Working in the construction industry and you become ill or injured!

Changes to Incolink leisure time injury and illness weekly benefits
Weekly benefits have increased as of October 2016. It is important, however, for all members to know where your employer pays the IPT component of your leisure time insurances.

This article is intended to provide a general summary. It is not intended to contain all the information that may be relevant to a particular matter. The Insurances are extensive and conditions apply. 

Cover relies on IPT (Income Protection Insurance) premiums and redundancy being paid by your employer to Incolink, OR ; in some cases your employer may be paying IPT to another agent other than Incolink. In any case, Members must make themselves familiar with both who the agent is, and currency of payments. This can be done by:

• Checking your statements you receive from Incolink
• Contacting Incolink on 96393 000 with your Incolink membership number
• Go on-line and set up your own 24 hour access account
• By asking your employer who they make their payments to

If payments are not up to date, cover will not be available when needed. If a Member finds the premiums are not up to date, ask your employer why or contact the Union.       

NEVER SUBMIT A CLAIM BEFORE ENSURING PAYMENTS ARE UP TO DATE.  

Insurance cover under your EBA entitles each Member extensive cover whether you are injured or become ill at work; or out of work hours; and in the case of emergency ambulance and accidental dental cover, your immediate family also. 

It is recommended all Incolink members  contact Incolink directly, or go on-line and receive the publication “Building and Construction Industry Accident and Illness Benefits Program” 

A brief overview and examples of the Insurances are: 

WorkCover top-up pay:

When you receive workers compensation for a work related injury or illness, WorkCover will only reimburse the injured worker 95%/80% of the pre- injury earnings at the ordinary rate of pay. During the first year (52 weeks) the employer is required to make up the remaining 5%/20%. However, from the 53^rd week to a maximum of 78 weeks the 20% is paid by the insurance cover. It is the injured workers responsibility to initiate the claim. 

Personal Accident (Injury) Leisure Time Insurance:

Provides cover to Members for injury occurring in their leisure time, which stops a worker from working. Includes payments for broken bones, capital payments (lump sum payments) and loss of income. Also covers the Member  whilst traveling directly to and from work (Journey Cover). A 14 day waiting period applies, to a maximum of 156 weeks. A worker can make a claim 9 consecutive months from the last recorded redundancy contribution and/or Apprentice days provided that:

• they are unemployed and
• are actively seeking work within the building industry and
• registered as seeking work through Incolink, Centrelink,  the Union or equivalent.   

• Sick leave is not required to be used. 

Any disablement must occur within 12months from the date of Injury.

Leisure Time Illness Insurance:

Provides cover to Members who become ill in their leisure time, and which stops the worker from working. Other examples are brain tumor, stroke cancer/leukemia. A 14 day waiting period applies, to a maximum of 156 weeks, and the worker must use all available sick leave and portable sick leave first. Entitlement to claim ceases immediately on the day a worker ceases employment with the contributing employer. Any disablement must occur within 12months from the date of illness.

TAC Top-up:

Provides cover where a Member suffers injury whilst traveling to and from work and receives an entitlement from the TAC. The cover makes up the difference between what the TAC pay (80% of ordinary earnings) and 100% of ordinary earnings to maximum of 104 weeks, to a combined maximum of $1,500.00 per week.

Workplace Trauma:

Provides cover to a Member who suffers a workplace injury, resulting in death or permanent total disablement which is not an illness and is covered by a statutory workers compensation scheme. 

Emergency Transport:

Provides cover to Members and his/her dependents, for emergency ambulance cover anywhere in Australia to a maximum of $12,000 road/$15,000 air/ per trip. Unmarried financially dependent children up to 16 years of age, or up to 25 years of age if a full time student are deemed to be dependents. The Member is covered for a period of 9 consecutive months from the last recorded and paid redundancy contribution and/or Apprentice days provided that:

• they are unemployed and
• are actively seeking work within the building industry and
• registered as seeking work through Incolink, Centrelink or the Union or equivalent.  

Dental, Accident only:

Provides cover to Members and his/her dependents, for accidental damage to sound and healthy teeth, occurring outside work hours. Conditions and exclusions apply such as fillings without damage to the tooth structure, wisdom teeth, milk teeth etc. The Member is covered for a period of 9 consecutive months from the last recorded and paid redundancy contribution and/or Apprentice days provided that:

• they are unemployed and
• are actively seeking work within the building industry and
• registered as seeking work through Incolink, Centrelink or the Union or equivalent.  

Funeral Cover:

Provides a benefit of $9,000 when a worker dies. Cover is provided 7 days /24 hours. The Member is covered for a period of 9 consecutive months from the last recorded and paid redundancy contribution and/or Apprentice days provided that:

• they are unemployed and
• are actively seeking work within the building industry and
• registered as seeking work through Incolink, Centrelink or the Union or equivalent.  

Members are advised to check that their contributions are kept up to date by their employer, and to contact the Union should they have any inquiries when making a claim. Incolink website is www.incolink.org.au 

REMEMBER, NO EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS - NO COVER.    

Portable Sick Leave Scheme 

The Portable Sick Leave Scheme (PSL), is an insurance policy which will cover any unused sick days a commercial/industrial building worker has remaining at the time of termination of employment. It allows workers to access sick leave built up with previous employers. In other words, employees can take their sick leave from one employer to another. Members must ensure their previous employer has notified Incolink with a statement of unused sick days, and those days are noted on their statement. These days were previously lost when they left employment or were made redundant. Employers contribute to the cost of the insurance policy that provides this benefit.   

Apprentices and Redundancy 

Contributions are not paid into Incolink while you are an Apprentice. A levy is paid by Members to provide a redundancy payment to Apprentices if they qualify for a claim. The payment is calculated according to the number of days and the contribution rate that was applicable during each year of your Apprenticeship. 

Apprentices must ensure all days spent on commercial/ industrial sites are shown on their Incolink statement, along with IPT and PSL. 

Under the Incolink Trust Deeds, an apprentice or employee can claim their apprenticeship days as redundancy in a number of situations. These are:

1. An apprentice completes their apprenticeship and then works for 52 weeks in the commercial building industry and their employer/s have paid 52 weeks redundancy contributions into Incolink for that period.
2. An apprentice who has not finished their apprenticeship is laid off due to a lack of work and there is no arrangement with their employer to re-employ them.
3. An apprentice completes their apprenticeship and is laid off due to a lack of work within the next 52 weeks and there is no arrangement with their employer to re-employ them.

To be eligible to have the days paid out as redundancy under A, the employee and the employer must complete and lodge an Initial Claim Form. Under B and C, the employee and the employer are required to complete and lodge an Initial Claim Form, the Application for payment for Apprentice Credits claim form and provide the necessary supporting paperwork.
 
NOTE: In B and C, if the employee/apprentice resigned or ceased work voluntarily or due to any other reason, the employee/apprentice will not be eligible to claim their apprentice credits.