Use of Date of Assessment in the PI Calculator
The Date of Assessment is relevant primarily to calculation of the amount of compensation payable for 1988 impairments. When calculating compensation for permanent impairment, the Permanent Impairment Calculator refers to the statutory rates of compensation which are adjusted annually under s 13 to account for the effects of inflation. Accordingly a different calculation of compensation may result if the date of assessment is before (or after) a change in statutory rates.
In some cases, the Date of Assessment may also have a substantive effect on entitlement to compensation because of legislative amendment, ie. the amendment of s 24(8) to extend the exemption from the 10% rule to the loss of the senses of taste and smell from 24 December 1992.
If the Date of Assessment is prior to 1 December 1988
Dates earlier than 1 December 1988 (the commencing date of the SRC Act) can be entered as the Date of Assessment in the Calculator.
In this situation, the Calculator will not allow any compensation for 1988 impairments and will use the date the impairment became stable as the key factor in determining which rate to apply.