Secondary victims are eligible in exceptional circumstances for financial assistance for loss of earnings because they are unable to work due to the violent act. Required information and additional evidence (where available) for loss of earnings are explained further below.
Primary victims are also eligible for assistance for loss of earnings.
The FAS can provide assistance up to $20,500[1] for the loss of earnings that has happened, or that is reasonably likely to happen in the future,[2] this includes paid leave entitlements such as sick and annual leave that was taken due to the violent act.
A victim’s loss of earnings must be because of their incapacity to work because of the violent act. This can be a partial or total incapacity to work.
The FAS can only provide assistance for lost earnings for a period up to two years from when the violent act occurred.[3]
A total or partial incapacity means the applicant is no longer able to work completely or partially because of the violent act, which affects their ability to earn the same income before the violent act occurred.
Footnotes
[1] This amount is indexed each financial year in accordance with section 72 of the Act.
[2] Section 14(3)(a) of the Act.
[3] Section 19 of the Act.
Updated