Who is eligible for the Scheme?
Children under 16 years who are severely injured in motor accidents in NSW from 1 October 2006 may be eligible for the Lifetime Care and Support (LTCS) Scheme.
To be eligible for the Scheme one of the following injuries needs to be sustained from a motor accident:
- brain injury
- spinal cord injury
- multiple amputations
- burns
- permanent blindness.
What does the Scheme provide?
Once your child is a participant in the Scheme, the LTCS Authority will pay for treatment, rehabilitation and care services that are reasonable and necessary. Treatment, rehabilitation and care could include:
- medical treatment such as doctors appointments and hospital stays
- rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy
- aids and equipment such as wheelchairs
- home and vehicle modifications such as a ramp or bathroom rails
- attendant care services including personal and domestic assistance, and home nursing assistance to return to study or work.
My child has severe injuries from a motor accident - what should I do?
Please advise the Authority of the injuries as soon as possible so that we can help sooner. The treating team will help you fill in the Severe Injury Advice Form, which you will need to sign on behalf of your child. The form includes a medical certificate which will be completed by the treating doctor and gives the Authority more information about the injuries.
It also asks for information about the accident such as the registration number of the vehicle that caused the injuries. If the vehicle was unregistered, please contact the Motor Accidents Authority on 1300 137 131.
What happens next?
The Authority appoints a LTCS coordinator who will visit your child and you to find out more information about the injuries and the accident. The coordinator will also give you more information on how to apply to enter the Scheme.
To apply for the Scheme, you will need to complete the Application Form.
How is eligibility decided?
After reviewing the Application Form, the Authority will give its decision in writing about your child?s eligibility for the Scheme. If your child is accepted into the Scheme they will be accepted as an interim participant for up to two years.
This means that during this two year period, your child?s treatment, rehabilitation and care is paid for by the Authority. It is a two year period because of possible recovery and improvements that may occur in that time.
Towards the end of the two years, another assessment is made to decide whether your child is eligible to be a lifetime participant.
If eligible to become a lifetime participant, the Authority will pay for treatment and care related to their injury, for the rest of their life.