Total and Permanent Disability Superannuation Claims

If you cannot work due to illness or injury you may be entitled to claim a total and permanent disability (TPD) lump sum through your superannuation fund. Your TPD lump sum is payable under an insurance policy which is attached to your superannuation fund. Most people have some form of TPD insurance attached to their superannuation.

The amount payable for a TPD claim depends on your individual superannuation policy. The criteria for when a TPD payout can be made also differs between policies. The most common criteria to be eligible for a TPD payout is if you are unable to return to the work for which are reasonably qualified having regard to your age, education and work experience.

Before lodging a claim, most policies have a waiting period from the date that you sustain injury or suffer illness. This period allows for your injuries/ illness to be treated so the permanent impact of your injuries/illness can be determined.

There are no specific legal timeframes in which TPD Insurers must process your claim. However, TPD claims are usually resolved within a much shorter period than most other types of compensation claims. We will take steps to secure the best possible outcome for you in the shortest possible time.

You can usually still claim a TPD lump sum as long as the work you are now doing is substantially different because of your injury or illness.
For example, a plumber with a back injury who retrained and works as an IT consultant worker may still qualify for TPD benefits if his back injury was the reason that he could no longer continue to work as a plumber.

TPD lump sums are not compensation and therefore any TPD sum paid to you will not affect the Centrelink income test.
However, any TPD sum paid to you will count towards the Centrelink asset test.

You should contact Centrelink for their advice on any impact your TPD claim may have on your Centrelink entitlements.

Yes. Income protection benefits will count towards the Centrelink income test. Therefore, the payment of income protection benefits will likely reduce your Centrelink entitlements, or could potentially result in you losing your Centrelink entitlements.

You should contact Centrelink for their advice on any impact your income protection claim may have on your Centrelink entitlements.

We will undertake these investigations for you with no obligation for you to proceed with your claim.

We will find out each of the super funds that you hold TPD insurance with and your prospects of meeting the criteria for a TPD claim under each of the policies.

If you do not have any TPD cover we will not charge you anything for the work that we do in making these initial enquiries.