Can I go on holidays if I am on Workers Compensation?

Everybody wants a holiday away from the everyday and the benefits of taking one are well known. They are relaxing and rejuvenating and really is there anything better than sitting back for a while not having to worry about what is happening back at home?

The need for regular holidays is one we all feel but what if you are on workers compensation? Can you take a holiday? What would be the impact of taking one if you did?​

The answer as to whether you are "allowed" to take a holiday while you are receiving support from workers compensation is easy to answer. Yes, you are allowed to take a holiday​ with the caveat that you will still need to comply with any restrictions on your work capacity certificate. So if your treating doctor agrees that you are medically able to take a holiday, you can take one. For instance, your doctor may not agree with you that you could go hiking in Kakadu but you might be fit enough to take a week sitting on the beach at Foster.

The other caveat is that it shouldn't interfere with ​your treatment schedule. if your injury needs weekly physio it might be difficult to fit a holiday in, but the physio might agree that a week off wouldn't interfere.  Your psychologist might agree that a week off would be perfect for your recovery or, depending on your condition, that it might be too early for you to encounter the problems you might face planning and taking a holiday (despite the image that holidays are always relaxing, most people have an experience of a bad one or two). 

Can your insurer refuse you to go on holidays? No, not really if your doctor agrees ​ and it doesn't interfere with your medical treatment. 

What about if you are working? Everyone has the right to take 4 weeks off work, or equivalent for part time work​. That's just as true for someone on workers compensation and working as if it was for a worker not receiving workers compensation. The same applies as above, the type of holiday you take will need to follow the recommendations of your doctor. 

Another question that we get asked is can an insurer increase your work capacity if you take a holiday? This is slightly more complicated because we cant stop an insurance clerk thinking what ever they think about but as long as your holiday matches the restrictions of your work capacity certificate then no, ​everything should stay the same.