How to claim TPD: a step-by-step guide for super and retail policies
To claim TPD, find every policy you hold, check each one's definition and waiting period, then lodge a claim with each super fund or insurer with your medical evidence and work history. The insurer decides whether you meet its definition, and for cover in super the trustee then decides whether to release the money. APRA's figures put the average decision time for a TPD claim at 3.8 months in 2025.
You don't need to pay anyone to lodge a claim: the fund or insurer gives you the forms, and if you disagree with the outcome, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) is free. This guide covers each step, what insurers ask for, how long it should take under the Life Insurance Code of Practice, and why claims are declined. To see what you'd receive after tax, use the TPD payout calculator.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
Free tools
- TPD payout calculator: What you'll receive after tax, from one or several super funds.
Step 1: find every TPD policy you hold
Many people hold TPD cover without knowing it, through default cover in super, and some hold it in more than one fund. The ATO says you can use ATO online services, through myGov, to track your super and find accounts you've lost touch with. Then check each account's insurance: Moneysmart suggests calling the fund, logging in to your account or reading your annual statement, which shows the type and amount of cover and when it ends.
Check retail policies too: cover bought direct from an insurer, through an adviser, or linked to your life cover. Each is a separate claim.
Step 2: check the definition and any waiting period
Each policy has its own definition of total and permanent disability, and that is what your claim is assessed against. Own-occupation cover asks whether you can return to your own job; any-occupation cover, the usual definition in super, asks whether you could work in any job suited to your education, training or experience. Some policies use a stricter activities of daily living test for people who aren't working. Our TPD insurance guide explains each definition.
Most policies also require you to have been off work for a set period, often three continuous months, before you can be assessed. The PDS, or your fund's insurance guide, states yours.
Step 3: gather the evidence
Moneysmart lists what insurers usually ask for. Start collecting it early, because medical reports take time.
- Medical reports and test results from your doctors and specialists.
- Details of your work duties, including the physical requirements, and the hours you worked each week.
- Payslips and tax returns, or financial statements if you're self-employed.
- Your policy or member number, and the date you stopped work.
What the insurer may do
Moneysmart says your insurer may ask for permission to contact your doctor, and may send you to an independent medical examination with a specialist who reports to the insurer. If you're struggling physically or emotionally, Moneysmart suggests asking a trusted friend or family member to help with the claim.
Step 4: lodge a claim with each fund or insurer
Contact whoever you bought the cover from: the super fund for cover in super, the insurer for a policy you bought direct, or your adviser or broker if one placed it. Ask how the process works and which forms you need. If you hold TPD in more than one super fund, lodge with each one: each assesses its own claim against its own definition, and Moneysmart warns you may not be able to claim the full benefit from more than one, depending on the policies.
If you need money urgently while the claim is assessed, ask the fund or insurer. Moneysmart says they may be able to speed up the assessment or make an advance payment, with supporting documents such as bank or Centrelink statements, and that an advance may reduce the final payout.
Step 5: the decision, and how long it takes
APRA's figures for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 put the estimated average time for an insurer to decide a TPD claim at 3.8 months, and 16.8% of TPD claims took more than six months. That doesn't include the trustee's decision for cover in super, which comes after the insurer's.
Insurers that subscribe to the Life Insurance Code of Practice commit to deciding a lump sum claim such as TPD within six months of being notified, or six months after the waiting period ends, unless circumstances beyond their control apply. In that case they must tell you why and keep you updated. If the claim is accepted from super, the fund releases the money once it's satisfied you meet the permanent incapacity condition of release, and you can take it as a lump sum or regular payments.
If your TPD claim is declined
Ask for the reasons in writing, and check them against the policy definition and the evidence you gave. APRA's figures show TPD claims were admitted 90.2% of the time on group cover in super, 82.3% through advisers and 68.8% on policies bought direct in 2025. ASIC's review of TPD claims (REP 633) found claims assessed under the activities of daily living test were declined 60% of the time, against 12% for other TPD claims.
Complain to the insurer or super fund first, as soon as you can. If you can't reach an agreement, Moneysmart says to contact AFCA, which gives free, independent dispute resolution.
What to watch for
- Lodge with every fund that holds TPD cover for you; each one assesses its own claim.
- Talk to the fund before you roll over or close a super account. Moneysmart warns cover may stop if you change funds or your account becomes inactive.
- Read the definition before you claim. An activities of daily living test is much harder to meet than own or any occupation.
- Keep copies of everything you send, and note the date the insurer received your claim: the Life Code timeframes run from it.
Common questions
How long does a TPD claim take?
APRA's figures for 2025 put the average time for an insurer to decide a TPD claim at 3.8 months, and 16.8% took more than six months. Life Code insurers commit to deciding lump sum claims within six months unless circumstances beyond their control apply. For cover in super, the trustee's decision to release the money comes after that.
Can I claim TPD from more than one super fund?
You can lodge a claim with every fund that holds TPD cover for you, and each assesses it against its own definition. Moneysmart warns you may not be able to claim the full benefit from more than one, depending on the policies, so ask each fund.
Do I need a lawyer to claim TPD?
No. You can lodge a claim yourself with your super fund or insurer, which gives you the forms. If your claim is declined and the insurer or fund doesn't resolve your complaint, AFCA's dispute resolution is free. Some people choose legal help for complex claims; ask about fees before you sign anything.
Can I claim TPD while still working?
Usually not, because most policies require you to have stopped work for a set period, often three continuous months, and then be unlikely ever to work again as the policy defines it. Some policies allow limited work or retraining after a claim, so check the terms.
What happens if my TPD claim is denied?
Ask for the reasons in writing and complain to the insurer or super fund. If that doesn't resolve it, take it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which is free and independent.
General information only
This guide explains the claims process in general terms. It isn't legal advice and doesn't consider your situation. Your policy's PDS, or your super fund's insurance guide, sets out the definition and requirements that apply to you.
Protecting your income as well
Life, TPD and trauma cover pay lump sums. Income protection is the cover that pays a monthly income while you recover.
