lifePLUS choice—customise your cover
Everyone’s different—from the work they do to the risks they can tolerate. This is where lifePLUS choice comes in: simply customise your cover to fit you.
Flex it to suit
If you’re not eligible for auto cover, or you’d like more or less insurance, you can apply for or customise your cover through lifePLUS choice.
Here are some of the things you can do:
- Apply for cover if you didn’t get lifePLUS auto when you joined or re-joined PSSap.
- Apply for cover if you’ve previously cancelled your insurance but want cover again.
- Apply for cover if you're an Ancillary member.
- Increase or reduce your cover—for example, to:
- Fix your Death and TPD cover at a lower amount to save money, until you turn 61.
- Move from fixed cover to age-based cover so your insurance is in step with your stage of life.
- Choose an Income Protection benefit payment period that’s either two or five years, or change your waiting period.
- Choose a lower monthly Income Protection benefit payment amount to reduce your costs.
- Transfer your cover from another super fund or insurer to CSC if you’re under 55.
A full insurance application process applies if you’re increasing your cover or applying for an extra benefit like a shorter Waiting Period, or a longer benefit period. But if you’re reducing or opting out of your cover, then it’s a simple online transaction or phone call.
Explore the following topics to find out more.
Who can apply for lifePLUS choice?
To apply, you must be an Eligible PSSap Member who is at least 14 and 9 months and less than:
- 67 for Income Protection; and
- 70 for Death and TPD cover.
Common reasons to apply
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I want to increase or decrease my cover
If you have lifePLUS auto or choice cover, and you want to increase or decrease it, you can apply to do this through lifePLUS choice.
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I missed the auto opt-in cut-off date
If you had to opt in to get cover and you didn’t do this within 60 days of receiving your welcome experience, you’re not eligible for auto but you can apply for choice.
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I’ve cancelled my cover and would like cover again
If at any time you’ve received lifePLUS auto cover and then you cancelled it or your cover has been cancelled due to other reasons, you’re not eligible for auto cover even if you re-join the APS and your new employer makes contributions into your PSSap account. You can apply for lifePLUS choice.
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I have auto cover and I’m leaving the APS
A significant benefit of lifePLUS cover is that your cover can continue automatically, even if you leave the APS—or if you stay with the APS but choose another super fund. In both cases, we’ll convert your cover to lifePLUS choice.
If you have Income Protection you must let us know your salary and you must tell us when it changes, because this affects Income Protection benefit payments if you need to claim.
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I’ve returned to APS employment
If you’re a returning customer who left the APS before 1 November 2017, and you’ve received contributions into super since then from a non-APS employer, you’re not eligible for auto but you can apply for choice.
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I’m a PSSap Ancillary customer
Public Sector Scheme (PSS) or Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) customers who are contributing to super can apply for lifePLUS choice if they’re a PSSap Ancillary customer.
Eligible PSSap Member defined
Eligible PSSap Member(s) means a PSSap customer who was employed by an Australian Government employer for a continuous period of 12 months or more as required under the Superannuation Act and:
- is an Eligible Member who joined PSSap more than 180 days after starting work with an Australian Government employer; or
- is not employed by an Australian Government employer; and/or
- has elected Choice of Fund; and/or
- is a PSSap Ancillary member.
Download the Insurance and your PSSap super booklet for full eligibility details.
Income Protection cover helps if you’re injured or sick for a period of time. It can supplement lost income, and could give you access to rehab and career support.
Offers financial support…
If you’re seriously sick or injured and you have lifePLUS choice, you may be eligible to claim monthly Income Protection benefit payments, including super contribution payments. Here’s a snapshot of the cover you can apply for.
| Benefit payment period | Your choice of 2 years of 5 years |
|---|---|
| Maximum monthly benefit | $35,000 |
| Waiting period | Your choice of 30, 60, 90 or 180 days |
| Super contributions | 15.4% |
| Benefit payment (based on base salary) | First 2 years: 75% Remaining 3 years: 50% if you choose a 5 year benefit payment |
| Total benefit | 90.4% for 2 years 65.4% for remaining 3 years if you choose a 5 year benefit payment |
Refer to the Insurance and your PSSap super booklet for more information.
