Multiple sclerosis ( MS for short), is a chronic and progressive illness that affects the nervous system. It can be debilitating to a person’s health over time, affecting the spinal cord, the brain and the optic nerves.
Many people who have been diagnosed with MS are entitled to total and permanent disability (TPD) benefits and income protection through their superannuation due to being unable to work in the career they are trained in. If you have been recently diagnosed with MS and your symptoms have prevented you from working, you may be able to access total and permanent benefits in your super fund.
How MS May Affect You
Multiple sclerosis (MS) falls into three different sub-categories: relapsing-remitting MS, primary progressing MS, and secondary progressive MS. The condition is so wide-ranging that no two people experience the exact same symptoms.
You may get a diagnosis of a form of multiple sclerosis that only flares up once or twice throughout your entire life. Equally, other people may get multiple flare-ups that cause disability and prevent them from being able to lead a normal life over time.
The Impact Of MS On Work Capacity
MS presents symptoms that may stop you from being able to carry out everyday tasks that you once took for granted. Because the disease affects the nervous system, as well as negatively impacting your relationships with other people, it may also affect your ability to get work done as you once did.
Many people who have been diagnosed with MS have to take time off work on sick leave due to an attack caused by the condition. Deterioration of the disease can result in a need to reduce work hours or consider stopping working permanently.
How Superannuation Claims For MS Work
Your insurance provider will need information in your superannuation claim that will help them to determine whether you are unable to work for the rest of your life due to the symptoms of your illness. They will consider one or more of the following:
- Any advice that a medical professional has formally given, and whether they support your claim.
- The treatment that may have been prescribed by your healthcare professional to manage your symptoms, and how often you get this treatment.
- Whether or not your health condition is permanent.
- How you may be able to continue in your current job role with adjustments to your routine to better suit your symptoms, such as reduced hours or working in a new job role.
Seeking Support For MS TPD Insurance Claims
If you have been diagnosed with MS and wish to make a total and permanent disability claim through your super to cease work, we recommend seeking professional advice about how to be in with the best chance of making a successful claim.
At Life Matters Claims, we can take away the stress of handling your insurance claim. We know that getting an MS diagnosis is enough to be dealing with, and managing the symptoms of your condition is the most important thing you can do right now.
Our claim advocates will manage your insurance claim from start to finish, offering advice and helping you to bring together the evidence you need for your superannuation claim. We have a 100% success rate in helping people like yourself to make a successful claim for a chronic illness or condition that leaves them unable to work.