How does TPD insurance differ from other types of insurance cover?

TPD insurance is distinctly different from other insurance types in several key ways. Unlike life insurance which only pays upon death, TPD provides benefits while you're still alive but permanently disabled. Income protection insurance provides temporary income replacement (usually up to 75% of salary) while you're unable to work, typically for a maximum of 2-5 years, whereas TPD is a one-time lump sum for permanent disability. Trauma insurance pays for diagnosis of specific critical illnesses like cancer or heart attack, regardless of your ability to work, while TPD specifically requires proof you cannot work permanently. Workers' compensation covers workplace injuries only, while TPD covers disabilities from any cause. TPD insurance can also be 'attached' or 'linked' to life insurance, meaning if you claim TPD, your life cover may reduce by the same amount or cease entirely.