Your claim usually continues. With workers compensation when changing jobs WA, the claim stays linked to the injury and the employer you had at the time. Resigning or changing jobs does not, by itself, end an accepted claim. Reasonable medical and health expenses for the accepted work injury may remain payable, subject to the Act, the claim’s status, any applicable limits and any required approval, while income payments may change if you start earning elsewhere.
Changing jobs while still recovering raises worries that are easy to understand. Some people leave because the workplace is where they were hurt; others because a better role appears while treatment is ongoing. Either way, they wonder whether the claim ends, whether medical bills may still be payable (subject to the Act, the claim’s status, any limits and any required approval), and what a new employer needs to know. This guide covers what happens to your claim, how new earnings affect payments, what you must report, and the steps to take before you move.
Key Takeaways
- Changing employers does not automatically end your claim, which stays linked to the original injury.
- Reasonable medical and health expenses for the injury may continue after you move or resign, subject to the statutory compensation limits and other eligibility requirements. Resigning or starting a new job does not, by itself, end an accepted claim, and payment remains subject to the Act, the claim’s status, any applicable limits and any required approval.
- New work and earnings can reduce or end income compensation, depending on the worker’s incapacity and earnings or ability to earn in suitable employment; an employer reducing or discontinuing payments because of a return to work must first give the required approved-form notice.
- Tell the insurer about any new work promptly, and keep your payslips, certificates and notices.
Understanding Workers Compensation When Changing Jobs WA Claims
A workers compensation claim is attached to the injury, not to your current job. Under the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023, the employer you worked for when you were hurt generally remains responsible for the claim, usually through its insurer. Resigning or starting somewhere new does not, by itself, end an accepted claim, although entitlements remain subject to the Act, the claim’s status and any applicable limits or approvals.
In practice, your work injury claim rights continue. You can keep getting treatment for the injury, keep providing medical certificates and dispute decisions you disagree with through WorkCover WA’s Conciliation and Arbitration services.
A new employer generally does not take over a claim for an injury that happened before you were hired. They may ask about your fitness for the role, so check with your doctor which duties suit your current capacity before you accept an offer.
Understanding Compensation After Leaving a Job
If you leave without another job, and you have a total or partial incapacity for work, your eligibility for income compensation (and the amount payable) depends on the statutory test under the Act, including your capacity, earnings and ability to earn in suitable employment (including pre-injury earnings, any current work capacity and earnings from other employment). If you start earning, the employer or insurer may reduce or stop payments, but only after giving you an approved notice and otherwise following the Act and Regulations. That notice must show your new position and the amount, if any, that you will still receive. You can dispute the decision if you disagree, and you should read any written notice carefully and get advice promptly if you do not accept it.
Medical and health expenses are separate, because resignation or a new job does not, by itself, end an accepted claim. Reasonable medical and health expenses caused by the injury may remain payable even if you no longer work for the original employer, subject to statutory compensation limits and other eligibility requirements, and also subject to the Act, the claim’s status, any applicable limits and any required approval.
What to Tell the Insurer
If you are making an incapacity claim, and you have been informed of the obligation, you must notify the employer or insurer if you start remunerated work for another employer within 7 days after starting that work, or within 7 days after being informed of the obligation (if that happens later). The notice must include the start date, job title and a description of the work, the remuneration, and the other employer’s name, address and contact details, and must include the end date where applicable. This is a statutory obligation to give notice of remunerated work for another employer after the claim, in the form and within the time prescribed by the Regulations, provided the insurer or self-insurer has first informed you of that obligation. In practice, provide accurate details of your work, hours and earnings promptly, and keep your payslips.
Keeping the insurer informed of material changes (including changes to your capacity, duties and earnings, and any new injury or worsening of the old one) helps prevent disputes. The specific statutory notice obligation above is about remunerated work; a new injury, recurrence or worsening should be assessed on its facts and you should get advice promptly.
