What Do I Do If I Have a Mental Health Condition and Can’t Work?
Mental health is a serious issue, with conditions such as anxiety and depression affecting up to 10.7% of the world’s population. If you have a mental health condition that makes it impossible for you to work, your first step is to get a professional diagnosis. Speak to your GP about your experiences and ask for a referral to a specialist who can help you determine the specific condition that causes your symptoms.
If your mental health condition resulted from your work, you may be able to claim worker’s compensation. For example, witnessing a traumatic event could lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If your PTSD is so debilitating that it necessitates time off work, you may have grounds for a claim. Furthermore, any mental health condition that leaves you completely unable to work may be grounds to make a total and permanent disability (TPD) claim.
Can TPD Claims be Related to Mental Illness or Mental Health Difficulties?
They can in certain circumstances.
To make a TPD claim related to mental illness, you must have sought and currently be receiving treatment from a qualified medical professional. Insurance companies won’t accept a self-diagnosis. If you’re working with a GP, psychiatrist, or psychologist, you can provide professional evidence that you have grounds to make a claim.
As mentioned above, always start by speaking to your GP. Those in rural areas, as well as people with limited incomes, may find it difficult to work with a psychiatrist or psychologist. But having a supportive GP in your corner makes it more likely that your TPD claim related to mental illness will succeed.
It’s also worth noting that those experiencing mental health issues may find the TPD claim difficult to work through. This is especially the case if an insurer contests the claim or if the claim is delayed for any reason. In addition to seeking advice from a licensed mental health professional, it may also be worth speaking to an attorney. Receiving appropriate legal advice before you begin your claim may help you avoid pitfalls and make the process smoother.
What Types of Mental Health Conditions Can Be Covered by TPD?
If a mental health condition prevents you from working, it is likely covered by TPD insurance. The following are some of the most common mental health conditions that serve as grounds for a claim.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a complex condition that covers a wide range of symptoms:
- General fear and uneasiness
- A constant focus on the worst-case scenario
- Worrying about real or perceived threats to your wellbeing
These mental symptoms can compound, combine, or be experienced in isolation. Furthermore, they often lead to the manifestation of physical symptoms, including panic, stomach aches, sleeping problems, and a pounding heartbeat. One of the key challenges with anxiety is that it creates a near-constant state of dread, which can make it impossible to focus on work.
Depression
Though depression often results from anxiety, it can also be experienced in isolation. Depression results in the sufferer experiencing intense negative emotions, such as despair, apathy, sadness, and anger. These emotions are chronic to the point where they dominate the sufferer’s thoughts.
The negative emotions associated with depression manifest into potentially harmful behaviour. Those with the condition may feel guilt because they believe their emotions are a burden to others. They may also struggle with a lack of motivation, in addition to relying heavily on coping mechanisms, such as alcohol or drugs. In the worst cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and urges.
PTSD
As previously highlighted, PTSD occurs when an individual witnesses, or is involved in, a traumatic event. The condition covers a wide range of stress reactions and mental illnesses, which can include anxiety and depression, which are often triggered by things that remind the sufferer of the traumatic event.
In addition to feelings of anger, fear, and grief, PTSD can also cause nightmares and flashbacks of the events that caused the condition.
PTSD is a difficult condition because it can last for months, years, or even indefinitely.
Other Mental Illnesses
Beyond the above three mental illnesses, TPD claims can often be made for other debilitating conditions, including:
- Schizophrenia
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bi-polar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Severe panic attacks
In all cases, the insurance company will consider your capacity to work when examining your claim. If your mental health issue forces you to stop working entirely, there’s a high probability that you can make a TPD claim.
How to Make a Mental Health TPD Claim
The steps for making a TPD claim related to mental illness vary depending on your insurance provider and the nature of your condition. However, most insurers will ask you to complete a claims form and provide details about your work experience, education, and financial records. The form may ask you to provide details about your superannuation fund too. In these cases, you must contact whatever individual or company that oversees your superannuation fund to acquire the relevant details.
The insurer will also want to see strong supporting evidence that your condition is preventing you from working. Sadly, many carriers dispute TPD claims for mental illness if they believe there is a lack of evidence. Written testimonies from GPs, psychiatrists, and psychologists are useful. So too are any official diagnoses. Evidence that you’re receiving treatment for the condition is beneficial as well.
Upon receipt of your evidence, the insurer carries out an assessment on your claim. As long as you have filled out your application fully and provided appropriate documentation, the insurer should approve your claim. However, you may face a dispute if the insurer doesn’t believe you’ve provided enough evidence.
Though many TPD claims for mental illness are disputed, there is some good news. Case studies demonstrate that about 91% of these claims are accepted. To ensure your claim is part of that figure, gather appropriate evidence and work with an attorney who can provide advice when you’re filling out your claim form.
General Advice Disclaimer
General advice warning: The advice provided is general advice only and in preparing it we did not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you should consider how appropriate the advice is to your particular investment needs, and objectives. You should also consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision relating to a financial product.
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