our insurer with a clear understanding of your current condition, the progress of your recovery and the outlook of your claim
- Throughout the life of the claim an independent medical review may be requested in order to determine the progress of your injuries and ensure the correct treatment is being received
