Insurance Specialists Australia
Lump sum for permanent disability

TPD Insurance in Australia

Total & Permanent Disability cover pays a tax-free lump sum if illness or injury permanently stops you working — one of the most important and most overlooked covers for working Australians.

  • Lump sums from $250,000 to $5 million
  • Own Occupation or Any Occupation definitions
  • Can be funded through superannuation
  • Often linked to life cover at reduced premiums
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What is TPD insurance?

TPD (Total & Permanent Disability) insurance pays a tax-free lump sum if illness or injury permanently stops you working, either in your own occupation or any occupation you're suited to. The proceeds can be used for anything you need — clearing the mortgage, paying for ongoing medical care, modifying your home, retraining for a different career, or replacing income lost over the rest of your working life.

We help you understand the difference between Own Occupation TPD (broader definition, paid outside super) and Any Occupation TPD (paid inside super, more restrictive). For many clients, the optimal structure is a split policy — part inside super for affordability, part outside super for definition strength.

What's included

Tax-free lump sum

Paid directly to you so you can cover medical, mortgage and lifestyle costs.

Two definitions

Choose Own Occupation, Any Occupation, or a split structure to balance cost and breadth.

Bundled with life cover

Linking to a life insurance policy typically cuts the combined premium by 15–30%.

Pay through super

Any Occupation TPD can be funded from your superannuation balance.

High sums insured

Cover up to $5 million for higher-earning professionals and business owners.

Indexation built in

Automatic CPI indexation keeps the real value of your cover ahead of inflation.

Who needs TPD insurance?

  • Tradespeople and manual workers exposed to injury risk
  • Professionals whose income depends on specialised skills
  • Sole income earners supporting others
  • Anyone with a mortgage or significant personal debt
  • Business owners with personal guarantees on lending
  • Self-employed Australians without employer disability cover

What it costs

Indicative monthly premiums for $500,000 of TPD cover (Any Occupation, inside super), healthy non-smoker, stepped premiums. Own Occupation cover held outside super costs more but pays on a broader definition.

Good to know: these premiums can be paid from your superannuation balance — so there's no impact on your day-to-day cash flow. You can also choose to pay from your bank account if you prefer. We'll show you both options.
AgeIndicative monthly premium
30$20 – $40 / month
40$45 – $80 / month
50$110 – $200 / month
60$280 – $480 / month
  • • Own Occupation TPD (outside super) typically adds 20–40% to the premium.
  • • Manual or high-risk occupations generally pay more — we help find the right rating for your role.
  • • Linking TPD to life cover usually reduces the combined premium by 15–30%.
  • • Figures are indicative only and not a quote — we'll prepare a personalised comparison at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers from a specialist with 8+ years of experience advising Australians.

Own Occupation TPD pays if you can never work in your specific job again — a broader, more generous definition that's held outside super. Any Occupation TPD pays only if you can't work in any job you're reasonably suited to by training, education or experience — a tighter definition typically held inside super. We often recommend a split policy combining both.

Ready to put cover in place?

Book a free, no-obligation chat. We'll walk you through your options in plain English.

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