People may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. This condition can have long-term, adverse effects on multiple areas of your life—including your ability to make a living. If you are unable to work due to post-traumatic stress disorder, you may be able to make a PTSD TPD claim. It sounds like alphabet soup, but allow us to explain.
Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) compensation can provide a financial lifeline for people with mental illnesses, including PTSD. Obtaining an entitlement on your own can be difficult. And, if you are experiencing significant mental health symptoms, going through the process alone can feel daunting. That is why it is important to consult TPD Compensation Lawyers as soon as possible.
Get help with your PTSD TPD claim today. For a FREE consultation, call TPD Compensation Lawyers at 03 9966 7188. We serve clients in Melbourne and throughout Victoria.
Can You Claim TPD for PTSD?
When applying for TPD compensation, the cause of your PTSD doesn’t matter. Unlike other benefits schemes, the condition doesn’t need to be related to a particular incident (such as a motor vehicle accident, a workplace accident, military service, etc.) for you to have a TPD claim for PTSD. There is also no need to establish any form of third-party fault or negligence to apply for a TPD benefit.
What does matter is that the PTSD prevents you from working or, in some cases, interferes with your ability to live independently. You need to show that the disorder meets your insurer’s definition of Total and Permanent Disability.
People with PTSD often experience symptoms such as extreme anxiety, hypervigilance, irritability, and intrusive memories of the precipitating incident. These and other issues can severely disrupt your ability to work, making it impossible for you to do your job—or work in any capacity.
If you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to make a PTSD TPD claim. A knowledgeable lawyer can review your insurance through superannuation and other policies and determine your eligibility for Total and Permanent Disability compensation.
Symptoms of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can be debilitating. First observed in combat veterans, we now know that it can affect anybody who experiences something traumatic. This includes survivors of natural disasters, violent crimes, serious road accidents, and more. First responders and frontline workers are at high risk of PTSD due to traumatic experiences on the job. People may also develop PTSD as a result of prolonged physical, mental, and/or sexual abuse.
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are grouped into four categories:
- Reliving the trauma
- Anxiety when recalling the traumatic event
- Vivid memories or flashbacks
- Nightmares and other sleep disturbances
- Elevated heart rate, trouble breathing, excess sweating, and other physical symptoms
- Panic attacks
- Avoidance
- Refusal to talk about the traumatic event
- Avoiding places, objects, and even people associated with the trauma
- Changes in mood and thinking
- Guilt or shame, even if you didn’t cause the trauma
- Feelings of numbness, anger, and/or depression
- Difficulty remembering details of the traumatic event
- Loss of pleasure in favourite activities
- Emotional disengagement
- Hypervigilance and increased reactivity
- Heightened sense of alertness
- Constant checking of surroundings for possible danger
- Being jumpy or easy to startle
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in behaviour, such as irritability or aggressiveness
- Impulse control issues and self-destructive tendencies
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may not become apparent for several months after the initial trauma. Some people are able to recover from PTSD, whilst others may struggle with it for years or even the rest of their lives.
Help is available for those with PTSD. Beyond Blue offers support and free resources for individuals who are struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.
How to Make a TPD Claim for PTSD
The first thing you should do after any traumatic incident is to seek medical attention. While recovering from any physical injuries you suffered, it is important to be aware of how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. Healthdirect recommends speaking to a doctor if PTSD-like symptoms (see above) affect your job, schoolwork, or day-to-day functioning for more than 2 weeks after a trauma.
If you have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, obtaining support is crucial. This not only includes professional help and support from family and friends, but a full understanding of any financial assistance that may be available.
People with PTSD and other mental health issues often struggle to get a disability support pension through Centrelink. Fortunately, you may be able to turn to your super fund and other insurance cover to make a PTSD TPD claim. The steps in this process include:
1. Seek Legal Advice
A qualified lawyer can review the insurance policies you have. Many Aussies do not know that they have Total and Permanent Disability cover through their superannuation insurance. TPD Compensation Lawyers offer a FREE claim check, during which we assess the available insurance and identify any entitlements you may have. If you have multiple superannuation accounts, you may have multiple TPD policies, which might have different eligibility criteria. It is important that this be explored fully and explained clearly from the outset.
2. Determine Eligibility
TPD insurance generally provides cover for physical or psychological conditions that cause you to cease work. Insurers love to hide seemingly simple concepts behind thick walls of jargon. A full review of your policy and other paperwork by experienced legal professionals will reveal the definition of Total and Permanent Disability used by the insurer, as well as your eligibility.
3. Get Medical Assessments
You’ve likely met with multiple doctors for treatment of traumatic injuries, as well as PTSD and other psychological consequences. A TPD claims lawyer can advise you of any additional medical assessments you may need to undergo, as well as help you organise your medical records and other evidence.
4. Complete the Application
The insurance company isn’t going to just give you the TPD entitlement you deserve. Your application needs to fully convey the serious effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on your employment. People who try to apply on their own are likely to make mistakes or leave out important information, which is why you should entrust the matter to a lawyer skilled in the claims process.
5. Review the Decision
If your application is accepted, the TPD benefit will be paid as a one-off lump sum. You have the right to appeal a claim if it is rejected. An adverse decision may seem like a setback when you are already dealing with the physical, mental, and financial challenges of PTSD. All is not necessarily lost, however, as your lawyer may be able to draw on their expertise to persuade the insurer to reconsider.
Obtaining a TPD entitlement for a mental health condition is not easy. Legal guidance is essential for getting your PTSD TPD claim accepted and maximising your payout.
Can’t Work Due to PTSD? TPD Compensation Lawyers Can Help
Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect your daily routine, relationships with family and friends, and working ability. You may find it difficult to concentrate on work tasks, interact with co-workers and customers, and even feel safe in the workplace. Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and memories, and nightmares can leave you physically and mentally exhausted, making it hard or even impossible for you to work as you once did.
TPD Compensation Lawyers are here to listen, offer support, and help you make a successful TPD claim for PTSD if you qualify. With our No Win No Fee agreement, you pay no upfront costs and only have to pay a fee if we are successful.
Contact TPD Compensation Lawyers Today
Do not try to make a PTSD TPD claim without expert help. We understand how insurance companies and the claims process work, and we can provide you with exceptional representation from start to finish.
If you or someone you love is unable to work due to post-traumatic stress disorder, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. TPD Compensation Lawyers handle mental health TPD claims for clients throughout Victoria from our office in Melbourne.