The weekly benefit for seriously injured workers in NSW has risen to a minimum of $736 per week.

Finance and Services Minister Greg Pearce says 940 people deemed to have more than 30% impairment “will be guaranteed a rate that is about 70% more than the previous statutory rate, an increase from $432 to $736 per week”.

He says the increase in WorkCover payments is the latest in a series of reforms to the NSW workers’ compensation system.

“The next phase starts on October 1 and workers who make a claim on or after this date will receive benefits that more closely relate to workers’ actual earnings prior to injury.”