Can you claim TPD for a musculoskeletal injury?
Yes. Musculoskeletal injuries — affecting the shoulders, knees, hips, joints, muscles and connective tissue — are a common reason people can no longer do their usual work. This includes serious sprains and tears, joint replacements, crush injuries, and chronic conditions that don't fully recover.
How musculoskeletal injuries affect work
- chronic pain and reduced range of movement
- difficulty lifting, standing, walking or doing repetitive tasks
- injuries that limit physical or manual work
- conditions that worsen over time or after surgery
What matters for a claim
TPD policies vary, but the questions that usually matter are:
- you have stopped working, and a return to your usual work is unlikely
- your condition is ongoing or expected to be permanent
- you had cover at the time you stopped work (or when your injury occurred)
- you meet the policy's definition of permanent disability — which varies by fund
- you have supporting medical evidence, including imaging and specialist reports
"Own" vs "any" occupation makes a big difference
If you can't do your old physical job but could retrain for something else, the outcome depends on whether your policy uses an "own occupation" or "any occupation" test. It's worth understanding which applies to you.
Related situations we see
- workplace, lifting and repetitive-strain injuries
- shoulder, knee and hip injuries needing surgery or replacement
- crush and accident injuries to the hands, legs or feet
- injuries alongside chronic pain or depression
What ClaimSure does
We help you take the first practical step. In a Free Claim Check, we look at your situation, help identify what insurance you may already have across your super accounts, and give you clear next steps in plain English. If your matter needs legal or specialist support, we'll refer you to a trusted provider.