Millions of Australians May Have TPD Cover in Their Super — And Not Know It

What is TPD cover in super?

TPD stands for total and permanent disability. Moneysmart says TPD insurance can pay a lump sum if you become totally and permanently disabled because of illness or injury. It is designed to help with costs such as living expenses, debts, and medical or rehabilitation costs when returning to work may no longer be possible.

Why so many Australians miss it

A common reason is that people never took out a separate insurance policy, so they assume they do not have any cover. But insurance through super often starts automatically. Moneysmart says most super funds will automatically provide life cover and TPD insurance, and ABC reporting on Super Consumers Australia research says more than a quarter of people are unsure whether they have insurance or do not know what their policies are.

Key call-out: if you are over 25 and had more than $6,000 in super, it is worth checking

This is one of the biggest things Australians miss. Moneysmart says if you were over 25, had more than $6,000 in your super, and were working and receiving contributions, there is a fair chance you may have had some default insurance through your super, including TPD cover. It is not guaranteed, but it is absolutely worth checking.

You may also have forgotten super accounts

Another reason people miss possible insurance is that they have changed jobs over the years and lost track of old super accounts. The ATO says you can use ATO online services to track your super and find accounts you have forgotten or lost touch with, including lost member accounts and ATO-held super.

Important: cover can end without you realising

Checking quickly matters because cover does not always stay in place forever. Moneysmart says super funds will cancel insurance on inactive super accounts that have not received contributions for at least 16 months, and some funds may also have rules about low-balance accounts.

How to check whether you may have TPD cover in super

Moneysmart says the main ways to check are to:

• call your super fund
• log in to your super account online
• review your annual statement and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)

You should also check:

• what type of insurance you had
• how much cover applied
• whether the policy was active at the relevant time
• whether any exclusions or definitions may affect a claim

A quick warning about definitions

Not every TPD policy works the same way. Moneysmart says insurers can use different definitions of total and permanent disability, including "own occupation" and "any occupation," and that can affect how hard a claim is to meet.

When should you get your super checked?

It may be worth checking if:

• you have stopped working due to illness or injury
• your doctor has told you that returning to work may be unlikely
• you are living with cancer, chronic pain, a serious injury, mental illness, or another major health condition
• you have changed jobs multiple times and may have old or forgotten super accounts
• you are unsure what insurance sits inside your super

Free Claim Check

At ClaimSure, we help people review whether they may have a potential life insurance claim or support pathway through their super.

We can help you:

• review your situation
• identify relevant super accounts, including lost or forgotten super
• understand whether there may be TPD, life insurance, income protection, or early access to super options worth exploring

If you are over 25, had more than $6,000 in your super, and were working, it is worth checking your cover. Support may be available.