How to Claim Home Help Services with Injury Support

From 01 August 2024, WorkSafe has updated the Household Help Policy, making it more challenging to claim services. This change is due to the increased financial exposure to the Scheme, driven by a significant rise in Home Help support claims over the past few years. The updated policy now includes additional forms and a new process to review each individual entitlement.

If you're recovering from a workplace injury, managing daily household chores can be challenging. Fortunately, you might be eligible for Home Help services through WorkSafe. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to claim these services and how Injury Support can assist you through the process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Home Help Services

1. Understand Eligibility Criteria

Home Help services are provided where clinically relevant, ensuring that injured workers receive support to achieve maximum independence. Eligibility is determined based on the nature of the injury and the clinical recommendation from your Treating Health Practitioner (THP).

2. Submit Necessary Forms

Historically, in order to claim Home Help services under the Household Help Policy, you only need to provide a referral from your THP.  From 01 August 2024 this has changed. You now require specific detailed forms to be submitted to your managing Agent. These forms are:

• Household Help Request: Worker’s Declaration: This form is completed by you and reviewed by your THP. It sets early expectations and outlines the process.
• Request Form for Household Help Services: Completed by your THP (physio, osteo, chiro, or GP), this form provides clinically relevant information to assess eligibility and make quality decisions related to Home Help services.

3. Assessment and Approval

The authority requirements for this review have now changed from Case Manager authority to Injury Management Advisor authority.  This has added further oversight of this process which means delays with decisions being made as this is no longer a streamlined process. Once the forms are completed you will need to:

Submit the completed forms to your Agent. The Agent reviews the request to determine if it meets short-term (up to 12 weeks) or long-term (over 6 months) criteria based on the information provided by your THP. For long-term requests, an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT) might be required to determine continued eligibility.

4. Ongoing Management

For long-term services, a clinical review is conducted every 3 years to ensure the services are still necessary based on your current condition and recovery progress. If there are changes in your condition or additional services are required, you can submit a renewal request with updated forms from your THP.

How Injury Support Can Help

At Injury Support, we specialize in assisting individuals recovering from workplace injuries by managing the complexities of claiming and maintaining Home Help services. Here’s how we can help:

1. Guidance and Assistance

We provide general advice on how to complete and submit the necessary forms accurately. Our team offers reminders and support throughout the process, ensuring you don’t miss any critical steps or deadlines.

2. Connecting with Local Providers

We can connect you with reliable, WorkSafe-registered providers for gardening, household cleaning, and other services to maintain your home.

3. Ongoing Support

We handle the ongoing administration of your Home Help entitlement, allowing you to focus on your recovery without the added hassle of managing paperwork and approvals.

By partnering with Injury Support, you can ensure that you receive the necessary Home Help services promptly and efficiently. If you need assistance or want to know more, feel free to contact us today.