QLD Workers Comp Time Limits

Six months. Three years. Twenty business days. And a bunch of smaller ones that sneak up when you’re just trying to heal.

Getting injured at work is bad enough.

Then the paperwork turns up. Dates. Forms. Medical certificates. A phone call from someone asking questions that feel a bit… pointed. And suddenly it’s not just “get better and get back to work”. It’s “don’t miss a deadline or this gets messy”.

That last part? Underestimated. All the time.

Because Queensland workers’ compensation is meant to be “no fault” and supportive. And it can be. But it’s also a system with strict timeframes, and those timeframes don’t stop just because someone’s in pain, off work, or dealing with physio appointments and Centrelink and trying to keep the lights on.

So here’s a plain-English guide to the key time limits in Queensland workers’ compensation claims, why they matter, and what to do if you’re already late.

First up: why are there time limits at all? (It feels harsh, but there’s a reason)

You’d think the system would just focus on recovery.

But deadlines exist largely so the incident can be investigated while evidence is still fresh, witnesses can still remember what happened, and employers/insurers aren’t defending claims from years ago with missing records.

That’s the “fairness” logic behind it. Still frustrating when you’re the worker, obviously. But it explains why the scheme gets twitchy about delays.

The 6‑month deadline: notifying WorkCover and applying for statutory benefits

Here’s the one that trips people up early.

In Queensland, once a worker sustains an injury at work—or becomes aware of a work-related injury or disease—there’s six months to notify WorkCover Queensland and apply for statutory benefits.

A few things about that sentence:

• “Becomes aware” matters for gradual injuries and illnesses. Sometimes the injury isn’t one dramatic moment. It’s a shoulder that slowly fails. A back that gets worse. A psychological injury that becomes clear over time.
• “Notify and apply” isn’t just telling a supervisor. It’s making sure the claim is actually lodged properly.

Queensland’s scheme is generally described as no fault, meaning benefits can be applied for regardless of how the injury was caused. Common benefits can include:

• weekly payments (wage replacement)
• medical and rehab expenses
• potentially a lump sum for permanent impairment

What if it’s been more than 6 months?

There can be exceptions, but don’t rely on them like they’re automatic.

Limited exceptions can apply in certain situations, including special medical circumstances, a genuine mistake, absence from the state, or another reasonable excuse. These exceptions can be evidence-heavy. It’s not just “life got busy”.

Pro tip: if the six months is close to expiring, lodge first, tidy later. The perfect claim lodged late can be worse than a decent claim lodged on time.

The sneaky early limit: the “20 business days” issue

This one annoys people because it feels like a penalty for not knowing the rules.

If an application is lodged more than 20 business days after the injury, WorkCover’s liability to pay compensation can be limited to no more than 20 business days before the day the application was lodged.

In plain terms: delay too long early on, and there can be a cap on how far back payments go.

So someone might think, “I’ll just wait and see if it improves.” Then it doesn’t. Then the claim gets lodged, but the early period becomes complicated.

That’s why “wait and see” is risky if you’re missing work or paying for treatment.

The 3‑year limit: the big one people have heard of (but misunderstand)

Most people have heard “three years” and assume they’re safe.

Yes and no.

A worker generally must make a workers’ compensation claim within three years of sustaining the injury at work. Miss that and a future claim may be barred.

Extensions beyond three years can exist, but they tend to be limited and very fact-specific. One example that can arise is where there’s a dispute about the worker’s degree of permanent impairment included in WorkCover’s Notice of Assessment.

But generally? Treat three years as a hard wall, not a friendly suggestion.

Common law claims also have a 3‑year deadline

Now, here’s where it gets interesting.

If a worker believes the injury was caused by employer negligence and wants to pursue a separate common law claim for damages, a Notice of Claim must also be filed within three years of the injury.

So it’s not just “workers comp claim within three years”. It can also be “common law pathway within three years”.

Different paperwork. Different strategy. Same clock.

