Superannuation COVID-19 FAQs

No.

The current information available suggests that most people who contract COVID-19 recover within 14 days and return to their normal activities. The long-term health impacts or complications of COVID-19 remains unclear. If you have long term permanent health complications resulting from COVID-19, then you may be eligible to be paid a TPD benefit. 

In many circumstances, COVID-19 runs its normal course in approximately 14 days. Generally, if you are illness and symptom free after 14 days, you will not meet the Waiting Period requirement of your group insurance policy, and a benefit would not be paid. If the virus persists past the nominated Waiting Period and you’re unable to work at full capacity due to COVID-19, you may be eligible to be paid a benefit under your GSC or IP policy.

Yes. Most of our group insurance policies provide worldwide insurance cover 24 hours a day.  Travel will be excluded while government enforced travel bans are in place and for travel to countries rated DFAT level 3 and 4 (which was the case prior to the government enforced travel ban) once the ban is lifted.  Please be aware that travel arrangements are required to be disclosed as part of any application for new or increased cover. 

Your insurance will be cancelled if there are insufficient funds in your superannuation account to cover the cost of your premiums. If you wish for your insurance to continue, you will need to make sure there are funds in your superannuation account to cover the cost of insurance premiums.

If your insurance is cancelled and you still remain a member of your super fund, there are options for you to recommence your insurance. Please refer to the Insurance Guide or the Product Disclosure Statement on your fund’s website for conditions relevant to your fund.

MetLife has developed the following information centre to provide you with more clarity around the claims process here.

Yes, we will honour existing claims which continue to meet your policy terms and conditions. Our teams are all working remotely and are still here to support you throughout your claim. During these challenging and unpredictable times, our first priority is to continue providing support, responsiveness and service to our customers, including paying claims.

We’re currently experiencing larger than usual volumes of claims and time frames may be longer than expected. But rest assured your dedicated claims manager we will be in contact within 10 business days of receiving your claim to guide you through the process.

Yes, you may apply for additional cover. However, MetLife will defer the underwriting decision for at least three months until you have received a clean bill of health from your doctor confirming you are illness and symptom free and have no ongoing respiratory complications.

As a new fund member, you can still join their MetLife group insurance policy and receive default cover under existing standard policy terms. It’s important to review the terms and conditions of the policy relating to employment and how they relate to your current situation. Check your fund’s Insurance Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, or Policy Document from your superannuation or policy provider.

Yes, you may apply for additional cover. However, MetLife will defer the underwriting decision until you have received a clean bill of health from your doctor confirming you are illness and symptom free, after a minimum 14-day period of self-isolation. 

Yes. Where additional cover is currently provided with no or limited underwriting, they will still be available, subject to standard policy terms. Check your fund’s Insurance Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, or Policy Document available from your superannuation or policy provider.

No, you are only eligible to be paid a benefit on your GSC or IP cover if you can’t work solely due to illness or injury and satisfy the nominated Waiting Period.

No, you’re only eligible to be paid a benefit on your GSC or IP cover if you can’t work solely due to illness or injury and satisfy the nominated Waiting Period.

No. As long as you meet the usual claim requirements and have an inability to work due to illness or injury.

If you are stood down as defined under the Fair Work Act you’re considered by MetLife to be on leave without pay. Generally, for super fund members on leave without pay, any benefits would commence at the end of that leave without pay period. If you are stood down due to COVID-19, MetLife will disregard this standard condition and will commence benefits at the end of the relevant waiting period. For more information on waiting periods, please read about the MetLife Claim Process here. Any minimum work hour requirements will still apply, based on the period prior to any stand down. Any benefits payable will typically be based on average income for the previous twelve months prior to the date of disablement.

At this stage no. If you are eligible to receive the Government JobKeeper Payment, MetLife will exclude that payment from any benefit offsets that usually would apply for new and existing claims in progress. MetLife will monitor this regularly and may choose to alter its position as the situation unfolds.

You must be employed in order to be accepted for any new application or increase of TPD and IP cover. This is a standard underwriting approach for anyone applying for TPD and IP cover during periods of unemployment, unrelated to the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both TPD and IP policies are primarily designed for those in gainful employment. The purpose of IP cover is to replace your employment income at the time a disability occurs. If you are not employed there may be no benefit to apply or increase for new IP cover.  

You can continue to apply and be accepted for Death cover whilst unemployed, subject to the underwriting terms offered.

If you lose your job, are stood down or have reduced working hours due to COVID-19, MetLife will assess your TPD claim using the applicable disability definition based on your working arrangements as at 11 March 2020 (when the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus to be a global pandemic), if you meet the following criteria:

• you were working in your normal capacity on 11 March 2020;
• you have had reduced working hours or lost your job due to COVID-19 since 11 March 2020;
• you become disabled as a result of an illness or injury between 11 March 2020 and 1 January 2021 inclusive;
• you have maintained your TPD cover at the time you become totally and permanently disabled; and
• you lodged your completed claim form on or before 31 March 2021.

If you remain employed and your salary has been temporarily reduced due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, MetLife will calculate your TPD benefit (in instances where the design of your TPD benefit is linked to your salary) using your salary as at  11 March 2020 (when the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus to be a global pandemic). All other policy terms and conditions will continue to apply.