How Job Changes May Affect Your Claim
Every case depends on its own facts, but workers’ compensation and new employment usually interact in the ways shown below.
| Scenario | Likely effect on your claim |
| Resigning with no new job | Reasonable medical and health expenses caused by the injury may remain payable, subject to statutory limits and other eligibility requirements, and income compensation depends on the statutory test for total or partial incapacity, including earnings or ability to earn in suitable employment. |
| Starting a new job on full wages | Income compensation may be reduced, suspended or discontinued if you return to work or have earnings, but the employer or insurer must follow the Act and Regulations (including any required notice) before doing so |
| Starting lighter work on lower pay | You may receive wages plus income compensation assessed by reference to the statutory partial-incapacity calculation. |
| Being dismissed | During the statutory employment obligation period, the original employer must not dismiss a worker solely or mainly because of total or partial incapacity for work, and cannot dismiss the worker for any reason without giving at least 28 days’ notice of intention to dismiss in the approved form. |
| Injury worsens or you are hurt again at the new job | A genuinely new injury at the new employer may require a separate claim; a worsening or recurrence can raise causation and apportionment issues and should be assessed on its facts, so get advice |
When a Job Change Can Complicate Your Claim
Changing jobs after workplace injury can prompt questions from the insurer, especially in these situations:
- Leaving before your doctor has certified your capacity for the new role
- Gaps in medical certificates after you stop working for the old employer
- New duties that strain the original injury
- Earnings that were not reported on time
Many of these issues come from missing information. Prompt updates help stop small gaps from becoming disputes.
Steps to Take Before You Change Jobs
Planning ahead is the best way to avoid payment problems. These steps help keep your claim steady while you move to a new role.
- Check your current certificate of capacity (if any) and your proposed duties with your treating practitioner.
- Give the required notice of remunerated work to the original employer or insurer in the form and within the time prescribed by the Regulations (where the insurer or self-insurer has first informed you of the obligation).
- Keep payslips, contracts, medical certificates and insurer notices in one place.
- Read every notice about reducing or stopping payments, and check the deadline to dispute it.
- Get advice before resigning if your injury is still being treated.
These steps leave a clear record of what changed and when. That record helps if the insurer later questions your payments.
Conclusion
Changing employers does not erase an accepted injury claim. Workers compensation when changing jobs WA depends on your medical capacity, your new earnings, and how well you keep the insurer informed. Resignation or a new job does not, by itself, end reasonable medical and health expenses for the accepted work injury, but payment may depend on the Act, the claim’s status, applicable limits and any required approval. Taking these steps before you move helps protect your treatment and your income payments, and it keeps your claim easier to explain if a question arises later.Workers compensation when changing jobs WA
If a claim has been reduced, questioned, or stopped after a job change, MPK Lawyers can review your situation, explain your options, and guide you in plain language. Early advice is especially useful before you resign or accept a role with different duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change jobs while I have an open workers’ compensation claim in WA?
Yes. Your claim continues, and reasonable medical and health expenses for the injury may remain payable subject to statutory limits and other eligibility requirements. Changing jobs does not, by itself, end an accepted claim, and payment remains subject to the Act, the claim’s status, any applicable limits and any required approval. If you are making an incapacity claim, and the insurer or self-insurer has informed you of the obligation, you must give the required notice of remunerated work within the prescribed timeframe (in the form and within the time prescribed by the Regulations).
Does my claim end if I resign?
Not automatically. Resigning does not cancel the claim, although income compensation depends on the statutory test for total or partial incapacity, including your earnings or ability to earn in suitable employment, so it is wise to get advice before you leave.
Do I have to tell the insurer about a new job?
If you are making an incapacity claim, and the insurer or self-insurer has informed you of the obligation, you must notify the employer or insurer of remunerated work for another employer within 7 days after starting it, or within 7 days after being informed of the obligation (if later). The notice must include the start date, job title and a description of the work, remuneration, and the other employer’s name, address and contact details, and include the end date where applicable. This obligation is in the form and within the time prescribed by the Regulations, and it does not apply unless the insurer or self-insurer has first informed you of the obligation. Non-compliance can have serious consequences, so provide accurate work, hours and earnings information promptly and keep payslips.
Can my employer dismiss me while I am on a claim?
During the statutory employment obligation period, the original employer must not dismiss a worker solely or mainly because of total or partial incapacity for work, and cannot dismiss the worker for any reason without giving at least 28 days’ notice of intention to dismiss in the approved form. Seek advice if this happens.
What if I am injured again at my new job?
A genuinely new injury at your new job may require a separate claim against your new employer. A worsening or recurrence can raise causation and apportionment issues and should be assessed on its facts. Report symptoms promptly and get advice, because the insurer may need to decide what caused the problem.
Protect Your Claim Before You Move to a New Job
If you are planning to leave your job or an insurer has questioned your income payments, book a free consultation to understand your options before you decide.