How long does a CTP claim take? The NSW timeline
The key dates that matter after a motor accident in NSW, from the 28-day and 3-month notice periods to the insurer's time to decide.
When you are unwell after an accident, deadlines are the last thing you want to think about, but a few dates in the NSW scheme genuinely matter. Missing them can affect what you receive, so this guide lays out the timeline simply. Treat these as general timeframes and confirm the exact dates for your claim with your insurer.
Lodge your claim: 28 days and 3 months
To claim statutory benefits (which include treatment and care such as psychology), you generally need to give notice of your claim to the relevant CTP insurer within three months of the accident. There is an earlier, more valuable date too: if you lodge within 28 days of the accident, your weekly benefits can be backdated to the day after the accident. Lodge after 28 days and you may need to explain the delay to receive those earlier weekly payments.
If the vehicle that caused the accident was unidentified or uninsured, a claim on the Nominal Defendant generally needs to be made within 28 days to get the same backdated weekly benefits. The lesson is simple: lodge as early as you reasonably can.
The insurer's time to decide
Once you lodge, the insurer has a set period to determine liability for your claim. In that window, early intervention can still allow some initial treatment (such as a GP visit and a couple of sessions) with the insurer's approval, so you are not left completely on hold. After liability is accepted, treatment requests from your psychologist are considered and, once approved, funded.
Treatment and care benefits are available regardless of fault for the first 26 weeks after the accident. Beyond 26 weeks, how long benefits continue depends on the injury category and other rules, which is where advice can help if your recovery is longer.
What this means for seeing a psychologist
You do not have to wait for the whole claim to resolve before getting psychological help. Between early intervention, the no-fault first 26 weeks, and Medicare as an interim option, there are usually ways to start. The practical move is to see your GP, lodge your claim promptly, and contact a SIRA-experienced psychologist, confirming they accept motor accident (CTP) clients.
This guide is general information, not legal, medical, or crisis advice. If you are struggling right now, you do not have to wait: Lifeline is on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue is on 1300 22 4636, 13YARN (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) is on 13 92 76, and in an emergency call 000.
Sources
Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) claim notice provisions; State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) guidance for people injured in motor accidents (https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/motor-accident-resources/publications/injury-advice-centre/guide-for-people-injured-in-motor-accidents-in-nsw) and SIRA "Benefits for injured people" (https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/regulation-and-fraud/reforms/ctp-green-slip-reforms/benefits-for-injured-people). The 28-day and 3-month periods and the no-fault 26-week period are summarised from SIRA public guidance and can change, so confirm current timeframes with SIRA or your insurer.