You may have a claim
through your super
If you’ve stopped working, reduced your hours, been diagnosed with a serious illness, or lost a family member, you may be entitled to insurance or benefits through superannuation.
Many super funds include insurance automatically. People often only discover it after something has gone wrong.
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for:
- a lump sum payment
- ongoing monthly income
- early access to your super balance
Which type of claim applies to you?
Most super claims fall into four main categories.
You may have a TPD claim if:
you are unlikely to return to work due to illness or injury
→ Leads to a lump sum payment
Learn moreYou may have an income protection claim if:
you are temporarily unable to work or working reduced hours
→ Leads to monthly payments
Learn moreYou may have a terminal illness claim if:
your condition meets strict medical criteria for limited life expectancy
→ May allow early access to super and insurance (often tax-free if criteria met)
Learn moreYou may have a death benefit claim if:
a family member has passed away and had super
→ Super and insurance may be paid to dependants or the estate
Learn moreYou may have a claim even if…
- your condition is not work-related
- you are receiving Centrelink
- you have a workers compensation claim
- you stopped working some time ago
- your super account is now inactive or closed
Many people have multiple super funds.
This can mean → more than one potential claim.
What most people don’t realise
- insurance is often included automatically in super
- cover may still exist in old or forgotten accounts
- each fund has different definitions and rules
- claims are assessed on policy wording and evidence, not general circumstances
- tax and Centrelink outcomes depend on how benefits are accessed
Super claims are often missed because these factors are not obvious.
How super claims are actually assessed
Claims are not approved simply because a person is unwell or has experienced a loss. They are assessed based on:
- the policy attached to your super fund
- medical and factual evidence
- employment and income history
- legal definitions (such as incapacity or dependency)
Each claim type has specific criteria that must be met.
Common problems with super claims
- not knowing insurance existed
- overlooking claims in old super funds
- misunderstanding the policy definition
- incomplete or poorly targeted evidence
- delays in assessment
- claims being rejected or reduced
- confusion about tax and Centrelink
Many issues arise from how the claim is prepared and presented.
If your claim has been rejected or delayed
A rejection or delay does not necessarily mean the claim is not valid.
Superannuation insurance decisions depend on:
- how the policy is interpreted
- how the evidence is presented
In some cases, decisions can be reviewed or challenged where issues are identified.
Tax and Centrelink considerations
Super claims can affect your financial position beyond the payment itself.
Tax
- Some payments may be tax-free
- Others include taxable components
- Outcomes depend on your age, type of claim, and how the benefit is accessed
Centrelink
- Payments may affect income and assets tests
- Treatment depends on whether funds remain in super, whether they are withdrawn, and how they are used
Because outcomes vary, individual advice may be appropriate before accessing large amounts.
What to do next
Super Insurance Claims — Frequently asked questions
Most super funds include default insurance cover — typically a combination of life (death) cover, total and permanent disability (TPD) cover, and sometimes income protection. You were likely enrolled automatically when you joined the fund.
Yes — and this is important. Many Australians have multiple super accounts from past jobs. Each may hold separate insurance cover with separate insurers. This can mean more than one potential claim. Claimsplus Lawyers locates all your accounts and assesses each one.
Yes. Super insurance claims are not limited to workplace injuries. TPD, income protection, and terminal illness claims can arise from any medical condition — including chronic illness, mental health conditions, degenerative disease, and injuries sustained outside work.
Yes. Insurance cover often continues even after you’ve left an employer, as long as your super account remained active and premiums were being paid. Cover may also exist in old or inactive accounts.
It means you pay our legal fees only if we successfully recover your entitlement. If we don’t win, you pay nothing. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges for our legal work.
It depends on the claim type and insurer. TPD claims typically take 6–18 months. Income protection decisions are usually made within 3–6 months. Terminal illness claims must be processed within 28 days. We push for the fastest possible resolution in every case.
A rejection does not necessarily mean the claim is not valid. Superannuation insurance decisions depend on how the policy is interpreted and how the evidence is presented. In some cases, decisions can be reviewed or challenged where issues are identified.
No. You don’t need to gather anything before reaching out. We can search for all your super accounts using ATO records, and retrieve policy documents and statements on your behalf.
It depends on how benefits are accessed. Money held inside super may be treated differently from money withdrawn. Payments may affect income and assets tests for DSP, Carer Payment, or Age Pension. Because outcomes vary, individual advice may be appropriate before accessing large amounts.
Not always. Benefits are typically paid into your super account first. Tax applies on withdrawal based on tax-free and taxable components, your age, and whether it qualifies as a disability super benefit. Terminal illness benefits may be tax-free if criteria are met. Individual tax advice is recommended.
Yes, if you hold a super fund with income protection cover. Some self-employed workers have cover through industry funds from previous employment. We check all your past and current funds to identify any available cover.
Yes. When someone passes away, their super balance and any life insurance benefit can be claimed by dependants or the estate. The trustee has discretion over who receives the payment unless a valid binding death benefit nomination is in place.