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Superannuation & Insurance Claims Lawyers

If your ability to work has been impacted by illness, injury or disability, you may be entitled to a lump sum or monthly payment through your superannuation or insurance policy.

If you need help accessing your full insurance benefit, or you’ve had an insurance claim rejected, Shine Lawyers are here to help.

I’m unable to work due to my condition. What are my options?

Most superannuation and insurance providers have policies to protect you if you’re unable to work due to injury, illness or a disability for a minimum of three months.

To find out if you’re able to bring a disability insurance or superannuation claim, the first step is to check your relevant policies and your eligibility.

That’s where Shine’s insurance and superannuation experts can help. Our goal is to ensure you gain access to your full range of benefits as quickly as possible, so you can get your life back on track.


Am I eligible for a payment from my super or insurance policy?

You may have a superannuation or insurance claim if you suffer an injury or illness that has prevented you from working for three months and:

  • Your employer was paying compulsory superannuation
  • You had private income protection or disability insurance
  • A person that you are dependent on, like your partner or parent, dies and you wish to claim death benefits from the deceased’s superannuation or insurance.

If you’re unsure about whether you can claim, complete our free online claim checker or speak to us over the phone on 1800 618 851.

Alternatively, we have answered some frequently asked questions that may provide some guidance below.


How much can I claim for?

The amount you can claim for will depend on your condition and the terms of your insurance policy.

Most policies are designed to help ease the financial burden of being off work and will either come in the form of a lump sum or a monthly payment.

Our team can help you to identify your insurance policy, assess your situation and advise you on the estimated value of your claim.


How much will it cost me to bring a claim?

We work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis for all superannuation and insurance claims, so you’ll only pay our fee if your case is successful.

We are open and honest about what we charge because the last thing you want to stress about is money. You can learn more about our no win no fee* policy here.


How do I get started with my claim?

Claiming through your superannuation or insurance provider can be an unnecessarily lengthy and complicated process, but we’re here to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.

Getting started is easy with our Online Claim Checker - a simple, free tool to help you check whether or not you have a valid claim, and get the claims process started.

iconCheck if you have a claim online.


What can I expect from the claim journey?

Once the validity of your claim has been confirmed, we’ll take the time to explain the claims process to ensure you have an understanding of your rights, and can regain some control through what can be an exceptionally challenging time.

We are committed to working closely with our clients at each step of the claims journey to alleviate the burden of stress and inconvenience.


What types of claims do Shine Lawyers specalise in?

We specialise in disability insurance and superannuation claims, and can help you with:


Shine Lawyers - Superannuation and insurance claims experts

Our team of carefully selected expert insurance and superannuation lawyers have a proven record in obtaining outstanding results for our clients. Our goal is to make the claims process as a simple as possible so you can gain access to your full range of benefits and get your life back on track.

You can learn more about what you can expect from the claims journey by watching our client Dudley’s story:


iconCheck if you have a claim online.


Who is Shine Lawyers’ Superannuation & Disability Insurance Law team?

Shine Lawyers’ Superannuation & Insurance team includes some of the firm’s most experienced special counsel, solicitors and support staff, including law clerks and paralegals. The team includes:

Melissa O'Neill profile
Melissa O'Neill
Natalle Burns profile
Natalle Burns
Michelle Curtis profile
Michelle Curtis
Alicia Howitt profile
Alicia Howitt
Joshua Boyes profile
Joshua Boyes

Common Questions

There are many different types of insurance-related claims available to individuals who have suffered injury or illness and are no longer able to return to work in the same capacity.

It can be hard to know where to start. We always recommend using our online claim checker tool or speaking to one of our superannuation and insurance claims experts over the phone on 1800 618 851 for a quick, obligation-free analysis of your situation to determine your rights and ability to make a claim upfront.

Generally speaking though, there are four types of insurance benefits that you may be able to access depending on your circumstances and the policies by which you are covered.

Total and Permanent Disability (TPD)

If you’re sick or wounded and have been off work for three months or more, then you may be eligible for a TPD insurance benefit. Click to read more about TPD claims.

Income Protection

This is sometimes called Total and Temporary Disability (TTD) or Temporary Salary Continuance (TSC). If you have this type of insurance and can’t work, you may be eligible to receive a monthly benefit for a set period of time that pays up to 75% of your gross income. Click to read more about income protection claims.

Trauma claims

If you have been diagnosed with a defined medical condition or suffer a specific ailment, you may be eligible to receive a lump sum, regardless of whether you can continue to work or not.

