If you’ve received a Notice of Assessment from WorkCover Queensland with a degree of permanent impairment (DPI) score, you are likely entitled to a lump sum payment. This page explains how the amount is calculated and includes a calculator so you can check your exact entitlement instantly.
When you’ve had a workplace injury, the statutory benefits provided by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) includes funding for medical treatment and weekly compensation. However, the benefits do not last forever. They are only paid until a medical opinion is provided to the insurer (usually Workcover Queensland) that suggests your symptoms are not likely to improve with any further medical treatment. This is commonly known as your injuries becoming ‘stable and stationary’.
When you are considered to be ‘stable and stationary’ (or after 5 years from the date of injury) the weekly workers’ compensation benefit payments will cease, along with any funding for ongoing medical treatment and your Workcover claim will be closed.
If your injury is permanent, for Workcover to close your claim, they must first refer you for a final independent medical examination to assess your degree of permanent impairment (DPI). If Workcover have not referred you for an assessment of permanent impairment, it is very important that you ask for the assessment or you may miss out on a lump sum payment or right to claim common law damages all together.
Shortly after you’ve attended the medical assessment, Workcover Queensland will issue you with a Notice of Assessment for each of your injuries, listing your assessed DPI for each injury in the form of a percentage score.
A lump sum offer of compensation will be included in the Notice of Assessment, based on the assessed DPI. This is known as a ‘statutory offer’ or ‘lump sum payment’.
Lump Sum Calculator
Enter your injury year and DPI score to instantly see your estimated lump sum entitlement. The amount varies each year because it is tied to the Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings (QOTE) — the state average weekly wage.
What DPI score might I receive for my injury?
DPI is assessed by an independent doctor. Your score will depend on your specific injury and medical assessment.
1–5%: Minor injury with some lasting symptoms, e.g. a soft tissue back or shoulder strain with residual stiffness after treatment.
5–15%: Moderate injury, e.g. a disc injury causing ongoing back pain, partial hearing loss, or a shoulder injury requiring surgery with reduced range of motion.
15–30%: Significant injury, e.g. a serious knee or shoulder injury with permanent loss of movement, or a moderate chronic pain condition.
30%+: Severe injury, e.g. loss of a limb, major spinal injury, serious psychiatric conditions, or significant permanent disability.
What is QOTE and why does it affect my lump sum?
QOTE stands for Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings — the state average full-time adult weekly wage, declared annually by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Under s.140 of the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, the maximum statutory lump sum is set at 216.15 × QOTE. Your entitlement is a percentage of that cap based on your DPI score.
QOTE rises each 1 July as wages grow, which is why the year of your injury affects how much you receive.
Lump Sum Compensation Tables
Lump sum amounts depend on the year a worker was injured. Select the financial year in which your workplace injury occurred:
How is the lump sum amount calculated?
QOTE stands for Queensland Ordinary Time Earnings — the state average full-time adult weekly wage, declared annually by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Under s.140 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, the maximum statutory lump sum is set at 216.15 × QOTE. Your entitlement is a percentage of that cap based on your DPI score.
QOTE rises each 1 July as wages grow, which is why the year of your injury affects how much you receive.
For injuries assessed in the 2025–26 financial year, the published QOTE is $1,953.70 per week, making the maximum statutory compensation $422,292. This means an injured worker is entitled to approximately $4,223 for every 1% of their assessed DPI. This figure is updated each 1 July when the new QOTE is declared — use the calculator above to check the amount that applies to your injury year.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics — Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (QOTE benchmark).
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On average, by winning a common law claim instead. Strict time limits apply.
Should you accept the lump sum offer?
The Queensland workers’ compensation scheme is reasonable in that it offers a base level of protection for those unfortunate enough to suffer an injury at work. But as a whole, Roche Legal’s view is that the lump sum compensation amounts are inadequate to fairly compensate an injured worker, particularly when taking a long-term view.
Be aware that strict time limits apply to WorkCover claims and any subsequent common law action. Missing a deadline can significantly affect your rights, so it is important to seek legal advice promptly.
If there is a strong likelihood that an injured worker would win a common law claim, we strongly recommend one be made. That is because the damages awarded at common law are almost always more substantial than accepting the statutory lump sum amount, even after legal costs and expenses.
A common law claim allows you to sue your employer for damages, including pain and suffering, loss of income including future earnings, and medical expenses. A common law claim can be more complicated and time-consuming than accepting a lump sum offer from Workcover, and it typically requires you to hire a lawyer. And whilst most of these claims are settled out of court, a trial remains a real possibility throughout. It’s important to consider the potential costs and risks of pursuing a common law claim, as well as your likelihood of success.
If you’ve been injured at work, we recommend phoning one of the solicitors at Roche Legal for a free initial consultation, or completing a free case review online.