| Age of victim at the time of the FAS award | Time limit to apply to the FAS |
|---|---|
| Victim was 18 years or older | Ten years from the date the FAS made the original decision |
| Victim was a child | Up until the victim turns 28 years old[50] (before their 28th birthday) |
The FAS cannot extend time for applicants to apply for a variation beyond these time limits. This means that if an applicant applies for a variation out of time, the FAS will refuse this application.
Sometimes the FAS may make multiple decisions about one application to try to pay assistance to a victim as soon as possible. When a victim has received more than one decision about an application, a victim may have more than time limit for a variation. The FAS includes this date in the relevant Notice of Decision.
✅ Within variation time limits Example: On 1 February 2025, Dana applied to the FAS for medical and safety-related expenses and special financial assistance. The FAS made decisions on the following dates:
Dana needs to vary her medical expenses as her doctor recommends a further type of treatment for her injury. Dana’s time limit to vary the assistance covering her medical expenses is 1 March 2035, which is 10 years from the FAS decision about the medical expenses. Dana makes her request on 4 April 2030 which is within the time limit to vary assistance. |
Footnotes
[50] Section 48(2) of the Act.
Updated