What should be checked before relying on a WPI figure?
Check maximum medical improvement, the body area, objective findings, the NSW Guideline chapter and any NSW modification before relying on a percentage.
Can this page calculate your percentage?
No. WPI depends on an assessor, maximum medical improvement, objective findings and the NSW Guidelines. This page is general information only.
Permanent impairment assessment
How permanent impairment is assessed for Primary psychological injury and secondary psychological symptoms
NSW workers compensation does not assess secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed under the NSW psychiatric impairment method and is not combined with physical WPI.
What injuries can happen to this body part?
- Primary psychological injury alleged to arise from workplace conduct, traumatic exposure, harassment, bullying or excessive work demands
- Secondary depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance or adjustment symptoms following a physical injury
- Psychological symptoms affecting treatment, work capacity or weekly payments even where they are not assessed as secondary WPI
- Mixed psychological and physical claims requiring care so physical WPI and primary psychological impairment are not improperly combined
Symptoms and findings that matter
- Whether the psychological condition is primary or secondary
- Diagnosis, treatment history and function at MMI
- Work, social and daily functioning domains used by the NSW psychiatric method
- Whether physical and psychological claims are being improperly combined
- Whether reform, causation or reasonable management action issues require legal advice
What investigations are usually relevant?
- Treating specialist report and final impairment assessment at maximum medical improvement
- Imaging, pathology, audiology, ophthalmology, respiratory, nerve or functional testing that fits the body system
- Operative reports, discharge summaries, rehabilitation records and objective clinical measurements where relevant
How WPI is assessed for this body part
- NSW workers compensation does not assess secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed under the NSW psychiatric impairment method and is not combined with physical WPI.
- The NSW Guidelines replace AMA5 Chapter 14 for psychiatric and psychological disorders. Secondary psychological conditions arising from another work injury do not receive a permanent impairment assessment in NSW workers compensation.
- The assessor should explain maximum medical improvement, the body-system chapter, the method selected, any NSW modification, and why the objective findings fit that method.
How movement affects the assessment
- ROM is not a psychological impairment method.
- Psychological symptoms can still be important for treatment, work capacity and weekly payment disputes even where secondary psychological symptoms are not assessed as WPI.
NSW psychological impairment rules
Primary onlyPermanent impairment assessment for psychiatric and psychological disorders is required only where the primary injury is psychological.
Secondary psychological injuryNo permanent impairment assessment is made for secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment arising from another work-related physical condition.
Separate from physical WPIPrimary psychological impairment is assessed separately from physical impairment and is not combined with physical WPI.
Diagnosis not enoughThe rating must be based on a recognised psychiatric diagnosis and functional assessment. The diagnosis alone is not the rating.
Practical WPI examples
- Depression after a back injury may be important for treatment and capacity, but it is generally secondary and not assessed as permanent impairment.
- A primary psychological injury from alleged workplace bullying may require a different legal and medical assessment path.
- Psychological symptoms can still affect work capacity disputes even where they are not assessed as secondary WPI.
Evidence checklist
- A clear diagnosis and the body area being assessed
- Records showing the condition has reached maximum medical improvement, if that is the issue
- Specialist reports, imaging reports and treating notes relied on by the assessor
- Objective findings on examination, not only symptoms described by the injured person
- A work and treatment chronology explaining the injury, treatment, surgery and recovery path
- Any previous injury, degeneration, congenital issue or non-work cause that needs apportionment considered
- Psychiatrist report for WPI assessment
- GP mental health records
- Psychologist or psychiatrist treatment reports
- Medication history
- Work capacity certificates
- Functional evidence about social, work and daily living impact
What usually does not increase WPI
- Assuming a scan result automatically gives a WPI percentage
- Confusing pain, disability or inability to work with permanent impairment
- Ignoring maximum medical improvement before arranging an assessment
- Using an AMA5 table without checking whether the NSW Guidelines modify or replace it
- Double counting the same impairment through two methods when the Guidelines require one method
- Assuming secondary psychological symptoms can be added to physical WPI
- Combining primary psychological impairment with physical impairment
- Using generic PIRS language without explaining primary-versus-secondary injury
- Treating diagnosis alone as the WPI rating
Legal review note
- Psychological injury pages should be legally reviewed because NSW primary psychological injury reforms and reasonable management action issues may apply.
