Can I Make a TPD Claim If I Have Multiple Super Funds?
- Jul 6
- 8 min read
If you have changed jobs a few times over your working life, there is a good chance you have more than one superannuation account sitting somewhere, even if you have not thought about it in years. What many Australians do not realise is that each of those accounts may have carried its own Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance policy, separate from any cover you currently hold.
Over $1 billion in super insurance benefits goes unclaimed every year in Australia. A significant part of that is simply because people do not know they have more than one policy, or assume that claiming through one fund is the end of the story.
In this guide, we explain how a TPD claim with multiple super funds works, whether you can claim from more than one policy, and how Better Claim can help you track down what you are owed.
What Is a TPD Claim and How Does Having Multiple Funds Change Things?
A Total and Permanent Disability claim is a lump-sum payout from insurance held inside a superannuation fund. It is a private insurance product, not a government benefit, and it exists separately within each super account you have ever held, not just your current one.
To qualify with any given fund, you generally need to show that you are unlikely to ever return to work in any occupation suited to your education, training, or experience. The average TPD payout in Australia is approximately $440,000, though this figure varies significantly by policy, and by fund.
The important distinction here is that TPD cover is attached to the fund, not to you personally. If you held cover with three different super funds across your working life, you could, in principle, have three separate TPD policies, each assessed on its own terms.
50% of Australians do not know their super includes insurance cover. If you have had more than one job, you may have more insurance cover, and more entitlements, than you realise.
Do You Qualify for a TPD Claim Across Multiple Super Funds?
Eligibility is assessed separately by each fund, based on the policy that applied at the relevant time. Broadly:
You had an active super account with TPD cover at the fund in question, at the time your condition prevented you from working
You have been unable to work for a continuous period, typically three to six months
Your condition is unlikely to improve to a point where you could return to work
You meet each fund's specific TPD definition, which can differ from fund to fund, even for the same condition
A certified copy of government-issued photo ID (passport or driver's licence) is required for each claim you lodge
It is entirely possible to be eligible under one fund's definition and not another, because the wording of "TPD" is not standardised across Australia. This is exactly why it is worth checking every account, not just your current one.
If you are unsure how many funds you may have cover with, Better Claim offers a free eligibility check with no commitment required.
What Your Super Fund Won't Tell You About Multiple Policies
Super funds are not required to tell you about insurance you may hold with another fund, and they have no incentive to help you track down old accounts.
Consolidating your super can accidentally cancel valuable cover. Many people close old accounts to simplify their super, not realising they are also cancelling a TPD policy they could otherwise have claimed on.
The ATO's super fund lookup tool only helps you locate accounts. It does not confirm insurance has been carried over. Important: super balances transferred to the ATO as unclaimed money lose their insurance cover entirely. Insurance is removed before funds are handed over. If a balance has gone to the ATO, the claim must be made against the original fund, if it still held an active balance with insurance at the relevant time, not against the ATO.
You are not limited to one claim. If you genuinely held separate TPD cover with more than one fund, you may be able to lodge a claim with each fund and receive multiple payouts, because these are independent insurance contracts.
"Inactive" accounts may have already had insurance cancelled. Since 2019, funds are required to cancel insurance on accounts that have been inactive for 16 months, unless you opted to keep it. This does not erase your right to claim for a period when the cover was still active.
Income protection and TPD can be claimed simultaneously, including across different funds. They are not mutually exclusive, and offset provisions only apply once a TPD payout is made.
How the Multi-Fund TPD Claim Process Works
Claiming across multiple super funds takes more coordination, but the underlying process for each fund is familiar.
Locate every super account you have ever held. Use the ATO's super fund lookup tool, check old payslips and employer records, and review any "lost super" notices you may have received. Better Claim can search this for you.
Confirm which accounts carried TPD insurance, and for what period. Not every account will have had cover, and cover levels can differ significantly.
Obtain the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that applied to each fund at the relevant time. This sets out the specific TPD definition you need to meet for that policy.
Gather your medical evidence. The same core evidence often supports multiple claims, though each fund may request its report in a slightly different format.
Lodge separate claim forms with each fund, including identification (a certified copy of your passport or driver's licence), employment history, and medical authority forms for each.
Manage each fund's process independently. Insurers assess claims on their own timelines, and one fund approving your claim does not guarantee another will.
If any claim is denied, appeal it separately. A denial from one fund has no bearing on your claim with another.
REALISTIC TIMEFRAMES
Simple claims: 3-6 months
Complex or disputed claims: 6-18 months
AFCA appeals: Add 6-12 months
Multiple claims run on separate timelines. Better Claim manages all of them so you don't have to chase several funds at once.
Why Multi-Fund TPD Claims Get Denied — and What to Do Next
Claims involving more than one fund face some specific hurdles.
"You didn't have active cover with us at the relevant time." Funds will check whether your account was active, and whether you had opted in or out of insurance, at the point your condition became disabling. Old statements and employer super contribution records can establish this.
