What whole person impairment do I need to get a workers compensation lump sum?

It depends on your state, because workers' compensation is not harmonised. For a permanent-impairment lump sum, the minimum whole person impairment (WPI) is: NSW more than 11% for a physical injury and more than 15% for a psychological injury; Victoria 10% physical and 30% psychological; Queensland has no real minimum (a lump sum can follow any assessed degree of permanent impairment); South Australia from 5% (physical); Tasmania 5% physical and 10% psychological; the Northern Territory from 5%; and Comcare 10% (with 2.5% for hearing loss). Western Australia and the ACT have no single blanket minimum — impairment is assessed and the lump sum follows your assessed percentage. Always get a medico-legal assessment and confirm with your scheme regulator.

What is whole person impairment (WPI)?

Whole person impairment is the permanent impairment your injury leaves you with after it has stabilised, expressed as a percentage of the whole person. Workers' compensation schemes use WPI (in Queensland, the degree of permanent impairment or DPI) to decide whether you can access a permanent-impairment lump sum and how large it is. A higher WPI generally means a larger lump sum and access to further entitlements.

How is whole person impairment assessed?

Your WPI is decided by an independent medico-legal assessment once your injury has stabilised (reached maximum medical improvement), carried out by an accredited assessor using the scheme's approved impairment guides. You do not assess it yourself and neither does your employer. Psychiatric injury is often assessed by a different method to physical injury (for example Victoria uses GEPIC), which is why the threshold can differ between physical and psychological injuries.

Is the permanent impairment lump sum a fixed amount?

No. The lump sum is not a fixed figure. It is calculated from your assessed impairment percentage and the scheme's prescribed rates, which are indexed and change over time (most schemes index on 1 July; NSW indexes on 1 April and 1 October). Two workers with the same injury can receive different amounts depending on their assessed WPI and the rates in force, so confirm the current figures with your regulator or a workers' compensation lawyer rather than relying on a fixed number.

Does the lump sum threshold differ by state?

Yes. Workers' compensation is not harmonised in Australia, so each state and territory and the Commonwealth (Comcare) sets its own permanent-impairment lump-sum threshold, and several set a higher threshold for psychological injury than for physical injury. This tool routes by jurisdiction and injury type so you see the threshold that applies where you work. NSW and South Australia are reforming their schemes — the thresholds shown are the current pre-reform position.

Permanent Impairment Lump Sum Threshold Checker

Check the whole person impairment (WPI) threshold to claim a workers compensation permanent impairment lump sum in your state.

Last verified: 21 June 2026

The minimum whole person impairment (WPI) you need to claim a permanent-impairment lump sum differs in every Australian scheme, and often differs between physical and psychological injuries. Choose your state and injury type to see the threshold that applies — the dollar amount itself is assessed on your impairment and indexed, so get a medico-legal assessment before relying on a figure.

Check the impairment threshold for a permanent-impairment lump sum

Workers’ compensation is not harmonised in Australia — the minimum whole person impairment (WPI) you need to claim a permanent-impairment lump sum differs in every scheme, and often differs between physical and psychological injuries. Choose where you work and the type of injury to see the threshold that applies. This checks the lump-sum gateway, not a common-law damages claim.

Your state or territory

Type of injury

Physical injuryPsychological (psychiatric) injury

New South Wales — physical injury

Minimum whole person impairment for a lump sum

More than 11%

In NSW you can claim a permanent-impairment lump sum for a physical injury once your whole person impairment is more than 11%. Below that threshold a lump sum is generally not payable, although your medical and weekly-payment entitlements continue.

Scheme: Your claim runs through the NSW workers compensation scheme (icare / SIRA).
Getting assessed & the amount: Your whole person impairment is decided by an independent medico-legal assessment once your injury has stabilised, using the scheme's approved impairment guides — not by you or your employer. The lump-sum amount itself is not a fixed figure: it is calculated from your assessed impairment percentage and the scheme's indexed rates (most schemes index on 1 July; NSW indexes on 1 April and 1 October), so it changes over time. Get a medico-legal WPI assessment and, before accepting or electing, independent advice — the choice is often final.
Who to call: SafeWork NSW — 13 10 50 (regulator website)
Source: Safe Work Australia, Comparison of Workers' Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand (29th ed.); Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW) and Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW).

Coming changes: NSW is reforming its scheme (changes from 2026). The reforms affect continuing weekly payments and the higher impairment gates for ongoing benefits — the 11% physical and 15% psychological entry thresholds for a permanent-impairment lump sum are the current rules. Check SIRA for any change before relying on these figures.

This is general information, not legal advice, and is not an impairment assessment. Workers' compensation is not harmonised — each scheme differs, and your entitlement depends on a medico-legal assessment of your own injury. The whole person impairment percentages here are the threshold to access a permanent-impairment lump sum, not the amount you would receive. Confirm the current thresholds and rules with your scheme regulator, insurer or a workers' compensation lawyer before relying on them.

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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.

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