Compensation for non-economic loss under s 27 of the SRC Act is payable only where a final assessment of the degree of impairment is made under s 24 (which includes transitional cases). However, an entitlement to a further NEL payment under s 27 may arise when a reassessment is made because the client's degree of impairment has increased by 10% or more (s 25(4)), or by 2.5% WPI or more in the case of binaural hearing loss (s 25(5)).
If a client is entitled to a further NEL payment, the previous and current scores under Tables 1 - 4 in Part B of the Approved Guide are collected and the Permanent Impairment Calculator then calculates a weighted total of previous scores and a weighted total of current scores using Table 5. The difference between the two scores is used to calculate the new amount payable as compensation for non-economic loss.
In this question, the assessor is asked to enter the previous score between 0 and 5 for “Social Relationships” as described in Table 2 in Part B - Guide to the Assessment of Non Economic Loss - of the Approved Guide.
The score actually recorded in the previous assessment should always be entered at this question. Adjustments in scoring and entitlement to NEL compensation as a result of the Schlenert decision and its reversal by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2001 are dealt with in the Permanent Impairment Calculator at other points in the investigation.