Assessment source
Assessment source: The NSW Guidelines replace AMA5 Chapter 14 for psychiatric and psychological disorders. Secondary psychological conditions arising from another work injury do not receive a permanent impairment assessment in NSW workers compensation.
This section is source-backed general information. It is not a WPI assessment and is not legal advice.
- SIRA NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: Source for the NSW assessment framework, MMI, AMA5 adoption, NSW modifications and exclusions.
Related injury and claim pages
- Common injury evidence hub
- Work injury claims NSW
- Claim process
- Compensation and entitlements
- Ask about an impairment issue
- NSW Injury Claim Evidence, Documents and Templates - This library helps injured people organise incident, medical, income, correspondence and daily-impact records into a clear working file, without presenting any checklist or template as an official form.
- NSW Injury Claims by Location - NSW Injury Claims accepts enquiries from across NSW. The claim pathway depends on how the injury happened, while phone, online and electronic document handling can make an initial enquiry possible without creating a false impression of premises in every region.
- Digestive System WPI Assessment NSW - Other body systems permanent impairment assessment guide with NSW Guideline source notes.
Need a practical claim check?
If an impairment percentage, medical assessment or insurer decision is affecting your NSW injury claim, send the decision or report for a practical review. This is general information only and does not guarantee any result.
Request a free claim checkAssessment scope for Psychological Injury WPI Assessment
The assessment scope for Psychological Injury WPI Assessment should be stated precisely before any percentage is considered. The file should identify whether that label describes the primary diagnosed condition, a symptom of another injury, a regional overview or one component of a broader impairment. Findings from another body area or diagnosis should not be transferred without explanation. The report should connect the stated condition to the correct NSW Guideline chapter, objective findings, treatment history and any permitted combination or apportionment method. This distinction is particularly important where similar page labels cover different clinical questions.
- Confirm the diagnosis and body area being assessed as Psychological Injury
- Separate condition-specific findings from overlapping symptoms or injuries in another body area
- Check that the selected NSW Guideline chapter and method match the condition actually assessed
- Explain any combination, apportionment or exclusion rather than relying on the page label alone
Start with maximum medical improvement
Permanent impairment should generally be assessed when the condition is stable and unlikely to change substantially in the next year. Treatment, surgery and rehabilitation history may affect whether the timing is appropriate.
Use the NSW Guidelines first
The NSW Guidelines adopt AMA5 in many areas, but NSW modifications prevail. Do not assume an AMA5 table applies without checking the NSW chapter and any public SIRA clarification.
Keep the assessment practical
A useful assessment file separates diagnosis, objective findings, surgery history, work capacity issues, apportionment questions and the body-area method used by the assessor.
Ask about an impairment issueDocuments and records
Injury evidence to organise early
The useful records depend on how the injury happened, when symptoms were recorded and how treatment or work capacity changed.
- Date, location and short description of the injury event
- Medical certificates, reports, scans, treatment records or hospital documents
- Employer, insurer, police, incident or venue records where relevant
- Photos, witness details, dashcam or other supporting material if available
- Income, superannuation, work capacity or leave records where relevant
- Letters, emails, claim numbers and decisions already received
Common questions
Injury evidence questions
Short general answers only. The right next step depends on the facts, dates and documents.
Is WPI the same as being unable to work?
No. WPI is a medical impairment measure. Work capacity, weekly payments, damages, treatment disputes and TPD issues are separate questions, although the evidence may overlap.
Does pain alone create a WPI percentage?
Not by itself. NSW workers compensation excludes AMA5 Chapter 18 on pain. Chronic pain is assessed through the underlying diagnosed condition where the Guidelines permit it.
Can secondary psychological symptoms be added to physical WPI?
In NSW workers compensation, secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment is not assessed as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed separately and is not combined with physical WPI.
Injury pathway enquiry
Not sure which claim type matches the injury?
Start with how the injury happened, what medical records exist and how work or daily activity has changed. The same injury can sit in different pathways.