How Long Does a TPD Claim Take? Realistic Timeframes Explained
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
If you've just decided to make a TPD claim, or you're already in the middle of one, not knowing how long it will take is genuinely stressful. You're dealing with a serious illness or injury, your income may have stopped, and now you're waiting on an insurer who is under no particular urgency to resolve your claim quickly.
The honest answer is that most TPD claims in Australia take between three and twelve months. Some take longer. A small number are resolved faster. The timeframe depends on the complexity of your medical situation, the quality of your evidence, which super fund and insurer is involved, and whether your claim is disputed.
What your fund almost certainly won't tell you, upfront, clearly, and proactively, is what to expect at each stage, what causes delays, and what rights you have when things drag on. That's what this guide is for.
50% of Australians don't know their superannuation includes insurance cover. For those who do discover it and lodge a claim, knowing the realistic timeframe makes the process far less stressful to navigate.
Over $1 billion in super insurance benefits goes unclaimed in Australia every year. Many Australians give up during long claims processes, before they've received what they're owed.
What Is a TPD Claim?
A Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim is a claim made through your superannuation fund for a lump sum payment when a serious illness or injury has permanently and significantly impaired your ability to work. Most Australian super funds include TPD insurance as a default component of membership, though the level of cover and the definition of "TPD" varies significantly between funds.
TPD claims are separate from:
Workers' compensation, which is employer-funded, limited to work injuries, and time-capped
Centrelink disability payments, which are means-tested and ongoing, not a lump sum
Income protection insurance, which pays a monthly benefit, not a lump sum
The average TPD payout in Australia is $440,000. Processing that size of benefit takes time, and insurers have financial incentives not to rush.
The Honest TPD Claim Timeline Stage by Stage
Stage 1: Confirming your coverage (1–4 weeks)
Before you can lodge a claim, you need to confirm which super fund(s) you hold TPD insurance with, what definition of TPD applies, and what level of cover you have. This involves requesting your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and insurance schedule from your fund.
If you have worked multiple jobs, you may have coverage under more than one fund. Better Claim traces historic coverage as part of our free eligibility check.
Stage 2: Obtaining medical evidence (4–12 weeks)
This is typically the most time-consuming phase. You need specialist reports, imaging, functional assessments, and often an occupational assessment. Getting appointments with specialists, waiting on report preparation, and chasing documents can add weeks or months.
The quality of this evidence directly determines whether your claim proceeds smoothly or gets caught in a back-and-forth with the insurer requesting more information.
Stage 3: Completing and lodging claim forms (1–2 weeks)
Your fund will provide claim forms that need to be completed accurately and completely. Errors or omissions at this stage are the most common cause of preventable delays. Better Claim reviews and completes all forms on behalf of claimants.
Stage 4: Insurer assessment (8–16 weeks)
Once lodged, your claim is passed to the insurer for assessment. The insurer reviews your medical evidence, may contact your treating specialists directly, and may request additional information. This stage has no fixed deadline, and insurers frequently use it to delay.
Stage 5: Independent Medical Examination, if requested (adds 4–8 weeks)
The insurer may require you to attend an Independent Medical Examination (IME) conducted by a doctor of their choosing. This adds time to the process and can also introduce a conflicting opinion that the insurer uses to dispute your claim.
Stage 6: Decision (1–2 weeks after assessment completes)
The insurer issues a written decision, either approving, partially approving, or denying the claim. If approved, payment is made to your super fund account and then released to you (with possible tax implications if you are under 60).
Stage 7: Internal review, if denied (adds 8–12 weeks)
If your claim is denied, you can request an internal review. The fund must complete this within a reasonable timeframe, though in practice it can add two to three months.
Stage 8: AFCA complaint, if required (adds 6–18 months)
If the internal review does not resolve the matter, you can escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). AFCA is free and independent. Most AFCA complaints relating to TPD claims resolve within six to twelve months. In the 2024-25 financial year, AFCA received 6,164 superannuation complaints, reflecting how routinely claims are denied or delayed beyond what claimants consider reasonable. Across all AFCA processes that year, $390.8 million in compensation was awarded to consumers.
REALISTIC TIMEFRAMES
Straightforward claims (clear medical evidence, no disputes): 3–6 months
Complex claims (multiple conditions, occupational disputes): 6–12 months
Disputed claims (insurer challenges, IME conflict): 9–18 months
AFCA appeals: add 6–12 months on top
Better Claim manages the entire process so you don't have to chase your fund.
What Causes TPD Claims to Take Longer
Incomplete or inadequate medical evidence, The single largest avoidable cause of delay. If the insurer cannot make a decision on the evidence provided, they will request more, and each request adds weeks or months.
Missing occupational assessments, For "any occupation" definitions, insurers need evidence that you cannot perform any work suited to your background. Without a formal occupational assessment, this argument is much harder to make.
Multiple super funds, Coordinating claims across more than one fund extends the overall process, even if individual claims proceed normally.
Insurers requesting IMEs, Independent Medical Examinations are almost always arranged at the insurer's preferred timeline, not yours. They frequently add one to three months to a claim.
Insurer "investigation" periods, Insurers are entitled to investigate claims thoroughly, and some use this entitlement to delay. There are legal limits, but they are not always enforced without a complaint.
Claimant changes in circumstances, Starting part-time work, changing treating specialists, or undergoing new treatment during the claims process can cause the insurer to restart parts of their assessment.
Fund administrative delays, Some super funds are significantly slower than others in processing claim documentation and communicating with their insurer.
Your Rights When a Claim Is Taking Too Long
Australian law provides some protections for claimants experiencing unreasonable delays, though the thresholds are often poorly publicised.
