Journey Insurance (Member Benefit)
JOURNEY INSURANCE (HSU MEMBER BENEFIT)
For MSD Use Only – All Benefit Enquiries Must Be Referred to Member Admin
Purpose
This article explains:
What Journey Insurance is
Basic eligibility
What is covered and excluded
What MSD should and should not do
When to refer to Member Admin
How to distinguish between a workers compensation journey claim vs. HSU Journey Insurance
Important Reminder – Journey Insurance Is a Member Benefit
MSD does not manage or advise on Journey Insurance.
All questions about:
Eligibility
Claim forms
Documents required
Timeframes
Claim status
Limits
What’s covered vs. excluded
must be referred directly to Member Admin.
MSD’s role is limited to:
Recognising when journey insurance might apply
Referring the member to Member Admin
Supporting industrial issues related to the journey injury (e.g., employer refusing leave, rostering issues, WHS concerns)
1. What Is Journey Insurance?
Journey Insurance provides income support and compensation for members injured while travelling to or from work, replacing the NSW journey entitlements removed from workers compensation in 2012.
This is an HSU-provided insurance, separate from workers compensation.
2. Eligibility Requirements
A member must be:
✔ Financial for 3 or more months
✔ 16–75 years old (benefit periods vary by age)
✔ Injured while travelling directly to or from work
Member must use their own leave entitlements for the first 14 days after the accident.
3. What Journey Insurance Covers
A. Income Support
Up to 85% of pre-injury weekly wage (including allowances/penalties)
Capped at $1,500 per week
Benefit period depends on age:
Ages 16–65 → up to 104 weeks
Ages 66–70 → up to 52 weeks
Ages 71–75 → up to 26 weeks
B. Capital Benefits
Lump sums up to $100,000 for certain permanent injuries
Death benefit up to $10,000
C. Other Notes
All payments are taxable
Insurer pays amounts directly to the ATO
4. Key Exclusions
Journey Insurance does NOT cover:
Medical or rehabilitation expenses
Pre-existing medical conditions
Accidents involving intoxication (non-prescription drugs or alcohol)
Any injury occurring during:
A significant deviation from the journey
Travel unrelated to employment
Personal errands
Social or convenience travel
5. Required Claim Documents (Member Admin Handles This)
Member Admin will request:
Journey accident claim form
Medical certificates or hospital reports
6 months of pay history
TFN declaration
CTP insurer correspondence (if applicable)
Monthly “Progress Doctor’s Statement”
IME assessments (as required by insurer)
MSD must not request or manage these documents.
6. MSD Responsibilities
MSD can assist with:
A. Industrial Issues Related to the Journey Injury
Examples:
Employer refuses access to sick leave
Employer pressures member to return too early
Issues with suitable duties after the injury
Workplace conflict arising from the absence
WHS concerns if employer contributed to the unsafe journey
B. Workers Compensation Screening
If the injury might actually fall under:
Workers compensation
Motor accident scheme
Liability of employer
→ MSD should help triage and refer to a solicitor if required.
C. Directing the Member to Member Admin
MSD must refer to member admin by performing a warm transfer to 222 or sending an email enquiry through to info@hsu.asn.au
7. What MSD Must NOT Do
MSD must never:
Advise whether a journey claim will be accepted
Comment on exclusions or policy interpretation
Review medical documents for insurance purposes
Prepare or complete claim forms
Follow up insurers
Provide tax advice
Provide income support calculations
Provide legal advice about journey liability
If the member asks:
“Am I covered?”
“Can you check my form?”
“How much will I get?”
“Do I qualify for this?”
“Is this a valid journey claim?”
You must say:
“Journey Insurance is managed by Member Admin. I’ll transfer you now so they can provide the correct information.”
8. Workers Compensation vs. Journey Insurance – MSD Triage
Members often confuse the two.
Use these rules:
It may be Workers Compensation if…
Travel occurred during employer-directed travel
Travel occurred between worksites
Travel occurred while performing work duties
Employer required attendance (meeting, training, off-site event)
There is a “real and substantial connection to employment”
If yes → legal referral recommended.
It is likely Journey Insurance if…
Member was travelling directly between home and work
No employer direction
No work duties performed
No strong employment connection
If yes → refer to Member Admin.
9. Logging Requirements
In IMIS, record:
“Journey Insurance enquiry – referred to Member Admin”
Brief description of the incident
Any workplace issues identified
Whether a case was created for industrial matters
Only create a case if there is an industrial issue.
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