Hundreds of sick cops exit before insurance scheme changes kick in

The NSW Police Force and the police union insist changes to their insurance scheme are “a better deal for police officers” but the scrapping of the lump sum payment has caused an influx of psychological injury claims.

01 MARCH 2024. NSWPF-branded footage of Class 361 attestation at the NSW Police Academy. Picture: Supplied by NSW Police

Police are staring down a mass exodus of cops rushing to make compensation claims before the government ends the days of lump sum payouts of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It can be revealed more than 330 police have stopped work in the past six weeks declaring themselves unfit for duty.

It is believed an even bigger number of police officers have put in a claim without going on sick leave, so their compensation claims can be considered under the old rules.

The police officers are trying to access the more generous compensation scheme which offers a large lump sum payout which can be as much as $400,000 to leave the force under total permanent disability.

The new scheme - which was negotiated with the blessing of the police union - no longer offers the lump sum. Instead, police receive smaller payments for a maximum of ten years for those with “exceptional or catastrophic” injuries.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley says changes were needed as the old system was too expensive, did not help officers get back to work and unfairly increased an individual’s tax, making them ineligible to other benefits.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned some police even colloquially refer to the payments as “mortgage busters”.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith confirmed an “increase in psychological injury claims as compared to the same period last year” and said reports of physical injuries have remained stable.

“We have seen 332 officers enter sick leave since the announcement.”

Mr Smith said it was also important to understand that “all officers who have reported a workplace injury since the Enhanced Police Support Scheme announcement remain employed by the NSWPF, they have and will continue to be supported through the injury management process, with the goal to ensure, that wherever reasonably practicable, they return to work”.

With currently more than 16,000 cops across the state, the force will have lost more than two per cent of its total numbers in less than six weeks with the number of new claims expected to rise before Tuesday.

Acting Deputy Commissioenr Dean Smith said The NSW Police Force is committed to ensuring as far a reasonably practicable all injured police officers are supported in their recovery and return to work and have access to the appropriate treatment and support services that will assist them when they need it most.

Of the 332 officers that have made claims since August 19, nearly 100 came from the Northern region alone. The Richmond Police District which covers Lismore, Ballina and Casino had 14 officers make claims.

Four detectives from Lake Illawarra near Wollongong made claims on the same day.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Cately acknowledged a large number of officers had made claims since the new scheme was announced but said the changes were needed as the old system was too expensive, did not help officers get back to work and unfairly increased an individual’s tax, making them ineligible to other benefits.

“The number of people making claims has been a concern for a long time,” she said.

“We know policing is a tough job but our focus needs to be on looking after officers and helping them get better.”

The Daily Telegraph spoke with current serving officers who believe they will lose out under the new scheme, with many saying the changes were not properly communicated.

Police sources said the new EPSS scheme was so vague and were concerned it would not provide the same cover for mental injuries such as PTSD. Under the new scheme, for an officer to claim compensation payments for the full ten years they must prove their case is a “catastrophic exceptional circumstance”.

Commentary on the NSW Police Association Page.

Commentary on the NSW Police Association Page.

Commentary on the NSW Police Association Page.

“The new terms like “catastrophic” and “exceptional” injuries don’t give me much confidence. These terms are too vague and open to interpretation.”

Ex-NSW Police detective Alana Singleton, who helps first responders recover from PTSD, said the “safety net if they are seriously physically or psychologically injured has been ripped from under them”.

“If they were supported they would not ever get to the point where they needed to access these safety nets.”

Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton said the union was trying to inform members they would not be disadvantaged under the new scheme.

“It is true we’ve had a number of members go off sick during this time,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that those members have made the decision to essentially go off sick with the intention of never coming back.”

Mr Morton provides a detailed explanation of the changes and how they affect members in a video on the Police Association of NSW website.

Opposition Police spokesman Paul Toole accused the government of mishandling the new scheme.

“The Minister has done an appalling job in selling this to NSW police officers who are leaving in droves because they think they will be wore off under this new scheme,” he said.

“The whole scheme needed the be articulated by both the NSW Police Force and the minister months ago to their members so they knew what the changes would be, so we didn’t see the mass exodus that we’re seeing right now.”