Under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act (SIS Act) and related regulations:
Insurers must reassess claims within 90 days of receiving all required information
Unreasonable delay can be the basis of an AFCA complaint, independent of the underlying merits of the claim
ASIC has issued guidance to insurers on claims handling obligations, including timeframes for acknowledging claims and communicating decisions
If your claim has been with the insurer for more than four months and you have received no substantive update, that is worth investigating. Better Claim monitors claim progress and escalates where delays appear unreasonable.
What Your Super Fund Won't Tell You About Timeframes
There is no fixed legal deadline for most insurer decisions. Funds and insurers will rarely volunteer this information.
You can ask for a progress update in writing at any time. Funds are obligated to respond.
An IME is not automatically binding. If the IME conflicts sharply with your treating specialists, that conflict is challengeable.
The clock on AFCA time limits starts from the date of the insurer's decision, not the date of your injury or the date you lodged. Don't wait too long before complaining.
Delays cost you money. Every month your claim is unresolved is a month without the financial relief you may be entitled to. Staying on top of the process matters.
Independent Medical Examinations and Why They Delay Claims
An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a medical assessment requested by the insurer, conducted by a doctor that the insurer selects and pays for. Despite the name, IMEs are not fully independent, the examining doctor has a commercial relationship with the insurer.
IMEs are routinely used to:
Challenge the severity of your condition as documented by your treating specialists
Assess whether you meet the TPD definition under your policy
Provide the insurer with a second opinion when your evidence strongly supports approval
Being required to attend an IME does not mean your claim is in trouble. But it does mean you need to be prepared. Better Claim helps claimants understand what to expect from an IME, what you are and are not required to disclose, and how to respond if the IME report contradicts your treating specialists.
When a Claim Gets Denied, Starting Over vs Appealing
A denial is not the end of the process. You have two main options:
Internal review, Request that the fund review the insurer's decision internally. You can submit additional evidence at this stage. The review is conducted by someone not involved in the original decision.
AFCA complaint, If the internal review is unsuccessful, escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. AFCA has the power to overturn insurer decisions and is free for claimants to use.
Most people who are ultimately successful have been denied at least once. Better Claim specialises in denied claim reviews and AFCA complaints, this is some of our most important work.
What a Resolved Claim Looks Like
When a TPD claim is approved:
The insurer notifies your super fund of approval
The benefit amount is deposited into your superannuation account
You submit a payment release request to your fund
Your fund processes the release, typically within two to four weeks
The funds are transferred to your nominated bank account
Tax is applied at this stage if you are under 60, based on the taxable component of your super balance and your age at the time of payment. For most claimants, the tax is manageable compared to the size of the payout, and Better Claim can refer you to a specialist super tax advisor where needed.
Better Claim works on a no-win, no-fee basis. Our fee is deducted from your settlement. If your claim does not succeed, you pay nothing.
How Better Claim Keeps Your Claim Moving
The most common reason TPD claims take longer than they should is that claimants are managing the process themselves while dealing with a serious illness or injury. Every delay in returning a request for information, every incomplete form, every missed deadline adds months.
Better Claim manages the entire claims process on your behalf:
We confirm your coverage and identify all funds where you may have claims
We compile your medical evidence and liaise directly with your specialists
We complete and lodge all claim forms accurately
We monitor insurer timelines and escalate when delays are unreasonable
We prepare you for any IME and respond to IME reports that conflict with your evidence
We manage denied claims through internal review and AFCA
We keep you informed at every stage so you're never left wondering what's happening
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a simple TPD claim take?
A straightforward claim where the medical evidence is clear, the fund is cooperative, and no IME is requested typically takes three to six months from lodgement to payment. This is the best-case scenario.
What is the longest a TPD claim can take?
There is no absolute maximum. Claims that proceed through internal review and then to AFCA can take two to three years from lodgement to resolution. In rare cases involving court proceedings, longer still. This is the exception, not the norm.
Can I speed up my TPD claim?
The most effective way to accelerate your claim is to ensure your medical evidence is complete and compelling before you lodge. Missing evidence is the most common cause of delay. Having a claims specialist like Better Claim manage your lodgement also reduces back-and-forth with the insurer.
What if my claim has been sitting with the insurer for months with no update?
Write to your super fund requesting a status update in writing. If you receive no substantive response within a reasonable period, or if the explanation for the delay is unsatisfactory, consider lodging an AFCA complaint about the delay itself, separate from the merits of your claim.
Does Better Claim charge anything while my claim is being processed?
No. Better Claim is paid on a no-win, no-fee basis. There are no upfront fees and no ongoing charges during the claims process. Our fee is deducted from your settlement only if your claim succeeds. Your initial eligibility check and assessment are completely free.
What happens to my claim if I start working part-time while it is being assessed?
This can complicate your claim, particularly under an "any occupation" TPD definition. It does not automatically disqualify you, but you should disclose any return to work to Better Claim or your claims specialist so they can assess the impact on your specific policy.
Resources
AFCA: Free dispute resolution for super insurance claims
ASIC MoneySmart: Plain-language super and insurance guides
ATO Super Lookup: Find inactive or lost super accounts
SuperConsumers Australia: Independent super research and advocacy
Financial Rights Legal Centre: Free legal advice for insurance disputes
The Bottom Line
Most TPD claims in Australia take three to twelve months. Some take longer. The length of your claim depends heavily on the quality of your medical evidence, how proactively the process is managed, and whether your insurer disputes the decision.
What you can control is how prepared and well-represented you are. Better Claim manages the entire process, from confirming your coverage to lodging your claim, chasing the insurer, and appealing any denial, on a no-win, no-fee basis.
You should not have to fight your super fund while you're already fighting your health. Let us handle it.
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.