This is one of the reasons Workers Compensation Lawyers can be worth speaking to early—because the best time to plan the pathway is while options are still open, not when the calendar is about to slam shut.

“No time limit on lump sum compensation”… sort of (here’s the catch)

There is generally no time limit on applying for lump sum compensation provided WorkCover first accepted liability for the claim for weekly payments and/or medical expenses.

This is one of those “sounds great, but…” situations.

Because it’s not “no time limits exist anywhere”. It’s “no time limit once you’re already in the accepted-claim lane”.

So if the initial claim was never accepted in the first place, that “no time limit” point may not help much.

WorkCover’s deadlines: they also have a clock

This bit gets overlooked. People assume WorkCover can take as long as it likes.

Once a worker lodges a claim (typically a WorkCover claim form plus a medical certificate), WorkCover has 20 business days to decide whether to accept the application.

During that time, WorkCover may:

• ask for more proof of the injury and how it was sustained
• ask the worker to attend an appointment with a WorkCover doctor

Worth noting: delays can happen when documents are missing. So if information is requested and it isn’t provided promptly, the process can slow down.

Not saying it’s fair. Just saying it’s common.

Disagree with a decision? There’s a 3‑month review deadline

If WorkCover (or a self-insurer) makes a decision the worker disagrees with, an application to review the decision should generally be made to the Workers’ Compensation Regulator within three (3) months.

This is a classic “people miss it because they’re exhausted” deadline.

They’re recovering, they’re stressed, they’re waiting to see if things improve, then suddenly the review window is gone.

Pro tip: even if you’re still gathering medical evidence, diarise the review deadline immediately. Evidence can keep building. Deadlines don’t wait.

Notice of Assessment disputes: the 20‑business‑day scramble

Another quick one.

For a physical injury, if the worker doesn’t agree with the WorkCover Notice of Assessment on permanent impairment, there are generally 20 business days after receiving the notice to request the degree of impairment be assessed again (by another doctor or the Medical Assessment Tribunal).

That’s not long. Especially if the notice arrives while someone’s juggling pain, work capacity, and medical appointments.

So what does this mean for you?

If there’s one theme in all of this, it’s simple: workers comp time limits are a system of overlapping clocks.

Some are months. Some are years. Some are business days.

A practical way to stay safe is to ask:

• What’s the date of injury (or the date it became apparent)?
• When was the claim lodged?
• Has WorkCover accepted the claim yet?
• Has a decision been issued that needs review?
• Has a Notice of Assessment arrived, and when exactly was it received?

And if you’re not sure? That’s normal. The system isn’t designed to feel simple from the injured person’s end.

FAQ: real questions people ask when they’re worried they’re too late

Is the 6‑month limit always strict?

It’s the general rule. Limited exceptions can apply (for example, special medical circumstances, mistake, absence from the state, or another reasonable excuse), but they’re not automatic.

What’s the difference between the 6‑month limit and the 3‑year limit?

The 6‑month period relates to notifying WorkCover and applying for statutory benefits. The 3‑year limitation is the broader “must make a claim” deadline, and it also matters for common law Notice of Claim steps.

What if the injury wasn’t obvious straight away?

For gradual injuries or diseases, the “becomes aware” concept can matter. These are the trickier claims, and dates can become disputed—so get the timeline clear early.

Why does “20 business days” keep coming up?

Because it shows up in multiple places, including:

• late lodgement beyond 20 business days potentially limiting backpay
• WorkCover’s 20 business days to decide a claim once lodged with the right documents
• the 20 business day period to challenge a Notice of Assessment (physical injuries)

If WorkCover says no, what’s the deadline to challenge it?

A review application to the Workers’ Compensation Regulator should generally be made within 3 months of the decision.

Neutral next step

If any of these dates are already close—or already missed—get the timeline mapped out properly and get advice about exceptions and next steps. The earlier it’s sorted, the more options tend to exist. Leaving it until “later” usually just makes it harder.

Legal disclaimer

This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not take into account individual circumstances. For advice about your situation, obtain advice from a qualified Australian lawyer.