How do I know if I have access to Total and Permanent Disablement Insurance?
Often we are asked whether a claim can be made by workers who have had to cease employment by reason of an injury or illness that may not in fact be work related. As we are all aware, if we are unable to work by reason of an injury at work, we are entitled to recover workers compensation benefits. But there are many instances where a worker has had to cease work by reason of a non—work related injury or illness
Those who have to cease work by reason of an injury or illness that is not work-related may still have available to them an entitlement to claim benefits. These benefits may be found in a total and permanent disablement insurance policy attached to an active superannuation account.
To confirm whether or not you are the beneficiary of a total and permanent disablement insurance policy all active superannuation accounts must be identified. If you are uncertain as to what superannuation accounts you hold, we can assist by lodging a Super Search with the Australian Taxation Office on your behalf.
Once the relevant superannuation accounts have been identified, enquiries are made of the superannuation fund for the purpose of identifying any insurance policies attached to the superannuation account that were in place as at the date you last worked. It is important to obtain a copy of that policy and to review same to see what, if any, benefits may be available to you if in fact you are unable to work by reason of any injury or illness. It is imperative that proper legal advice and representation be retained in this regard. In some cases, these policies can be up to 100 pages in length and legal advice is required to review the document carefully so as to ensure that all and any benefits that may be available to you are claimed. The policy will set out in detail the specific criteria that will need to be satisfied if you intend to make a claim for total and permanent disablement benefits.
Remember, as with all insurance policies, the insurance company is not your friend. They will endeavour to take all and any forensic or tactical decisions to try and avoid payment of any benefits that you may be entitled to.
Brydens Lawyers are experts in the prosecution of total and permanent disablement claims for the purpose of recovering all benefits to entitled claimants. If you have been unable to work by reason of any injury or illness you may be entitled to substantial benefits under a total and permanent disablement policy. If that is you, contact Brydens Lawyers today for expert legal advice and representation in relation to all superannuation and total and permanent disablement claims. Brydens Lawyers #WE DO superannuation and total and permanent disablement claims.