Income Protection

Income Protection insurance provides a monthly income payment of up to 85% of your salary, subject to a maximum amount of $20,000 per month, for up to two years if you are unable to work. The first 75% will be paid directly to you, with any additional benefit of up to 10% paid to your AustralianSuper account.

Automatic Acceptance Limits
Occupational rating
Waiting periods 
The cost of cover
Income Protection calculator
Insurance Guide

Automatic Acceptance Limits

You are allowed to apply for Income Protection insurance up to a certain level without having to provide specific information about your health subject to meeting eligibility conditions.

These amounts, referred to as Automatic Acceptance Limits (AALs), are based on your occupational rating. The table below shows the AALs applicable to each occupational rating.

If your salary is greater than the amounts shown for your occupational rating, you can apply to increase your Income Protection Insurance Cover by completing an Application to vary insurance cover form and Personal Statement contained in the Insurance Guide.

Cover is provided subject to acceptance by the insurer. Contact us for a copy or download it from our website.

The Automatic Acceptance Limits are not applicable to members of the Personal Plan as all cover is subject to approval by the insurer.

Your occupational rating

You may be eligible for lower premiums for Income Protection cover if your occupation can be classified as Low Risk or Professional. You may be eligible for these rates if you work primarily in an office environment and perform no manual work.

Complete the following Insurance Wizard to work out if you are eligible to apply for Low Risk or Professional rates.

Start Wizard

If you did not make a choice when you became a member, your occupational rating will be Standard. You may, however, apply to change your occupational rating at any time after this date by completing the Application to Change Occupational Rating form. Contact us on 1300 300 273 for a copy or download it here.

Waiting periods

The waiting period is the period of consecutive days that you are totally disabled and that must elapse before your Income Protection benefit becomes payable. You must be totally disabled for at least 14 of the first consecutive 19 days of the waiting period to qualify for a benefit. The waiting period commences on the day a medical practitioner examines you and certifies that you are totally disabled.

AustralianSuper members can choose to have their waiting period be either 30 or 90 days. If you do not make a choice, you will be automatically provided with a 30 day waiting period.

After your claim has been accepted, benefits will be paid monthly in arrears and will start from the end of the waiting period. No benefit is payable during the waiting period. Payment of your benefit is subject to you meeting insurance policy requirements and may be reduced if you receive other payments or income. Please refer to the Insurance Guide for further details.

The cost of cover

The cost of cover depends on your age, the waiting period you choose and your occupational rating (Standard, Low Risk or Professional).

The following table shows the premium cost per week for a $500 monthly benefit (equivalent to 1 unit) for 30 and 90 day waiting periods.

Income Protection – weekly premium rates scale 

Income Protection salary scale

Income Protection insurance calculator

Start Income Protection calculator

Want to know more?

For further information about the insurance cover available to AustralianSuper members or to apply to increase your insurance cover, download a copy of the Insurance Guide.