The headline answer
From the day you first contact your super fund to the day funds hit your bank account, most Australian TPD claims take 6 to 12 months. The fastest realistic timeline is 3 to 4 months. The slowest, including any AFCA dispute, can stretch beyond 24 months.
Month-by-month: a realistic TPD timeline
| Month | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Month 0 – 1 | You notify your super fund. They send claim forms and authorities. You complete forms and arrange initial medical reports. |
| Month 1 – 3 | Treating doctor and specialist reports come back (the slowest single step, especially for psychiatry). Forms are lodged. |
| Month 3 – 4 | Insurer reviews initial pack. May request: additional reports, employer statement, payroll records, social media review, or an Independent Medical Examination (IME). |
| Month 4 – 7 | IME (if requested) booked, attended, report received. Insurer analyses against policy definition. |
| Month 7 – 9 | Insurer's recommendation goes to the super fund trustee. The trustee independently considers and accepts or queries. |
| Month 9 – 10 | If approved: condition of release evidence to the trustee, payout processed (typically 4 to 8 weeks from approval). |
| Month 10 – 12+ | If declined: internal review (45 days), then AFCA if required (6 to 12 months at AFCA). |
When claims resolve fast (3 – 5 months)
Claims that move quickly share these features:
- Single, well-documented physical condition (e.g. cancer diagnosis with clear medical history)
- Long-standing relationship with treating GP and specialist who provide thorough reports first time
- Cover amount under $500,000 (insurers escalate higher-value claims to senior assessors, adding time)
- "Own Occupation" definition rather than "Any Occupation"
- Clear, undisputed date of stopping work
What causes the worst delays
Independent medical examinations (IMEs)
IMEs add 2 to 4 months. The insurer books the appointment, you attend, the IME report is drafted and reviewed, the insurer assesses. Mental health IMEs in particular often face long booking waitlists.
Surveillance and social media checks
Adds 1 to 3 months. Insurers commission surveillance for higher-value claims and for any claim where activity inconsistent with the disability is suspected.
Disputes over the date you stopped work
Insurers will sometimes challenge whether you "really" stopped work on the date claimed — particularly if you tried returns to work or worked reduced hours. Resolving this with payroll evidence and statements adds 2 to 4 months.
Pre-existing condition exclusions
If your policy has a pre-existing condition exclusion and the insurer thinks your condition predates your insurance, expect 3 to 6 months of additional medical-history review.
Multiple insurers within the same fund
Some funds have changed insurers over time, meaning different policy periods have different insurers. Coordinating across them adds time.
What you can do to speed it up
- Front-load the evidence. Lodge with all reports and statements ready, not in dribs and drabs.
- Get a "TPD-style" report from your treating specialist. Specialist reports framed for an insurer (addressing the policy definition, not just clinical findings) are dramatically more useful.
- Keep a treatment diary. Dates, providers, restrictions. Insurers love consistent contemporaneous records.
- Respond to insurer requests within 14 days. Slow responses get parked at the bottom of the assessor's pile.
- Use a lawyer for higher-value claims. Above $300,000 in cover, the time saved usually outweighs the legal fee.
If your claim goes to AFCA
AFCA is the free external dispute resolution body. Once a claim goes to AFCA, expect:
- Months 1 – 2: case officer assigned, parties exchange submissions
- Months 2 – 6: conciliation phase — most claims resolve here
- Months 6 – 12: if no conciliation, formal determination
- Outcome: AFCA determinations are binding on the insurer up to $1,201,000 (current limit). You can reject and pursue in court.
See AFCA's own published timeframes for current data.
Get your claim started today The clock starts when you lodge — no fees unless you win →