Support for family members
The TAC can help the immediate family members of a person injured in a transport accident.
Time off work for parents
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim,
- They have more than five days of lost wages because they have time off work to visit their child in hospital.
Find out more about time off work for parents.
Travel and accommodation
If you're in hospital, we will also pay for travel and accommodation for family members who live more than 100km away, so they can visit you.
We will also help parents to be with dependent children in hospital, even if they live closer.
Find out more about travel and accommodation.
Counselling
We can support immediate family members by paying for family counselling when a loved one dies or has a severe injury.
Find out more about counselling.
Help and advice for carers
The Carer Gateway is a useful resource with help and advice for carers.
Visit their website for practical tips and support that help carers manage in their role.
https://www.carergateway.gov.au/help-advice
When a family member dies
If you have lost a loved one in a transport accident we’re so sorry for your loss. We are here to help. We offer financial support with funeral costs and counselling services. We'll give you as much information and advice as we can.
We can also provide financial support for dependants.
Find out more about how we can support you if a family member dies because of a transport accident.
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim,
- They have more than five days of lost wages because they have taken time off work to visit their child in hospital.
How to make a claim for loss of wages
To claim loss of wages, you will need to send us proof of your lost wages, which could be:
- Your latest payslips,
- A letter from your employer which says how much you earn.
It is each parent’s responsibility to make a claim for lost wages.
Please call the TAC on 1300 654 329 for more information.
How much we can pay
We will pay lost wages up to a maximum of $1,620 per week.
The total amount we can pay on a child’s claim is capped at $12,140.
These amounts apply when a claim for loss of wages by a parent is made for the first time on or after 1 July 2024.
If a claim for loss of wages by a parent was made before 1 July 2024, the maximum amounts will be different. If the loss of wages was claimed:
- Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, the weekly maximum is $1,540 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,540
- Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, the weekly maximum is $1,500 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,230
- Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, the weekly maximum is $1,490 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,130
Loss of wages for parents of injured children policy
We are here to help at this difficult time. As well as giving information and advice we can pay loss of wages for a parent who visits their dependent child in hospital.
How we approve loss of wages for parents
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim
- They have a loss of wages because they have taken time off work to visit their child in hospital, and
- They have more than five days of lost wages.
Payment of lost wages in the first five days
The TAC, by law, cannot ordinarily pay for the first five working days that are lost to visit a dependent child in hospital.
During the first five days parents need to use their workplace leave, if possible.
If you are in, or at risk of, acute financial hardship, you can ask the TAC to pay your lost wages during the first five days. We can pay you if you don’t have enough income to cover your immediate family living expenses. To work this out we will look at whether you have:
- Unused sick or annual leave entitlements from your employer;
- Outstanding debts such as loan repayments, electricity, gas and other household expenses, and
- A bank balance with enough money to cover outstanding debts and your anticipated living expenses.
How to make a claim for loss of wages
If you need to claim a loss of wages, you will need to send us proof of your lost wages including:
- Latest payslips; and
- Letter from your employer
How is loss of wages paid?
We will pay loss of wages directly to your nominated bank account.
How much we will pay?
We will pay 100% of a parent’s lost wages, up to a maximum of $1,620* per week ($324 per day).
The total amount we can pay on a child’s claim is capped at $12,140*.
It is each parent’s responsibility to make a claim for lost wages.
We will process payment for each parent’s loss of wages when we receive the information listed in the ‘How to make a claim for loss of wages’ section of this policy.
*These amounts apply when a claim for loss of wages by a parent is made for the first time on or after 1 July 2024.
What we won’t pay for
We cannot pay for:
- The same day of lost wages on more than one TAC claim
- Replacement labour where you are a sole-business operator
- The cost of meals or other living expenses
- Any Government related benefits.
Definition of a parent
For this policy a parent is:
- A person who normally lives with and has day to day care and control of the child
- A guardian of the child.
Parent
Parent means:
- A person who normally lives with and has day to day care and control of the child,
- A guardian of the child.
Immediate family member
Member of the immediate family of an injured TAC client means a partner, parent, child or sibling of the injured client.
For accidents on or after 26 September 2018, a grandparent is also included as a member of the client's immediate family.
For accidents on or after 6 July 2022, a grandchild is also included as a member of the client's immediate family.
Dependent child
Your child is a "dependent child" if they are financially dependent on you and:
- under 18 years of age, or
- over 18 but under 25 years of age and a full-time student or an apprentice*.
A child who has a spouse or domestic partner cannot be a dependent child.
For accidents before 6 July 2022, children aged over 16 must be a full time student or an apprentice* to be classified as a ‘dependent child’.
* Apprentice applies to accidents on or after 26 September 2018.
The TAC can help the immediate family members of a person injured in a transport accident.
