Cardiomyopathy and work
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle that can affect how effectively the heart pumps and functions. Depending on the type and severity of cardiomyopathy, symptoms may include fatigue, breathlessness, dizziness, chest discomfort and reduced tolerance for physical activity, which can affect a person's ability to perform their usual work. If cardiomyopathy has significantly affected your capacity to work, you may have access to a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance benefit through your superannuation.
Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions affecting the heart muscle. There are different forms, including hypertrophic, dilated and restrictive cardiomyopathy, each affecting the structure and function of the heart differently. Some forms may be inherited, while others can have different causes or no clearly identified cause at all.
For some people, cardiomyopathy can be managed with treatment. For others, it can significantly limit physical activity and employment. A diagnosis alone doesn't automatically establish a TPD claim; what matters is how the condition affects your ability to work and whether you satisfy your policy's definition.
Work capacity
Symptoms can vary significantly and may include:
Wei was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in his 30s, well before most people expect heart problems. His insurer questioned whether such a young claimant could genuinely be unable to work. Thrive Claims coordinated cardiology evidence linking his condition to his actual job demands, and his claim succeeded.
Some people may have few or no obvious symptoms, particularly in earlier stages, which can make an early diagnosis genuinely difficult to reconcile with the idea of an insurance claim later on.
The effects can become particularly important where employment requires physical exertion. You may have difficulty with sustained physical activity, lifting or manual tasks, working in hot or physically demanding environments, maintaining energy across a full shift, or recovering adequately between working days. For roles that are less physically demanding, fatigue, breathlessness and reduced exercise tolerance can still genuinely interfere with concentration, attendance and the ability to sustain a normal working week, even where the job itself doesn't look physically strenuous on paper.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves thickening of the heart muscle and can sometimes carry a risk of arrhythmia, which may affect suitability for certain safety-critical or physically demanding roles. Dilated cardiomyopathy involves the heart chambers enlarging and weakening, often reducing the heart's pumping efficiency and leading to fatigue and breathlessness that can worsen over time. Restrictive cardiomyopathy, the least common form, makes the heart muscle stiff and less able to fill properly between beats. Because these types can progress and respond to treatment so differently, it's worth making sure your medical evidence clearly identifies which form you have and how it's specifically affecting you, rather than treating cardiomyopathy as a single, uniform condition.
Some forms of cardiomyopathy run in families and may be identified through genetic testing, sometimes before symptoms even appear, particularly where a close relative has been diagnosed. Being identified as a carrier or having a genetic predisposition doesn't automatically mean you currently have functional limitations, but ongoing monitoring, lifestyle restrictions or preventive treatment recommended by your cardiologist can still be genuinely relevant context for a TPD assessment, especially if your condition later progresses.
Depending on the type and severity of cardiomyopathy, treatment can include medication, lifestyle changes, regular monitoring and, for some people, an implanted device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, or in more severe cases, surgery. Living with an implanted cardiac device can bring its own practical considerations for work, including activity restrictions, monitoring appointments, and in some roles, exposure to equipment or environments that need to be carefully managed around the device. None of this automatically determines eligibility, but it forms part of the overall picture insurers will look at.
Continuing to work doesn't automatically rule out a TPD claim. Some people manage for a period with reduced hours, modified duties, or by avoiding physically demanding tasks, before finding the condition genuinely limits their ability to sustain employment. Whether this is relevant depends on your policy and individual circumstances, not simply whether you're still on the payroll. See Can I Claim TPD While Working? →
Evidence may include cardiologist reports, echocardiogram and other imaging results, exercise tolerance testing, treatment and medication history, and employment records showing how your condition has actually affected your work over time. See TPD Medical Evidence →
If cardiomyopathy has significantly affected your ability to work, Thrive Claims can investigate whether you have TPD insurance through your superannuation and guide you through the claims process. You don't need to work out your eligibility before speaking with us.
Questions, answered
Straight answers about cardiomyopathy, work capacity and TPD claims, written in plain English.
Cardiomyopathy can cause breathlessness, palpitations and fatigue that limit physical exertion and long working hours, and TPD claims may be worth reviewing. Our superannuation claims support helps clarify the cover attached to your fund. An income protection claim may also be relevant, and if you hold more than one account, claims through multiple superannuation funds may apply. Our services bring the options together.
Cardiomyopathy may be inherited, follow a viral infection, or relate to alcohol, pregnancy or other heart conditions. TPD focuses on your policy and capacity to work rather than how it began. Claims involve physical injury or illness, and can include mental health injury or illness such as anxiety about cardiac events.
If cardiomyopathy contributes to receiving the Disability Support Pension or support as an NDIS participant, your super insurance may still be worth reviewing. That support does not automatically establish Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) claims eligibility, but it may have valid basis. If a motor vehicle accident is also part of your circumstances, Thrive Claims can help clarify your options.
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