The ugly side of workers compensation | A Current Affair

Summary

Angela, a single mother of two, suffers a life-changing injury while delivering bread and is left without support from the workers' compensation system. Despite enduring immense physical and mental pain, her claims are ignored for seven months by IARE, the authority responsible for workers' compensation. Struggling financially, Angela is forced into emergency housing. After intervention from her lawyer and the New South Wales Premier, Angela begins to receive the assistance she deserves. This case highlights the failures of the system meant to protect workers, with the government's response finally offering hope.

Takeaways

• 😀 Angela, a single mother of two, is injured in a truck accident while delivering bread, leaving her with severe injuries and a long road to recovery.
• 😀 Angela's workers' compensation claim with Icare, the main authority in New South Wales, has been mishandled for seven months, causing financial and emotional distress.
• 😀 Despite the system's promises to help workers injured on the job, Angela faces numerous excuses and delays, including lost paperwork and inadequate responses from Icare.
• 😀 Angela is forced to drain her savings due to the lack of compensation, and she and her sons are now living in emergency housing in Sydney.
• 😀 The failure of the workers' compensation system in New South Wales is highlighted, with Icare's scandals of underpayment and mismanagement being ongoing issues.
• 😀 Angela's lawyer, Joel Tucker, explains that workers' compensation claims typically take around 21 days to process, but Angela's case has been unnecessarily delayed for months.
• 😀 Icare’s CEO has promised change, but Angela’s case remains a glaring example of a system stacked against workers seeking assistance.
• 😀 Angela’s situation is described as having destroyed her life, with no clarity on when she will receive the compensation she is entitled to.
• 😀 Angela has finally received some compensation after legal intervention, including temporary income support, medical benefits, and back pay for the seven months of waiting.
• 😀 The New South Wales government, after facing public outcry, is addressing Angela's case, but the broader question remains whether Icare is putting profits before people’s needs.

Q & A

What happened to Angela while she was working?

Angela was hit by a truck while delivering bread in her work van. She was severely injured and required multiple surgeries.

How has Angela's life been affected by the accident?

Angela has been left with long-term physical and mental health issues, including PTSD, making it difficult for her to even walk out the back gate. The accident also caused her to lose her home and put immense financial strain on her and her family.

What role does the workers' compensation system play in Angela's situation?

Angela trusted the workers' compensation system to support her during her recovery, but the system, managed by IARE, failed to provide her with timely assistance or support, leaving her without income or help for several months.

What challenges did Angela face with IARE regarding her claim?

Angela faced unethical tactics, including IARE losing her documentation and offering numerous excuses for the delays. Despite providing all necessary information, IARE made it difficult for her to receive any support.

How long did Angela struggle to receive support from IARE?

Angela struggled for seven months without receiving confirmation of her claim, despite the fact that such claims are typically decided within 21 days.

What were the financial consequences of Angela's situation?

Angela had to drain her savings to survive since she had no income coming in, leading to her living in emergency housing with her two children. The financial strain affected her ability to provide basic needs for her family.

What is the significance of the IARE system in New South Wales?

IARE was established by the New South Wales government in 2015 to replace WorkCover and handle workers' compensation. However, it has been plagued with mismanagement, underpayment issues, and unethical practices, leading to significant public criticism.

How did Angela's lawyer, Joel Tucker, describe the system?

Joel Tucker, a workplace law specialist, described IARE's handling of Angela's case as an example of a system stacked against workers. He highlighted how such claims usually take 21 days to process but Angela's case took seven months.

What steps were taken by the New South Wales government to resolve Angela's situation?

After the matter was escalated to the Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, the government intervened and promised to provide Angela with the necessary support, including income support, medical benefits, and back pay for the months she went without assistance.

What is Angela's message to IARE and other workers' compensation authorities?

Angela expressed her disappointment with IARE's lack of response and their failure to provide the support she was entitled to. She emphasized that the system is not good enough and that workers in similar situations should not be left to suffer.