The short answer
A TPD claim is a claim for the Total and Permanent Disability insurance benefit attached to your superannuation. Most Australians with super have TPD cover whether they realise it or not. When an illness or injury permanently stops you working, you can claim a lump sum from the fund, usually somewhere between $50,000 and $500,000+, depending on your policy.
How TPD is different from a personal injury claim
A personal injury claim is against the party that caused your injury (or their insurer). A TPD claim is against your own super fund’s insurer, regardless of fault. You don’t have to prove anyone did anything wrong.
This is also why people often have both claims running at once. For example, after a serious workplace injury you might have a workers’ compensation claim AND a TPD claim AND a public liability claim, all from the same incident.
What you need to qualify
The exact test depends on your policy wording, but most TPD policies require:
- A continuous period out of work, usually three or six months.
- Medical evidence that the disability is permanent.
- A working definition match: most commonly that you cannot ever work again in your usual occupation, or in any occupation suited to your education, training or experience.
The “any occupation” wording is more demanding than the “usual occupation” wording. Read your PDS carefully.
Mental health and TPD
Mental-health TPD claims are increasingly common but more often declined or delayed. Insurers ask for detailed treatment history and return-to-work attempts. Strong contemporaneous medical evidence matters more than for physical injury claims.
Multiple super funds
If you have had more than one super account during your working life, you may have multiple TPD policies, each payable separately. Most claimants don’t realise this until a lawyer reviews their super history. See Can I claim TPD if I have multiple super funds?
What happens if your claim is declined
A declined TPD claim is rarely the end. You can:
- Request Internal Dispute Resolution with the fund trustee.
- Lodge a complaint with AFCA (the Australian Financial Complaints Authority).
- Litigate in court if AFCA does not resolve the matter.
We act for claimants at all three stages.
See also: How long do I have to make a personal injury claim? · How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?