An acquired brain injury can change far more than your physical abilities — it can affect memory, concentration, processing speed, communication, behaviour, emotional regulation and fatigue. This guide explains how ABI relates to a TPD claim through your superannuation.
Can result from an external force: motor vehicle accident, workplace accident, a fall, sporting injury or assault.
Can result from internal causes: stroke, lack of oxygen, infection or brain tumour, poisoning or toxic exposure.
Potentially, yes. An acquired brain injury can significantly affect a person's capacity for employment, but there is no universal rule that every ABI diagnosis automatically qualifies for TPD. One person may recover sufficiently to return to their previous employment; another may be physically capable of working but unable to reliably manage the cognitive demands of their occupation.
A person may have no obvious physical disability, normal-looking movement and a normal conversation — while simultaneously experiencing substantial difficulty with memory, concentration, processing speed, planning, decision-making, multitasking, fatigue, emotional regulation and communication. That difference can be highly relevant when assessing work capacity.
Fatigue can be a particularly important issue following ABI — and it isn't necessarily the same as ordinary tiredness. A person may become mentally exhausted after activities that previously seemed routine. "Can I do this?" vs. "Can I do this consistently for the hours, days and weeks required by my occupation?"
A TBI may occur following car accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents, falls, sporting injuries or assaults. Severity and consequences vary enormously.
Stroke can affect movement, strength, balance, speech, memory, concentration and cognitive functioning. See Stroke and TPD Claims →
A car accident can produce a traumatic brain injury as well as other physical injuries. Brain Injury + Spinal Injury + Chronic Pain + Psychological Symptoms may create a very different overall work-capacity picture than considering any one diagnosis separately. See TPD Claims for Multiple Conditions →
Returning to work does not automatically answer whether you can make a claim. See Can I Claim TPD While Working? →
Employment status alone does not determine eligibility. Someone may need frequent breaks, be unable to maintain concentration, or make errors they didn't previously make.
Brain injury can create difficulties that aren't always captured by a basic physical examination. "You look fine" vs. "I cannot process, remember, organise or sustain work in the way I did before the injury."
The cause can be medically important, but TPD insurance is generally concerned with whether the policy's definition of disability is satisfied.
Recovery after ABI can take time — some people may live with effects permanently. Still receiving treatment does not automatically determine whether a TPD claim exists.
You may. Most super funds offer insurance through super, including TPD insurance. It can be worth considering previous employers, previous super funds, and multiple or consolidated accounts.
If you've held multiple super accounts, you may have insurance attached to more than one.
No standard amount — depends on the insurance cover, policy, and when the cover applied.
Read more →An ABI claim may require substantial evidence. A delay doesn't automatically mean rejection.
Read more →Not necessarily the end of the matter — understand why first.
Brain injury does not always occur in isolation. A person may experience ABI alongside back or spinal injuries, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD or other neurological conditions. See TPD Claims for Multiple Conditions →
This can be one of the most important questions in a TPD claim. Some TPD policies assess whether a person can work in another occupation suited to their education, training or experience. "I can't do my old job" does not necessarily mean you automatically qualify — but it also does not mean you definitely don't qualify.
ABI is one of several neurological conditions that can affect a person's capacity for employment.
Guide's Library
20 pages of plain English resource library covering evidence, timeframes, payouts and appeals.
Conditions we help with
TPD claims can arise from many different illnesses and injuries. Explore by category below.
Explore Thrive Claims
Whatever your circumstances, Thrive Claims supports a wide range of claim types across every Australian state and territory.
You do not need to know whether you qualify before asking. Thrive Claims can investigate your circumstances, identify potentially relevant TPD insurance and help you understand your options.
Start Your Free TPD Eligibility Assessment →
You do not need to know whether you qualify before asking. Thrive Claims can investigate your circumstances, identify potentially relevant TPD insurance and help you understand your options.
Start Your Free TPD Eligibility Assessment →If any of this sounds like your situation, a two minute eligibility check will tell you where you stand. Free, confidential, no obligation.