The Comcare and Seacare Legislation Amendment (Pension Age
and Catastrophic Injury) Bill 2017 (the Bill) received assent
last week. The Bill will amend the Seafarers Rehabilitation and
Compensation Act 1992 (Cth) (Seafarers Act) to allow injured
seafarer employees receiving weekly compensation payments for
incapacity to continue to receive these payments until they reach
"pension age".
From 1 July 2017, eligibility for incapacity payments will
extend up to the pension age in force at the time, taking into
account the progressive increase in the pension age between 1 July
2017 and 1 July 2023 under the Social Security Act 1991
(Cth).
Currently, income replacement payments under the Seafarers Act
cease at age 65. From July, eligibility will increase by six months
of age every two years (outlined in the table below), until the
pension age reaches 67 in 2023.
