My first port of call was Davina, her level of understanding, empathy and commitment to assisting me with my claim was evident from the first phone call. I was given regular updates and assistance in acquiring the information I needed to have a successful claim, and successful it was! I cannot recommend the team at Claimsplus Lawyers highly enough.
Ongoing monthly payments if you can’t work
Income Protection Through Super
Income protection insurance pays a monthly benefit when illness or injury prevents you from working. It’s designed to replace a portion of your income while you recover. Many Australians hold this cover inside super without knowing it.
Monthly payments
while you’re unable to work
Am I eligible?
This may apply to you if…
You don’t need to meet every condition. If any of the following sounds like your situation, a free claim check can tell you where you stand.
An illness or injury is preventing you from working — or has recently
You have — or have had — a superannuation account with income protection cover
You’ve been off work for more than 30 days (or are approaching that point)
You’re not sure whether your super includes income protection insurance
Why Claimsplus
Why people choose Claimsplus for income protection through super
Monthly
Ongoing payments while you recover
No win
No fee unless we win
Australian
Claims lawyers, not referrals
Backdated
Payments recovered from day one
Understanding your claim
What is income protection insurance?
Income protection (also called salary continuance) replaces a portion of your income if you’re unable to work due to sickness or injury. Unlike TPD, income protection pays ongoing monthly benefits — not a one-off lump sum — until you return to work or the benefit period expires.
Many super funds include income protection as a default benefit. Claimsplus Lawyers will find your policies, review your insurer’s definition of disability, and manage your claim from start to finish.
Eligibility
Who qualifies?
You are currently unable to work, or have been unable to work due to illness or injury
You held income protection cover (inside or outside super) at the time you stopped working
You are within the waiting period window for your policy (typically 30, 60, or 90 days)
You have not yet claimed, or you have a claim that was denied or underpaid
Not sure if you have income protection cover? We can check all your super accounts at no cost.
The process
How it works
01
Free eligibility check
We confirm whether you hold income protection cover and whether your condition meets the policy definition.
02
We find your cover
We search across all your super accounts — including old funds — for active income protection policies.
03
Apply the correct policy definition
The claim must match the exact wording of your policy. Many policies shift from ‘own occupation’ to ‘any suitable occupation’ over time — meaning they can become harder to qualify for, even if you still can’t return to your previous job. We identify which definition applies and build your case around it.
04
We lodge your claim
We prepare and submit your claim with full medical and employment evidence, including proof of income and dates you stopped or reduced work.
05
We recover your benefits
We manage the insurer relationship and ensure your monthly benefits are paid on time and in full — including backdated amounts and ongoing reassessments.
Common concerns
Questions people ask before they start
We hear these every day. Here’s what we tell people.
“I’m not sure my condition is ‘serious enough’ to claim”
Income protection covers any illness or injury that stops you from performing your usual job — including mental health conditions, back injuries, chronic fatigue, and post-surgical recovery. You don’t need to be hospitalised or permanently disabled.
“I’ve already missed the waiting period”
Most policies have a 30, 60, or 90-day waiting period before payments begin. If you’ve passed that window, you may be entitled to backdated payments. We’ll review your policy dates and claim from the correct start date.
“My insurer already reduced or stopped my payments”
Insurers sometimes cut benefits prematurely or apply incorrect definitions. Claimsplus reviews the decision, challenges incorrect reductions, and pursues the full benefit you’re entitled to.
“I’m worried about the cost of using a lawyer”
We work on a no win, no fee basis. You pay our legal fees only if we successfully recover your entitlement. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges for our legal work.
Client stories
What our clients say
Claims plus lawyers were great at helping us every step of the way. Accessible and open with the whole process. Couldn’t do this on our own. And yes our insurance claim was successful over both areas applied for. Thanks guys. Highly recommended.
I have had a good experience with Claimsplus Lawyers. The way they handled my insurance claim and their professional communication level with me was great.
Common questions
Income Protection Through Super — Frequently asked questions
Benefit periods vary by policy — typically 2 years, 5 years, or to age 65 (less common in super policies). We identify your specific benefit period and manage the claim for its full duration.
You do not always need to be completely unable to work. Some policies allow partial disability claims where you return to work in a reduced capacity and your income drops due to your condition. The insurer may pay a proportionate benefit based on lost income.
Yes. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychiatric conditions are common grounds for income protection claims. The key issue is whether your condition affects your capacity for work, not the diagnosis itself. Some policies have specific limitations for mental health — we review your policy terms carefully.
Income protection claims are frequently declined, reduced during the claim, or terminated after reassessment. This can occur where the insurer believes you can return to work, your condition is not supported, or your income was miscalculated. A declined or terminated claim does not always mean you are not entitled. In some cases, decisions can be challenged or reassessed with further evidence.
In many policies, the definition of disability shifts over time. Initially, the insurer assesses whether you can perform your own occupation. After a defined period (often 2 years), the test may shift to whether you can perform any suitable occupation based on your education, training, and experience. Many policies become harder to qualify for over time — even if you still can’t return to your previous job. The exact wording varies between policies and is critical to how your claim is assessed.
Income protection payments are generally treated as assessable income, not capital. This means payments are usually taxable and tax may be withheld before payment. You may need to include payments in your tax return. Because tax outcomes can vary depending on how the policy is held, individual advice may be appropriate.
Income protection payments can affect Centrelink entitlements. Payments are generally treated as income, which may reduce benefits such as JobSeeker Payment, Disability Support Pension, or other income-tested payments. In some cases, Centrelink payments may reduce due to IP income, or the insurer may offset IP payments if other income is received. Each situation depends on the policy and personal circumstances.
If you have a workers compensation claim, income protection may still apply. However, payments are often offset or reduced — you generally cannot receive full payments from both sources simultaneously. Insurers may deduct workers compensation payments from IP benefits.
Most policies pay a percentage of your pre-disability income — commonly in the range of 70–75%, sometimes with an additional super contribution component. The exact amount depends on your policy terms, your income at the time you stopped working, and any offsets that apply.
We operate on a no win, no fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover your entitlement.