What happens if my TPD claim is rejected?

A rejected TPD claim is not the end - you have several appeal options available. First, carefully review the rejection letter to understand the specific reasons for denial - common reasons include insufficient medical evidence, failure to meet the policy definition, undisclosed pre-existing conditions, or policy exclusions. Your first step is lodging a complaint with the insurer's Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) team, requesting a formal review of the decision. Provide additional medical evidence or arguments addressing the rejection reasons. The insurer has 45 days to respond to IDR complaints for superannuation-based disability claims. If the internal review fails or you're dissatisfied with the outcome, escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which provides free, independent review of insurance disputes. AFCA can make binding decisions up to certain monetary limits and has powers to overturn insurer decisions. Alternatively, you can pursue legal action through courts, though this is more expensive and time-consuming. Many claimants engage specialist TPD lawyers who work on a no-win-no-fee basis. These lawyers can obtain more comprehensive medical reports, identify weaknesses in the insurer's rejection reasoning, and navigate the appeals process. Statistics show that many rejected claims are eventually paid after proper appeals.