TPD Insurance Cost Calculator
Estimate the annual premium for total and permanent disability (TPD) cover in Australia. It pays a lump sum if you are permanently unable to work.
Your tpd insurance details
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
An 'own occupation' definition pays if you cannot work in your specific job and is far broader, but it costs more and is harder to get inside super. An 'any occupation' definition only pays if you cannot work in any job you are suited to, so read which one you are buying.
TPD is often bundled with life cover and is cheaper than income protection because the claim bar (permanent inability to work) is high. The definition matters most: 'own occupation' is broad and dearer, 'any occupation' is cheaper but pays only if you cannot do any suitable job. Cover inside super usually uses the cheaper definition.
💰 Ways to save
- Decide between 'own occupation' and 'any occupation' deliberately, because own-occupation is broader and pays more readily but costs noticeably more, and the cheaper any-occupation definition is what most super-held TPD uses.
- Bundle TPD with life cover where it suits, because combined policies are often cheaper than two standalone ones and share the underwriting.
- Check your super fund's default TPD, because many people already hold it at wholesale group rates, and buying more outside super may be duplicate cover.
- Match the sum insured to your real need (clearing the mortgage, funding home modifications and future care) rather than a round number, since the premium scales with the cover amount.
How we estimate this
Total and permanent disability (TPD) cover in Australia in 2026 is cheaper than income protection because the bar to claim is high. A white-collar worker in their forties might pay $250 to $900 a year for $500,000 of cover, with manual and high-risk occupations two to three times that.
Pricing reviewed: June 2026.
Understanding tpd insurance costs in Australia
Total and permanent disability (TPD) cover in Australia in 2026 is cheaper than income protection because the bar to claim is high. A white-collar worker in their forties might pay $250 to $900 a year for $500,000 of cover, with manual and high-risk occupations two to three times that.
The definition of disability is the biggest driver after age and occupation: 'own occupation' cover is broader and dearer, 'any occupation' is cheaper. TPD held inside super is common and usually uses the cheaper any-occupation definition.
Frequently asked questions
How much does TPD insurance cost in Australia?
A white-collar worker in their forties might pay $250 to $900 a year for $500,000 of cover in 2026. Skilled and heavy-manual occupations pay roughly two to three times more because the risk of a disabling injury is higher, and age increases the premium steadily.
What is the difference between own and any occupation TPD?
'Own occupation' pays if you can no longer work in your specific job and is the broader, dearer definition. 'Any occupation' only pays if you cannot work in any job you are reasonably suited to by training or experience, which is a higher bar and therefore cheaper. Most TPD held inside super uses the any-occupation definition.
Is TPD cheaper than income protection?
Usually yes, because TPD only pays out for permanent inability to work, a much higher claim bar than income protection, which pays for temporary illness or injury. TPD is also often bundled with life cover, which can lower the combined premium compared with buying each separately.
Should I hold TPD inside super?
Many people do, because super funds offer it at wholesale group rates and the premium comes from the super balance rather than cash flow. The trade-offs are that it reduces your retirement savings, usually uses the cheaper any-occupation definition, and the default sum insured may not match your actual needs, so review it.
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