Salary Continuance insurance

Insurance for Salary Continuance is designed to provide a monthly income if you are totally or partially disabled due to illness or injury and unable to work.

You can apply for cover of up to 85% of your monthly pre-disability salary. In the event of a successful claim, 75% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid to us to pay to you and 10% of your monthly pre-disability salary is paid into your superannuation account with us.

There will be a waiting period of either 30, 60 or 90 days and you can choose to receive monthly benefits for two years, to age 60 or to age 65.

A Total Disability benefit may be paid if you are totally disabled for longer than the waiting period. If you have been totally disabled and are subsequently partially disabled, a proportion of the TD benefit may be payable.

Your choice of Waiting Periods

A waiting period is the number of consecutive days you are totally or partially disabled and that must elapse before any Salary Continuance benefit is payable. The waiting period commences on the day a medical practitioner examines you and certifies that you are totally disabled.

legalsuper offers members a choice of three waiting periods: 30, 60 or 90 days. No benefits are payable during the waiting period. The Waiting Period that applies is the waiting period that you have been accepted for. During the waiting period, you can return to work once, for up to five days, without having to start a new waiting period. If this occurs, the days worked will be added to your waiting period.

Benefit period

In your application for cover, you will need to select the Benefit Period that applies to your cover.

The benefit period is the length of time that you may continue to receive a benefit payment if you are totally or partially disabled due to illness or injury and unable to work.

Your benefit period will be determined by the choice you made in your last application for Salary Continuance insurance which was approved.

Members can choose either the standard benefit period or from two optional benefit periods, as outlined below.

1. Standard benefit period

The standard benefit period is a maximum of two years. Benefit payments will not be made beyond age 65.

2. Optional benefit periods

The optional benefit periods have higher premium rates. Members can choose from the following options:

  • - Benefit payable to age 60.
  • - Benefit payable to age 65.

If your benefit period is to age 60 or to age 65, it will be adjusted according to an escalation factor. Twelve months after a Total or Partial Disablement benefit has been continuously paid, your monthly benefit will be increased by the lesser of the annual CPI increase or the nominated escalation factor.

Your adjusted monthly benefit will increase after each 12-month period for which a Total or Partial Disablement benefit is continuously paid to you. Your monthly benefit will not decrease if the percentage change in CPI is negative.

The cost of cover

Salary Continuance insurance can be purchased in units of cover. Each unit of cover provides $100 per month (up to the maximum level of cover available), provided you meet the requirements for the payment of an insured Salary Continuance benefit.

Premiums will be deducted from your account on a monthly basis in arrears. The premium is determined by your gender, age next birthday, the waiting period, the level of cover, and the benefit payment period you have selected.

Applying for additional insurance:

To apply for additional insurance complete a change personal details (Superannuation) form.

Need more help?

Detailed information about legalsuper’s insurance arrangements can be referenced in the Product Disclosure Statement. You can also contact one of our Client Service Managers and visit legalsuper's online calculator here to assess scenarios in relation to your insurance.

Important note

The information on this page is a guide only. Insurance is provided under group insurance polocies taken out by the Trustee for the benefit of members. A copy of the insurance policies are available from legalsuper free of charge upon request. legalsuper's insurer is OnePath Life Limited.