Published: 08 February 2021
Author: RCT Super Law team

Can't work because of injury? Try your Super policy

How to unlock the injury benefits in your Super: key points

• Millions paid out by Super schemes as income support
• Most Super plans come with income insurance
• Benefits are extra to any WorkCover or TAC benefits
• It’s easy to access these payments

Super Funds pay out millions of dollars in income protection and disability insurance each year to injured workers who are unable to return to work full time, or not at all.

This money is paid through the insurance schemes that are almost always an overlooked feature of people's Super. They work in much the same way as any stand-alone disability or death policy and come packaged within a Super plan.

Claims can be made on the insurance policy contained within your Super fund no matter where or when you were injured. It needn't be at work. It could have been a road accident for example. The entitlement is determined simply on the basis of whether you are able to work.

Types of Super payments

There are two types of disability insurance, one for total and permanent disability, which pays a lump sum if you can prove that you are unlikely to work again, and one called income protection that replaces your income for a period of time while you cannot work.

If you are interested, you can check on the policy details of your Super yourself, or you will find that some law firms, like ours, offer a free service to do the checking for you. If making the enquiry yourself, make sure you advise the super fund of the day you stopped work in your usual job or occupation as this will reflect the correct amount of cover.

Remember: Super disability benefits are additional to your WorkCover or TAC entitlements.

If you would like further information about how to unlock the benefits of your Super insurance, please call us on 1300 366 441. The service is free.

If you would like to find out more about our TPD and Superannuation Practice at RCT Law, visit Superannuation Insurance Claims.

Or download our free booklet here: A Survival Guide to Superannuation Total and Permanent Disability Claims.

This article was first published on 5 April, 2014 and updated on 8 February, 2021.