The short answer
Yes. If you have had more than one super fund during your working life, you likely have more than one TPD policy, each of which can pay out a separate lump sum if you meet the policy definition.
Many TPD claimants don’t realise this until a lawyer reviews their super history.
Why this happens
Every time you change jobs in Australia, a new super account is typically opened by your new employer. Most super funds automatically attach default TPD cover to your account, often without you selecting it. Over a working life you can end up with five, six, or more separate super accounts, most of which have an active TPD policy attached.
Even accounts you stopped contributing to years ago may still have active cover, provided the account hasn’t been closed and the balance hasn’t dropped to zero.
Stacking benefits
Where multiple policies are payable, the total recovery can be substantially higher than a single policy alone. There is no rule that the policies “set off” against each other. You claim each separately, against each fund.
Different policy definitions
The TPD test can vary between funds. Some use “unable to work in your usual occupation”; others use the more demanding “unable to work in any occupation suited to your education, training or experience”. You can satisfy one policy’s definition and not another’s, even though the underlying injury is the same.
How we approach multi-fund TPD claims
- Identify every super account you’ve held, including long-dormant ones. The ATO’s MyGov “lost super” portal often surfaces accounts you didn’t know about.
- Obtain the policy wording for each. Definitions matter.
- Lodge claims against each fund in parallel, each with the appropriate medical and occupational evidence.
See also: What is a TPD claim?