Basic living expenses will not stop should you lose your ability to work due to disability – that’s just a sad reality of life. Having your TPD claim approved will be vital as it can support you financially during these challenging times. In this article, we will help you to decide whether you should work with a lawyer or not.
Do you need a lawyer to make a TPD claim?
The quick answer is, No. Filing for a TPD claim can be done individually without any help. However, with all the documents needed and medical evidence to support your claim, it would help smoothen the application process when working with a lawyer or a financial adviser. While a lawyer may be able to represent you in court should it be needed, you should speak with both a financial adviser and a lawyer before proceeding to better understand your options as the approaches taken will be quite different.
How can you make a claim without a lawyer?
Independently filing a claim and being granted with approval is not impossible, however, one must be prepared for the daunting task of the claim process.
The TPD claim process may include going back and forth with the medical establishments and medical physicians to gather all the medical supporting documents related to the disability, preparing the application form and supporting letter, and then to a series of follow-ups and negotiations with the insurer.
Patience and persistence are the keys to getting approval when filing independently for a TPD claim. The whole process may take months to be approved and could take longer based on the complexity of the case and how fast you can satisfy all the requirements of the insurer.
What can you claim for?
Individuals filing a TPD claim can receive a lump sum amount that can support their basic living expenses during financial challenges caused by a disability preventing them from making an income.
The TPD payouts can be used in multiple ways such as financial support for the family, buying accident-related equipment, home renovations to help the disabled, ongoing medical maintenance, and therapies.
The steps needed to make a claim
Filing a TPD claim on your own is not impossible. Below is our quick guide on how you can process your TPD claim without any professional help.
- Identifying and checking policies – Most Australians have multiple super funds acquired from all the years they have been working resulting in multiple TPD insurance policies. Compile a list of your policies and check if the coverages are still valid at the time of your claim.
- Gathering medical evidence – Documenting all the medical records, medical tests, statements from physicians and other relevant documents would be vital in the application.
- Contacting your insurer – Obtain the necessary application form from your superannuation fund or insurer.
- Filling out the application – Completing the application form is crucial. Detailing your work experience and work history and as to why you are unable to return to work is important in the insurer’s approval process.
- Attaching a supporting letter – An overlooked stage in the application process is a written supporting letter that clearly states your current disability condition that satisfies the TPD claim terms. Insurers take applications that have supporting letters more seriously.
- Following up with the insurer – Proactively following up with the insurers that you have satisfied all their requirements will result in a more prompt response.
What if you want to hire a lawyer or a financial adviser?
To help you decide on whether it is best for you to process a TPD claim on your own or hire a lawyer, we have a list of Pros and Cons for you to consider.
Pros
- Relationships – This is where a financial adviser can be of particular benefit as opposed to a lawyer. A financial adviser who specialises in insurance should have executive-level relationships with insurers that can be used as a point of escalation for complex claims. For example, at Curo, we pride ourselves on maintaining relationships with senior members of claims teams at insurance companies so that we are able to go beyond the call centre that handles the query. Typically, a lawyer would be confined to the traditional points of escalation, much like an individual, which can result in a drawn-out and exhausting process.
- Expertise – You can take advantage of the lawyer or financial adviser’s expertise when filing a TPD claim. Understanding the claims process intimately, as well as having an understanding of what the insurer is looking to determine is at the heart of an efficient claim.
- Experienced Negotiator – Due to experience, lawyers and financial advisers have experience in and tend to be better at negotiating settlements with insurers.
- Organised with Paperwork – Lawyers and financial advisers are organised in handling documents and are keen on the details that might affect your claim application.
- Medical Evidence – Lawyers and financial advisers can assist you in compiling the necessary medical supporting documents.
- Submission and Appeal – During submission, lawyers or financial advisers can compile all the documents that are more compelling to the insurers. And in case of a rejected claim, lawyers can provide you with the steps on how to process an appeal.
