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What is Total and Permanent Disability insurance?
Total and Permanent Disability insurance (or TPD) is an insurance policy that most Australians have through their super fund. It's there to protect us when we're too sick or injured to work by covering lost income and lost super contributions.
When you make a TPD insurance claim, the money is usually paid as a lump-sum benefit. This is completely separate from your super balance and does not affect your hard-earned savings.
Our Darwin TPD experts have helped thousands of people access their entitlements, with clients across the NT receiving an average of $160,000 for successful Total and Permanent Disability claims.
Who is eligible to make a Total and Permanent Disability claim in Darwin?
To be eligible to make a Total and Permanent Disability claim, you must:
- Show that you’re unable to return to work - either in your regular job or another position that is suited to your education and training.
- Have TPD insurance cover that was active at the time you became ill or injured. Most super funds automatically include TPD insurance, or you may have coverage through other life insurance.
Your inability to work does not have to be work-related and can be due to any physical or mental health reason.
No win, no fee* TPD lawyers
We offer 'no win, no fee' for all eligible claims in the NT - if you don’t get a successful outcome, you don’t pay our legal fees.
Free super claim check
Use our free claim check tool and find out in minutes if you could have a TPD claim.
Types of injuries and illnesses covered under TPD in the NT
Our TPD experts have helped many Darwin clients make successful claims for a range of physical injuries, illnesses and mental health conditions.
Some of the common reasons for TPD claims are:
- heart attack
- cancer
- injuries sustained at home
- sports injuries
- car accident injuries
- chronic illnesses
- anxiety
- depression
- PTSD
If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you could also have access to additional benefits as part of your super insurance.
Benefits for Total and Permanent Disability claims
Unlike other insurance schemes for road or work injuries in the NT, TPD claims are often paid as a one-time, lump sum payout. This payout is in addition to your super savings, so making a Total and Permanent Disability claim does not affect your super balance.
You may still be entitled to your TPD insurance benefit even if your super account has closed.
TPD insurance policies have different benefit amounts and thresholds to meet for proving disability. Insurers can also try to delay or deny claims on 'fine print clauses', which is why it’s important to have experienced legal support to check all of your entitlements.
We can check what TPD benefits you have for free, so get in touch today.
The Total and Permanent Disability claim process in the Northern Territory
We help people make Total and Permanent Disability claims every day, ensuring our clients get access to their full benefits. Our expert superannuation team know how the system works and will work with you to ensure you receive what you’re entitled to.
Simple steps to make a TPD claim in Darwin:
1. Find out if you have a TPD claim
If you have an injury or illness that means you can’t work, talk to our team to find out all your available options.
2. Let us look after your claim
Our experienced superannuation team will manage the process on your behalf. We will advise on the evidence needed to build a successful claim.
Receive your payment
If your TPD claim is successful, we will process your payment (or payments) as soon as possible.
Legal support for Total and Permanent Disability claims in Darwin
Navigating a TPD claim can be difficult. Not everyone knows the right information to give, or the right questions to ask, and the insurance companies won’t always tell you what you’re entitled to.
When you're trying to focus on your treatment and recovery, dealing with insurers can be the last thing you feel like doing. That’s where we can help.
How our TPD experts can help you
We know that access to lump sum payments can make a massive difference to someone when they’re unable to work. When we make a claim for a client, we know exactly what we need to do so they receive the maximum amount they’re entitled to.
We are here to help guide you through the process for making a Total and Permanent Disability claim, but we can also:
- check all of your super insurance claim options (such as through multiple super funds)
- deal with the insurers on your behalf
- check the fine print of your policy to ensure you receive all the benefits you're entitled to
- manage disputes for declined or delayed TPD claims.
Our superannuation insurance experts have a proven track record of helping Darwin clients get the best possible outcome for their TPD claims.
Frequently Asked Questions about TPD claims in Darwin
Many people open new superannuation accounts when they change employers and forget to cancel previous accounts. Depending on the amount of funds in each one, you may have valid insurance policies on each of them - meaning you may be eligible for multiple claims.
If your superannuation accounts were active at the time that you became injured or ill, you can usually claim on all the associated insurance policies. But the claims can impact each other, so it’s important to seek legal advice to find out the best option for you.
To make a successful TPD claim in Darwin, you will need to prove to the insurer that your illness or injury prevents you from doing suitable work. You’ll need reports from your treating medical professionals, and it also helps if you have a doctor who saw you before the injury or illness.
Darwin Total and Permanent Disability claims can take up to 12–18 months to complete, particularly if there is a dispute from the insurer. Our TPD legal experts are usually able to get claims paid much quicker than that though - we do everything we can to get all the benefits you’re entitled to as quickly as possible.
Your superannuation policy may also have Income Protection insurance, which can provide monthly payments after an injury or illness. This claim is separate to a TPD claim and can often be made while your TPD claim is processing.
The amount you receive for a Total and Permanent Disability claim in Darwin depends on your insurance policy, your age, and the severity of your injury or illness. The amount also depends on the terms of your TPD insurance policy.
Our clients in the Northern Territory receive an average of $160,000 from successful TPD claims.
You can make a TPD claim through your superannuation insurance yourself. However, we find that when people try to make a claim themselves, it can be unfairly rejected or they don’t get their full benefits.
Seeking legal advice early can help you find any other compensation options, build a successful claim or help with a rejected claim. Our experienced TPD lawyers can manage complex or disputed claims for you.
Our track record of achieving higher settlement amounts for our clients than those who bring a claim on their own (without legal advice) is because we know the Northern Territory TPD process inside out and work hard to get you everything you deserve.
If your TPD claim is rejected, you may have the right to appeal. Our lawyers can assist in reviewing and contesting claim rejections and looking into alternative claim options for you.
Usually yes, some policies cover the worsening of pre-existing conditions - but all policy terms are different, so it's best to check what cover you have.
As you get older and approach retirement age, TPD benefit amounts can decrease or even stop altogether. It's important to check the level of TPD insurance cover you had at the time you stopped working – even if your cover has since ended or changed.
We can check this for you for free. Use our free claim check tool to get started.
Total and Permanent Disability insurance will usually be part of the default insurance policy you have through your superannuation fund. You can check this by contacting your super fund directly, or you can call us and we can check what cover you have.
If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you are likely eligible to make a TPD claim but could also have access to additional benefits as part of your super insurance.
However, TPD policy terms vary so it's important to check the fine print before making a claim or seek legal advice first.
If you're still not sure whether you're eligible to make a TPD claim, the best thing to do is get in contact with us. You can book an obligation-free consultation or use our free claim check tool to get started. We will be able check your entitlements for free and discuss all of your options with you.
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