Time off work for parents
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim,
- They have more than five days of lost wages because they have time off work to visit their child in hospital.
Find out more about time off work for parents.
Travel and accommodation
If you're in hospital, we will also pay for travel and accommodation for family members who live more than 100km away, so they can visit you.
We will also help parents to be with dependent children in hospital, even if they live closer.
Find out more about travel and accommodation.
Counselling
We can support immediate family members by paying for family counselling when a loved one dies or has a severe injury.
Find out more about counselling.
Help and advice for carers
The Carer Gateway is a useful resource with help and advice for carers.
Visit their website for practical tips and support that help carers manage in their role.
https://www.carergateway.gov.au/help-advice
When a family member dies
If you have lost a loved one in a transport accident we’re so sorry for your loss. We are here to help. We offer financial support with funeral costs and counselling services. We'll give you as much information and advice as we can.
We can also provide financial support for dependants.
Find out more about how we can support you if a family member dies because of a transport accident.
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim,
- They have more than five days of lost wages because they have taken time off work to visit their child in hospital.
How to make a claim for loss of wages
To claim loss of wages, you will need to send us proof of your lost wages, which could be:
- Your latest payslips,
- A letter from your employer which says how much you earn.
It is each parent’s responsibility to make a claim for lost wages.
Please call the TAC on 1300 654 329 for more information.
How much we can pay
We will pay lost wages up to a maximum of $1,620 per week.
The total amount we can pay on a child’s claim is capped at $12,140.
These amounts apply when a claim for loss of wages by a parent is made for the first time on or after 1 July 2024.
If a claim for loss of wages by a parent was made before 1 July 2024, the maximum amounts will be different. If the loss of wages was claimed:
- Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, the weekly maximum is $1,540 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,540
- Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023, the weekly maximum is $1,500 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,230
- Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, the weekly maximum is $1,490 per week and the total amount we can pay is $11,130
Loss of wages for parents of injured children policy
We are here to help at this difficult time. As well as giving information and advice we can pay loss of wages for a parent who visits their dependent child in hospital.
How we approve loss of wages for parents
We can pay a loss of wages to the parents of a dependent child if:
- Their child is an inpatient in hospital with an accepted TAC claim
- They have a loss of wages because they have taken time off work to visit their child in hospital, and
- They have more than five days of lost wages.
Payment of lost wages in the first five days
The TAC, by law, cannot ordinarily pay for the first five working days that are lost to visit a dependent child in hospital.
During the first five days parents need to use their workplace leave, if possible.
If you are in, or at risk of, acute financial hardship, you can ask the TAC to pay your lost wages during the first five days. We can pay you if you don’t have enough income to cover your immediate family living expenses. To work this out we will look at whether you have:
- Unused sick or annual leave entitlements from your employer;
- Outstanding debts such as loan repayments, electricity, gas and other household expenses, and
- A bank balance with enough money to cover outstanding debts and your anticipated living expenses.
How to make a claim for loss of wages
If you need to claim a loss of wages, you will need to send us proof of your lost wages including:
- Latest payslips; and
- Letter from your employer
How is loss of wages paid?
We will pay loss of wages directly to your nominated bank account.
How much we will pay?
We will pay 100% of a parent’s lost wages, up to a maximum of $1,620* per week ($324 per day).
The total amount we can pay on a child’s claim is capped at $12,140*.
It is each parent’s responsibility to make a claim for lost wages.
We will process payment for each parent’s loss of wages when we receive the information listed in the ‘How to make a claim for loss of wages’ section of this policy.
*These amounts apply when a claim for loss of wages by a parent is made for the first time on or after 1 July 2024.
What we won’t pay for
We cannot pay for:
- The same day of lost wages on more than one TAC claim
- Replacement labour where you are a sole-business operator
- The cost of meals or other living expenses
- Any Government related benefits.
Definition of a parent
For this policy a parent is:
- A person who normally lives with and has day to day care and control of the child
- A guardian of the child.
Parent
Parent means:
- A person who normally lives with and has day to day care and control of the child,
- A guardian of the child.
Immediate family member
Member of the immediate family of an injured TAC client means a partner, parent, child or sibling of the injured client.
For accidents on or after 26 September 2018, a grandparent is also included as a member of the client's immediate family.
For accidents on or after 6 July 2022, a grandchild is also included as a member of the client's immediate family.
Dependent child
Your child is a "dependent child" if they are financially dependent on you and:
- under 18 years of age, or
- over 18 but under 25 years of age and a full-time student or an apprentice*.
A child who has a spouse or domestic partner cannot be a dependent child.
For accidents before 6 July 2022, children aged over 16 must be a full time student or an apprentice* to be classified as a ‘dependent child’.
* Apprentice applies to accidents on or after 26 September 2018.
