Companion Animal Expenses in NSW Workers Compensation After 1 July 2026

Clause 8O of the Workers Compensation Regulation 2016 provides the new treatment of companion-animal services. SIRA explains that new claims for these costs are not compensable from 1 July 2026. Food and veterinary expenses are examples, but the exclusion is not limited to those two categories.

This is a rule about compensation for services associated with the animal. It does not decide whether the worker’s underlying injury, weekly payments or unrelated medical treatment remain compensable.

SIRA describes assistance animals as guide dogs and other animals trained to assist a person with a disability by alleviating the effect of that disability. The definition does not include a working dog on a rural property.

An ordinary pet that provides comfort is not automatically an assistance animal for this rule. The animal’s training, purpose and connection to the worker’s disability should be documented rather than inferred from how important the animal is to the worker.

If the scheme approved and funded the companion animal before 1 July 2026, SIRA says the worker can continue to claim reasonably necessary costs for that animal. Keep the written approval, earlier invoices and payment history because they establish that the arrangement existed before the change.

Continued payment is not described as automatic for every future expense. The cost must remain reasonably necessary, and the insurer may ask for invoices or information explaining the service. If the insurer changes its position, ask for the decision and reasons in writing.

SIRA states that this companion-animal change applies to all workers, including exempt workers such as police officers, firefighters and paramedics, as well as coal miners and volunteer firefighters. SIRA also states that it does not apply to claims for dust diseases.

That coverage statement is specific to the companion-animal rule. It should not be used to assume that every other 2026 reform applies identically to those special worker groups.

The relevant evidence depends on whether the worker relies on an existing approval or says the animal is an assistance animal. Keep the decision history separate from veterinary or supplier invoices so the commencement issue is easy to identify.

• Written insurer approval and the date it was given.
• Invoices and proof of scheme payment before 1 July 2026.
• Veterinary records and itemised invoices for later claimed costs.
• Evidence explaining why an ongoing cost is reasonably necessary.
• For an assistance animal, training, accreditation or disability-support records relevant to its role.
• Any insurer refusal, treatment-expense notice or request for further information.

First identify why the insurer refused the cost. The issue may be that it regards the request as a new companion-animal claim, disputes that there was pre-1 July approval and funding, disputes reasonable necessity, or does not accept that the animal is an assistance animal.

Ask for the decision and reasons in writing, then provide the documents that answer the actual reason. A complaint to IRO, an internal insurer process or a formal treatment-expense dispute may be relevant depending on the document and issue. Timing can differ, so obtain advice promptly rather than assuming every refusal follows the same procedure.

A worker asks in August 2026 for the scheme to begin paying routine veterinary costs for a household pet. On the SIRA guidance, that is a new companion-animal service claim and the exclusion applies.

A second worker has written insurer approval and scheme-paid invoices for a companion animal from early 2026. Later costs may continue if reasonably necessary; the earlier approval and payment records should be provided if the insurer questions the transition.

A third worker uses a trained guide dog because of a work-related visual disability. The companion-animal exclusion does not apply to services associated with an assistance animal, but the claimed cost and its connection with the compensation entitlement still need evidence.

These examples explain the categories only. They do not predict whether a particular invoice will be paid.