"This account had already lapsed due to inactivity." If contributions stopped for an extended period, cover may have been automatically cancelled. This does not affect claims for periods before the cancellation took effect.
"You've already been paid by another fund." Some funds incorrectly assume a payout from one policy disqualifies a claim on another. Separate policies are separate entitlements, and this argument is often successfully challenged.
"The evidence doesn't meet our specific definition." Because TPD definitions vary between funds, evidence that satisfies one policy may need to be reframed to satisfy another.
"Pre-existing condition exclusion." If a condition existed before a particular account's cover began, that fund may attempt to exclude the claim. This does not necessarily affect a claim against a different fund where cover started earlier.
A denied claim with one fund is not the end, and it does not affect your other claims. If your TPD claim has been rejected by any fund, it is worth getting a second opinion.
How to Find Out How Many Super Funds You Have
Many people are surprised by how many accounts they have accumulated. To check:
Use the ATO's online services through myGov to see a full list of your super accounts, including any listed as lost or unclaimed
Search your name against old employer records, particularly for jobs where you did not actively choose a fund
Check for any "lost super" letters you may have received and set aside
Ask Better Claim to run a search on your behalf, as part of a free eligibility check
Remember: if a balance has been transferred to the ATO as unclaimed super, that specific balance no longer carries insurance. The value of finding it is locating which original fund it came from, so a claim can be assessed against that fund's records for the period the account was active.
What a Successful Multi-Fund TPD Claim Looks Like
A successful multi-fund claim typically starts with a thorough search establishing every account you have held, followed by a clear assessment of which accounts carried TPD cover and for what period. Each eligible claim is then prepared and lodged against the specific policy definition that applies.
Each payout is a separate lump sum, generally paid into your nominated bank account or current super account, depending on the fund. Tax may apply, and Centrelink payments may also be affected. Better Claim works on a no-win, no-fee basis, so our fee comes from each settlement, not your pocket.
How Better Claim Can Help
Tracking down old super accounts and assessing multiple TPD policies is time-consuming and easy to get wrong, particularly while you are unwell. This is exactly where specialist support matters.
When you engage Better Claim, our team:
Searches for every super account you have held, including lost and inactive accounts
Identifies which accounts carried TPD insurance, and for what period
Reviews each policy's definition to determine what evidence is needed for each fund
Manages all correspondence with every fund so you are not juggling multiple processes
Handles appeals through internal review or AFCA if any claim is denied
Better Claim works on a no-win, no-fee basis. You pay nothing unless a claim succeeds.
If you are not sure how many funds you may be entitled to claim against, contact Better Claim for a free initial assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get more than one TPD payout?
Yes, if you genuinely held separate TPD cover with more than one fund at the relevant time. Each policy is a separate insurance contract, and a payout from one does not prevent a claim against another.
How do I know if my super was transferred to the ATO?
Check the ATO's online services through myGov, which lists any unclaimed super held on your behalf. Remember that insurance is removed before a balance is transferred to the ATO, so the claim must be made against the original fund for the period it held an active balance.
How long does a multi-fund TPD claim take?
Each fund's claim runs on its own timeline, typically 3 to 12 months. Because they are assessed independently, claims will not necessarily resolve at the same time.
What does Better Claim charge?
Better Claim works on a no-win, no-fee basis. Our fee is a percentage of each settlement. If a claim does not succeed, you pay nothing for that claim.
Can I claim if I already consolidated my super into one account?
Possibly. If you held TPD cover with a fund before you closed or consolidated it, you may still be able to claim for the period that cover was active, even though the account is now closed.
Do I need a lawyer for a multi-fund claim?
Not always, but coordinating multiple funds significantly increases the complexity of a claim. Better Claim manages the full process across every fund on your behalf.
Can I claim income protection and TPD across different funds at the same time?
Yes. They are not mutually exclusive, and this applies across separate funds as well. It is worth lodging all valid claims if your condition may be permanent.
Resources
AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority): Free dispute resolution for super fund complaints and denied claims
ASIC MoneySmart: Super and Insurance: Plain-language overview of super insurance types including TPD
ATO: Find Your Super: Tool for locating lost or inactive super accounts
SuperConsumers Australia: Independent research on super insurance and claims
MoneySmart: Consolidating Super: Explains the risks of losing insurance cover when combining accounts
Final Thoughts
If you have worked more than one job in Australia, it is worth checking every super account you have ever held, not just your current one. Each may carry its own TPD policy, and its own entitlement.
The key to a successful TPD claim with multiple super funds is a thorough search followed by a properly evidenced claim against each eligible policy. You have already been through enough. Let Better Claim handle the search and the claim.
Disclaimer: This article is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. Super insurance entitlements vary between funds and individual circumstances. Better Claim recommends seeking professional advice specific to your situation. For complaints or disputes, contact AFCA at afca.org.au.
