Psychological injuries
Depression, anxiety and PTSD claims are routinely turned away because recovery is always possible. That is not the test, and it is not a reason to stop.
Why psychological claims get turned down
Because a psychological condition can improve, insurers treat the possibility of recovery as a reason to say no.
Mental illness is hard to evidence at the best of times. One day you are functioning and the next you are not, and there is no scan that settles it. Insurers and super funds lean on that uncertainty, and it works — most of these claims meet resistance somewhere.
Everyone in the chain has a reason to say no
The reluctance is not personal, and it is not about you.
Doctors hesitate to sign off because recovery is possible and they do not want to be wrong. Psychologists and psychiatrists get asked to make a call they were never trained to phrase this way. Solicitors decline to get involved because of all of the above. The result is that people who are genuinely eligible are told, repeatedly, that they are not.
What actually needs to be shown
The question is not whether you might recover. It is whether you can return to work you are already qualified for.
That distinction is what a well-written report turns on, and it is what most reports miss. We tell the doctors treating you exactly what the fund is asking, so their report answers the right question.
Conditions we see most
Depression, anxiety and PTSD make up most of the psychological claims we handle, along with conditions that developed alongside a physical injury.
If you have been unable to work for more than three months, it is worth a conversation whether or not anyone has mentioned TPD to you before.
Other kinds of claim
Different cover, same question: whether you can still work in a job your education, training and experience suit you to.
- Physical injuries You do not have to prove how you were hurt. If a physical injury stops you working, that is the test. Read more
- Health conditions and illnesses Cancer, heart conditions, chronic and terminal illness. Worth checking even if you are not sure the condition qualifies. Read more
- Retail life insurance claims Cover you bought yourself, outside super. The definitions differ and so does the process. Read more
- Income protection and salary continuance A monthly payment while you cannot work. You can often claim this and TPD at the same time. Read more
Physical injuries 
Health conditions and illnesses 
Retail life insurance claims 
Income protection and salary continuance Check if you can claim
It takes about two minutes. You do not need your policy documents — just your super fund name if you know it. We will call you back and tell you plainly whether you have a claim.
- No cost for the first conversation
- We tell you plainly if you do not have a claim
- Claims handled Australia-wide
How a claim runs
- Step 1Free claim check
We look at your super and tell you plainly whether you have cover.
- Step 2We gather your medical evidence
We tell your doctors what the fund actually needs the report to address.
- Step 3We lodge and manage the claim
We deal with the insurer and the fund, so that you do not have to.
- Step 4Settlement
If the claim is accepted, the benefit is paid out and we explain what it means for tax.
Questions about psychological injuries
Why hasn't my solicitor told me about a TPD claim?
Usually because TPD is not what they do. TPD sits in superannuation and insurance law, not compensation law. A solicitor can be very good at their own work and still not know how these claims get approved — or tell you that you do not have one when you do. Whether your solicitor thinks the injury is minor is not the test. If you have not been able to work because of an injury or illness, it is worth a second opinion.
My doctor won't write a supporting report. What now?
This is common and it is fixable. Some GPs have never completed a TPD assessment and would rather not start. Others are willing but are not told what the fund actually needs, so the report they write does not answer the question being asked. We work with GPs and specialists around Australia who do these assessments regularly, and we give your treating doctors the criteria their report has to address.
Guides on this
- Chronic Illness and TPD Claims Living with a chronic illness can turn your world upside down. Whether it’s heart disease, mental illness, or another persistent condition, the daily grind of managing chronic health problems… Read the guide
- Car Accidents and TPD Claims Have you suffered an injury or psychological condition due to a car accident, and you cannot work on your own or any occupation? Read the guide
- Can You Claim Income Protection and TPD at the Same Time? Total and Permanent Disability Insurance (TPD) is usually part of a worker’s superannuation fund. Read the guide
Not sure whether any of this applies to you?
Call and ask. No cost, no obligation, and we will tell you plainly.