Make a claim
You can make an Income Protection claim through your online account.
Make an Income Protection claimincome protection cover with HESTA
If illness or injury stops you from working, Income Protection Cover can replace some of your income. This can help you focus on getting better without the added financial stress.
what is income protection cover?
Income Protection (IP) Cover provides a regular monthly payment, called a benefit, if you’re ill or injured and can’t work. It’s designed to help you and your family cover ongoing living costs.
Other types of cover, like Death or Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD), usually pay a lump sum. IP Cover is different. It replaces part of your income for a set period if you can’t work.
You can generally receive a benefit whether you can’t work at all, or you can only work reduced hours or duties.
Paying for IP Cover
Fees for your cover are automatically deducted from your account balance. To keep your IP Cover active, you'll need enough money in your HESTA Super account to pay your insurance fees.
Keeping your HESTA Super account active
Your HESTA Super account needs to be active to maintain your insurance cover. Your account becomes "inactive" if no money goes into it for 16 months in a row. This includes regular payments and money moved in from other super accounts.
If your account becomes inactive, insurance cover will stop, and your account balance may be transferred to the ATO if it’s less than $6000.
You can let us know you want to keep your insurance by:
- Logging in to your online account
- Going to the ‘My Profile’ section under ‘Permissions’, and selecting ‘Please keep my insurance cover if I become inactive’
Alternatively, you can let us know in your application form in the HESTA Super PDS (PDF).
How it's paid
Monthly income payments – paid directly to you - if you’re certified unable to work due to illness or injury.
Cover period
Payments for up to 2 years, 5 years, to age 60 or to age 67, depending on your cover.
Payment amount
Monthly benefit capped at 85% of your Pre-Disability Income - up to a maximum of $25,000 (per month).
Flexibility to choose
Choose your waiting period, benefit payment period, and the age when your cover ends.
Waiting period
90 days, unless you apply to reduce it to 30 or 60 days.
Parental leave waiver
If you take employer-approved parental leave, insurance fees can be waived for 12 months. If your baby is born early (before 37 weeks), this waiver period doubles to 24 months.
eligibility for IP cover
To be eligible for IP Cover, you generally need to:
- be a HESTA member
- be at least 15, and under 67 years of age
- not have received a TPD or terminal illness benefit under any insurance policy before.
Eligible members automatically get a basic level of IP Cover as part of their Default Cover.
What is a "unit" of cover?
HESTA insurance is measured in units. Each unit represents a set amount of cover. How much each unit is worth in dollars depends on your age and the type of cover. The more units you have, the higher your benefit.
What is Default Cover?
Default Cover is the basic level of cover you get automatically. You don't need to apply or choose anything — as long as you're eligible and haven't opted out.
You have Default Cover (including 2 units of Death Cover and 2 units of IP Cover) if:
- you're 25 years of age or over when cover begins
- you have a balance of at least $6,000 in your HESTA Super account, and
- you’re receiving employer Super Guarantee (SG) contributions.
If you want your cover to start sooner, you can you can ask for it when you join.
New Events Cover
New Events Cover may apply when your cover first starts or restarts. This means you’re only covered for illnesses or injuries that first occur after your cover began.
Anytime Voluntary Cover offer
You can apply for, or increase, your existing Death and IP Cover. You can have up to 6 units for Death Cover and up to 12 units for IP Cover. Cover you already hold counts towards these limits. You can apply to increase one type of cover, or both.
If you apply for or increase your IP cover, you'll also need to choose:
- your Benefit Payment Period - 2 years or 5 years
- your Waiting Period - 60 or 90 days
- your Cover Expiry Age - 60 or 67
You can find out more about Default Cover, New Events Cover, and the Anytime Voluntary Cover offer in Insurance Options (PDF).
calculate your insurance needs
Use the insurance cover calculator to find out how much insurance you might need. This handy tool compares your current cover to what you might need. It covers Death, TPD, and IP Cover.
Check your cover
Not sure what insurance cover you have? You can check by logging in to your online account, and clicking on the Insurance tab.
Change your cover
You can apply to change your IP Cover online any time if it doesn’t suit you. You can reduce your cover, apply to increase your cover, or cancel your cover online. You can also change your benefit payment period, waiting period and cover expiry age.*
Transfer your cover
You may be able to move your existing IP Cover with another super fund to HESTA without full health checks.* Any existing exclusions or restrictions will still apply.
Wait until your insurance transfer is approved before cancelling your existing cover, to avoid a period without cover.
You can apply by filling out the Insurance transfer form and returning it to us.
Supported workers
A supported worker is a person with a disability, brain injury, or similar condition. Their employer gives them extra help to do their tasks.
When super contributions are low, insurance fees can affect your balance. Supported workers, or their Power of Attorney, can reduce or cancel cover using the Supported workers insurance alterations form.
the importance of nominating a beneficiary
Your super isn’t automatically included in your estate, even if you have a Will. Having a valid non-lapsing binding or binding beneficiary nomination in place when you die means we’ll pay your super as you’ve requested.
Speak to a super expert
Our super consultants are ready to talk to you over the phone or in person to help you understand your insurance needs.
Make a time to talk
Insurance options guide
Find out more about your cover options and how to apply.
Insurance options (PDF)* Subject to the insurer’s approval