(i) State Super
- Victorian public servants have been covered by super schemes for many years.
- The Emergency Services Superannuation Scheme pays lump sums or pensions depending on whether you stop work because of resignation, retirement, disability or death.
- The Scheme pays disability pensions or lump sums if you are permanently or temporarily unfit for work or die.
- However, since 1994, new state public servants are members of VicSuper.
- VicSuper pays lump sums on resignation or retirement and includes Total and Permanent Disability and death insurance lump sums and Temporary Disability payments for up to 2 years.
(ii) Commonwealth Super Schemes
- Most Commonwealth public servants are members of generous defined benefit schemes - CSS, PSS or the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme.
- They include invalidity benefits usually paid as lifetime pensions if you are permanently unfit for your usual job or any other suitable work.
- Under the Military Super and Benefits Scheme, the rate of the invalidity pension depends on the severity of your disability.
- Some Commonwealth government employees are members of AGEST, an accumulated contributions scheme, which pays lump sums on resignation or retirement and includes total and permanent disability and death lump sums and temporary disability insurance payments for up to two years.
(iii) Claims and Appeals
- The claims process for government disability benefits is basically the same as for other super schemes.
- There are claim forms to fill in, medicals to supply which support your claim and written submissions to make. You might have to go to a few medical/rehabilitation appointments and sign authorities.
- A decision will take approximately 3-12 months.
- If your claim is rejected you can lodge an internal complaint followed by an appeal to the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) - or to the courts or the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for some Victorian state super schemes. Time limits apply.
- In some schemes a disability claim must be made within a strict time limit and in others, resigning might affect a claim.
(iv) Important Note-Get help
- There are time limits for appeals to the courts and the SCT.
- Get advice and help with claims and appeals. (See 'Who can I go to for advice and more information' ).
Next Section: How Can I Get New Insurance Or Superannuation?
