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.

Graduates from the Goulburn Police Academy, who will be needed as NSW Police are staring down a mass exodus of cops. Picture Police Media

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 officers are trying to access the more generous compensation scheme that offers a large lump sum payout – which can be as much as $400,000 – to leave the force because of 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 10 years for those with “exceptional or catastrophic” injuries.

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”.

Detective Superintendent Dean Smith. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

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”.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley 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 bracket.

“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 Sunday Telegraph spoke with serving officers who believe they will lose out under the new scheme. Some said the new EPSS scheme was 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 10 years, they must prove their case is “catastrophic” and “exceptional”.

“The new terms like ‘catastrophic’ and ‘exceptional’ are too vague and open to interpretation,” one said.

Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton said the union was trying to tell its members that they won’t be disadvantaged.

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

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

Opposition police spokesman Paul Toole accused the government of doing “an appalling job in selling this to NSW police officers, who are leaving in droves because they think they will be worse off under this new scheme”.

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