Life Insurance or Death Benefit claims

A lump sum will be paid to the nominated person (usually a spouse or child), upon the insured person’s death. Click to read more about death benefit claims.

The requirements for making a claim differ depending on the type of claim you are making.

For TPD claims you need to show that because of the injury or illness, you cannot do your job, and you cannot do any of the other jobs for which you have education, training or experience. You don't need to prove that someone else was at fault.

For Income Protection claims you need to show that you cannot do your job, you are under the care of a doctor, and that you’re not working for a wage or income.

The criteria for claiming benefits differ from policy to policy so it is important that you get legal advice as soon as possible. Access our free online claim checker tool or call us on 1800 618 851 to determine your eligibility to claim.

In the case of insurance and superannuation claims, it’s the insurer who will pay benefits. In some cases, this is through your private life insurer, superannuation fund, employer sickness and accident insurer, and even mortgage and credit card insurers.

Contact us online or over the phone on 1800 618 851 to arrange an obligation-free consultation to assess your case confidentially. Or check your eligibility using our online claim checker tool.

Most working Australians are members of a superannuation fund, and it is very common for funds to provide a level of insurance cover to their members. You may have disability insurance that you’re not aware of.

Even if you don’t have superannuation, you may have your own life insurance policy, or your employer may provide you with some form of accident and sickness policy.

You may also have mortgage insurance that will help you make the repayments if you cannot work.

Our lawyers are experts and can help you find out if you have any disability insurance available, so utilise our online claim checker or contact us today online or over the phone on 1800 618 851.

How much a person can claim very much depends on the type of insurance claim you are making and your particular situation.

Death, total and permanent disability and trauma benefits usually provide you with a lump sum payment, regardless of your wage or salary. These payments are usually income tax-free.

Income protection benefits are based on a percentage of up to 75% of your gross wage for a set period of time. The benefit is subject to income tax. It can also be reduced if you’re receiving WorkCover statutory payments, Centrelink benefits or other insurance benefits at the same time, but not always.

You can usually find the amount of your benefit in your annual member benefit statements or on the schedule that comes with your insurance policy, but a lawyer should be able to let you know as well once they know more about your situation.

Contact us online or over the phone on 1800 618 851 to determine how much you can claim, or use our free online claim checker to arrange a free consultation.

Most insurance benefit claims can take between twelve and eighteen months to be assessed by a fund or insurer. In less complex cases, it’s possible for it to be assessed earlier – it just depends on the nature of your case.

Superannuation funds and insurers don’t always get decisions about your claim right. If a fund or insurer has rejected your claim, you can appeal their decision and they’ll have to undertake a formal review process. If necessary, fresh medical evidence can be submitted in support of your claim at this time.

If your claim is rejected again, there’s still a chance that you can successfully appeal your claim through the Courts.

Time limits apply for various insurance claims so it’s best to seek legal advice as soon as possible. The sooner a claim is lodged, the sooner the fund or insurer will begin assessing your claim, which can lead to a speedier resolution to help you get your life back on track.

There is a six-year time limit to file court proceedings in most cases. Usually, that six-year period commences when a fund or insurer rejects your claim for the first time, but that is not always the case. It’s important to seek accurate and expert legal advice as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected.

There is also a two-year time limit to file a complaint in the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.

When you’re ready, we’ll be more than happy to discuss your circumstances and offer legal advice specific to your situationWhen you’re ready, we’ll be more than happy to discuss your circumstances and offer legal advice specific to your situation. Contact us online or over the phone on 1800 618 851 to arrange an obligation-free consultation, or use our online claim checker tool.

Shine Lawyers work on a No win no fee* basis for all superannuation and insurance claims so you’ll only pay our fee if you win your case at the end of the claim. We are open and honest about what we charge because the last thing you want to stress about is money.

We offer a fixed fee on most superannuation and insurance claims. The amount of legal costs we charge will depend on the amount of work required to resolve your claim.

*Conditions apply

Shine Lawyers are expert insurance and superannuation lawyers that can help you get the benefits you need following your injury or illness. Our experts can provide the right advice for your situation.

Click on the link below for more information about how Shine Lawyers can help.

Why you should choose Shine Lawyers to handle your disability insurance and superannuation claim

Hear from some of our clients

History of Shine Lawyers

The Shine Lawyers team

Shine Lawyers have offices in the following locations. As part of our service offering, home or hospital appointments can be arranged at your convenience.

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