02 7233 3661 info@mytpdclaims.com.au 28.01, 31 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
TPD Claims, a specialised branch of Stephen Young Lawyers

Australian TPD claims

TPD claim guidance built around your policy and evidence

If illness or injury has affected your ability to work, the first step is to identify the TPD cover that applied, read its definition and test the available medical and work evidence against that wording.

Clear explanations. Careful evidence planning. Practical next steps.

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General information only. Outcomes depend on the policy wording, evidence and individual circumstances.

A professional reviewing TPD claim documents with a client in an Australian office setting.
Why policy wording comes first

Policy-led analysis

Start with the definition and cover that actually applied.

Evidence-focused preparation

Connect medical function, job demands and chronology.

Australia-wide support

TPD insurance guidance for people in every state and territory.

Short answer

What a TPD file needs to answer

Was cover in force?

Identify the policy, insured amount and relevant date.

What is the test?

Read the exact definition, not a generic summary.

What does the evidence show?

Explain function, treatment, work demands and prognosis.

Is the story consistent?

Align medical, employment and other claim records.

Process

A clearer TPD claim process

  1. 1

    Review cover

    Find the fund, insurer, policy and relevant dates.

  2. 2

    Plan evidence

    Identify what the definition requires the file to prove.

  3. 3

    Prepare the claim

    Organise forms, reports, duties and chronology.

  4. 4

    Manage assessment

    Track questions and respond with targeted material.

  5. 5

    Review the decision

    Compare reasons with the policy and evidence.

Process

TPD claims

Common TPD claim topics

01Mental health TPD claimsA mental health condition can support a TPD claim if the evidence satisfies the applicable policy definition. The focus is usually on durable functional effects and work capacity, not on diagnosis alone or whether symptoms are visible.02Physical injury TPD claimsA physical injury may support a TPD claim when its lasting functional effects satisfy the policy definition. The strongest analysis connects medical restrictions to the actual demands of suitable work rather than relying only on imaging or diagnosis.03Claiming TPD through superannuationMany Australians hold TPD cover through superannuation. A claim may involve both the insurer's policy definition and the trustee's obligations, and payment or release questions can be separate from whether the insured claim is accepted.04Common reasons TPD claims are deniedTPD claims may be denied because the insurer says the policy definition is not met, cover did not apply, evidence is insufficient or inconsistent, or an exclusion applies. The actual reasons letter and policy should be reviewed before deciding what to do next.05The TPD claim process, step by stepA careful TPD claim usually moves through cover confirmation, policy analysis, evidence planning, lodgement, insurer or trustee assessment, responses to further questions and review of the decision. The order can differ by fund and policy.

Start with the policy wording

Why policy wording comes first

Moneysmart explains that TPD definitions differ between insurers and may use own-occupation or any-occupation tests. The Federal superannuation rules also contain a meaning of permanent incapacity, but an insurance policy can require its own analysis. That is why the site separates the policy, superannuation and evidence questions instead of offering a one-line eligibility promise.

Reviewed: · By Herman Chan, Stephen Young Lawyers

TPD claims
An organised TPD evidence file containing policy, medical and employment records.
Official sources and further reading

Official sources and further reading

Resources

Recent and essential guides

Resources

TPD foundations

What is a TPD claim in Australia?

A TPD claim asks an insurer, often through a super fund, to pay the insured benefit if illness or injury satisfies the policy's total and permanent disability definition. The wording differs between policies, so diagnosis alone does not decide the claim.

Short answer

TPD foundations

Claiming TPD through superannuation

Many Australians hold TPD cover through superannuation. A claim may involve both the insurer's policy definition and the trustee's obligations, and payment or release questions can be separate from whether the insured claim is accepted.

Short answer

TPD foundations

Who can make a TPD claim?

A person may be able to make a TPD claim if they held relevant cover and their illness or injury meets the policy definition. Employment status, age, waiting periods and the date of disablement can matter, but none should be assessed without the actual policy.

Short answer

TPD Claims

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