Threshold injury: what it means for your CTP claim

What a threshold injury is

From 1 April 2023, the term "minor injury" was replaced by "threshold injury". A threshold injury is generally a soft tissue injury (for example to muscles, tendons or ligaments, but not a full or partial tear of a tendon, ligament, meniscus or cartilage) and/or a threshold psychological injury.

Spinal nerve damage that meets the medical criteria for radiculopathy is generally not a threshold injury, but neck or back nerve symptoms that don't meet those criteria generally are.

The insurer decides, based on a medical diagnosis.

Common examples

Whether a particular injury is a threshold injury depends on the diagnosis. In general:

• Generally threshold injuries: soft tissue injuries to muscles, tendons or ligaments, threshold psychological injuries, and neck or back nerve symptoms that don't meet the medical criteria for radiculopathy.
• Generally not threshold injuries: a full or partial tear of a tendon, ligament, meniscus or cartilage, and spinal nerve damage that meets the medical criteria for radiculopathy.
• Psychological injuries: some are threshold injuries and some aren't. It depends on the diagnosis.

If you have several injuries, the insurer looks at all of them. If at least one of them isn't a threshold injury, your claim isn't a threshold injury claim.

Why the label matters

• How long benefits last: for accidents on or after 1 April 2023, people with a threshold injury can receive statutory benefits (weekly payments and treatment and care) for up to 52 weeks after the accident. For accidents between 1 December 2017 and 31 March 2023, the limit for minor injuries was generally 26 weeks.
• Treatment beyond that period may sometimes be allowed in limited circumstances.
• A lump sum: common law damages are generally only available if your injury is more than a threshold injury. See lump sum damages.
• Help at home: paid domestic services are available for threshold injuries too, but the hours are limited in the first 52 weeks.

How the insurer decides

The insurer looks at the medical evidence about each of your injuries. It must tell you whether it has classified your injury as a threshold injury within 9 months of your claim being lodged. It tells you in a written liability notice.

It also gives you a separate liability notice about benefits after 52 weeks.

If the notice says your injury is a threshold injury, read the reasons and check which medical reports the insurer relied on.

If you disagree

You can ask the insurer for an internal review within 28 days of receiving the notice. Send any medical evidence the insurer didn't have.

If you're still unhappy after the review, you can apply to the Personal Injury Commission, an independent tribunal. Threshold injury disputes are one of the medical disputes it handles.

The CTP Legal Advisory Service can advise on statutory benefits questions like this, before or after an internal review. You check you're eligible through SIRA's CTP Assist line, 1300 656 919.

Step by step: insurer decisions and reviews.

You have 28 days from the notice to ask for an internal review

Evidence that helps

The label turns on the diagnosis, so clear medical evidence matters. Things that can help:

• a specific, written diagnosis from your treating doctor, naming each injury
• the results of any scans or tests
• reports from other doctors or health practitioners who have treated you
• if you have a psychological injury, a diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

If you'd like help finding a doctor experienced with CTP claims, we can introduce you. It's your choice.

Note the 52-week mark

If your injury is treated as a threshold injury, write down the date 52 weeks after your accident. Talk to your doctor and the insurer well before then about your treatment and your work. Your other key dates are in CTP claim time limits.

Check the current rules

Rules change. This page reflects the rules as we understand them in September 2026. General information, not legal advice.