Cons
- Legal Fees – While some lawyers offer flexibility with their fees, hiring a lawyer to help you means paying them professional fees whether the claim is successful or not. You can check our article on how much lawyers charge for TPD claims. It is important to do your research as you may find that a financial adviser can deliver you a highly efficient outcome for a far lower fee
- Misunderstandings – There are cases of miscommunications between the insured and the lawyer which may lead to misunderstandings causing delays in the application process.
- Loss of personal touch – In some cases, there are lawyers who takes the process into their own hands making the application less personalised resulting in the rejection of claims.
While you might be leaning toward filing a TPD claim on your own and hiring a lawyer is not an option for you, you might want to check our TPD claims experts first. Our team has been helping hundreds of Australians to file a TPD claim. We specialise in turning unfair claims into favorable settlements. Reach out to us today and let us help you. Click here.
How Curo can help streamline your TPD claim process
As you may have already realised, lodging a TPD claim can be an overwhelming task, and getting the application process right is crucial in obtaining the insurer’s approval.
Our team at Curo Financial Services will help you navigate the complex process of filing a claim. Our TPD claims experts will closely work with you in every step. From checking your policies to gathering all the documents, filling out the application form, writing a support letter, and we will tirelessly follow up with the insurers for approval.
Our services include:
- Tailored and expert TPD advice: Whether having one or multiple TPD insurance policies, you can benefit from our expertise on how to go about your TPD claim.
- Documentation: From obtaining the application form from your insurer to gathering all the medical supporting documents, we will help you.
- Preparation of application form and support letter: Our team of experts will guide you in completing the application form and preparing the support letter.
- Working with the insurer: We will consistently follow up and negotiate with the insurers for a settlement.
- Financial advice on TPD payout: Another service that our team can expertly provide is financial advice on your TPD payout. Once your claim is approved, the taxes and how they will impact your Centrelink payments are another problem. Our team can give you financial advice on this.
Not sure how to start your claims process? Get in touch with our team today and we will assess your situation. Send us a message here.
Our success stories
We take pride in giving our best to our clients. Below are some of the client feedback we have received.
“I was referred to ‘Curo Financial Services’ by my Accountant when I needed to make a claim for TPD. From the start Brent Satill and the team managed my claim through the process and simply made it straightforward for me. I could not recommend Brent enough and the team for what they achieved for me and my family. It has been a life changing event. Brent was always a true professional, thorough and sensitive about how I felt and was always giving me updates on the progress of the claim. But the thing that struck me the most about Brent was he is such a good listener and made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered during it all.” – G. Ireland
“We dealt with Brent and he was an absolute pleasure to work with. He supported us in a very caring compassionate way at a time where we were very stressed. Brent went above and beyond and his customer service was impeccable. Thank you for making a difficult time seem not so difficult.” – J. Fitzgerald
“I found service received from Curo Financial Services professional and stress free. Communication was easy with regular updates. A positive outcome was achieved to an insurance claim. Highly recommended.” – V. Reed
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a lawyer for a TPD claim?
Hiring a lawyer is not necessary when filing for a TPD claim. If you’re confident that you can satisfy all the claim requirements, you can save on professional fees. Also, Financial Advisors that specialises in TPD claims such as Curo Financial Services can help you in filing for a TPD claim. Aside from filing a claim, we can provide you with financial advice on what to do once you receive your TPD payout.
Why do TPD claims get rejected?
Most TPD claims are rejected because of the lack of medical evidence and clear supporting information that is required to show that you meet, the often copious requirements, that the insurer sets out.
Is it hard to get a TPD payout?
A TPD claim will be approved once an individual follows the process of filing for a TPD claim and has satisfied all the necessary requirements. However, the intricacies of the process vary differently from person to person which is why working with a professional such as Curo Financial will get you a higher chance of approval.
Can you do your own TPD claim?
Yes, there are no strict rules that prevent individuals from independently filing for a TPD claim. However, the process of filing might be too daunting for an average person, and enlisting the help of an experienced adviser can help take stress off your plate, allowing you to focus on your health and well-being.
General Advice Disclaimer: The advice provided is general advice only and in preparing it we did not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you should consider how appropriate the advice is to your particular investment needs, and objectives. You should also consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision relating to a financial product.