…and rehab and retraining
If you can’t work because you’re seriously sick or injured, you have access to a broad and experienced network of rehabilitation providers who can tailor rehabilitation programs and/or provide retraining services to help you get back to where you’d like to be.
Allows you to transfer existing Income Protection cover
If you have Income Protection cover with another super fund or insurer, you’ll need to meet the following insurance transfer eligibility requirements to apply to transfer your cover:
- you’re an Australian resident who’s under 55; and
- you’re transferring a maximum monthly benefit of up to $20,000; and
- you’ve cancelled your cover with the other super funds or insurers; and
- you’ll apply for cover by completing the Transfer of cover form.
If you apply to transfer insurance cover, the insurer will assess your applications against eligibility conditions and insurance exclusions and will let you know the outcome. The full terms and conditions are listed in the Transfer of cover form.
Your benefit is linked to your income
Your recorded income affects how much you pay for cover, and the benefits you may receive—so it’s important that our record of your current, annual income is up to date.
As a lifePLUS choice customer, you’re responsible for letting us know what your income is and when it changes. Let us know of any changes using the Application and variation form.
Check your reported annual income at any time by logging into your account and going to the Insurance section.
More information about income protection
When does my cover start?
Your Income Protection cover starts on the date that the insurer accepts your application.
What is a benefit payment period?
If you make a successful Income Protection claim, the benefit payment period is the maximum length of time you’ll get monthly Income Protection payments and contributions to your super account from the insurer.
What is a waiting period?
If you’ve made a successful Income Protection claim, your waiting period is the amount of time you have to wait before insurance benefit payments start.
How do I make a claim?
If you let us know you’d like to consider claiming, we’ll pair you up with a dedicated case manager who personally oversees the process. Find out more about making a claim.
When does my cover stop?
Your Income Protection cover stops on the date of whichever of the following happens first:
- You stop being a PSSap customer.
- You turn 67 (for Income Protection).
- You permanently retire from the workforce.
- You die.
- You tell us in writing that you want to cancel your cover.
- Your unpaid insurance premiums are 60 days overdue.
- You’re not an Australian resident and you permanently leave Australia, or you become ineligible to work in Australia.
- We don’t receive a contribution to your super account for a continuous period of 16 months (your account becomes inactive) and you haven’t written to us to let us know you’d like to keep your cover while your account is inactive.
- We terminate the policy with the insurer (if this happens we’ll give you 30 days’ notice).
No matter what happens, Death and TPD cover can help to support your financial security.
lifePLUS choice Death and TPD cover helps to protect you and your family if you’re permanently injured or ill, or if you die.
Offers generous cover and flexible options
You can apply for cover that’s up to a maximum:
- Death benefit of $50 million.
- TPD benefit of $3 million.
With lifePLUS choice, you can apply:
- For age-based cover that keeps up with your stage of life.
- For fixed Death and TPD cover so your cover doesn’t change automatically each birthday, up to age 61.
- For more or less cover.
- To transfer cover from another super fund or insurer to lifePLUS choice.
Allows you to transfer existing Death and TPD cover
If you have Death, or Death and TPD cover with another super fund or insurer, you’ll need to meet the following insurance transfer eligibility requirements to apply to transfer your cover:
- you're an Australian resident who’s under 55; and
- you're transferring a maximum of $1 million per transfer for Death only or Death and TPD cover; and
- you're holding total transferred cover that does not exceed a maximum of $2 million for Death or Death and TPD cover; and
- you're holding a total amount of Death or Death and TPD cover after the transfer that does not exceed maximum policy limits ($50 million for Death and $3 million for TPD); and
- you're cancelling your cover with other super funds or insurers; and
- you'll apply for cover by completing the Transfer of cover form and the insurer accepts the transfer.
More information about Death and TPD
When does my cover start?
Your Death and TPD cover starts on the date that the insurer accepts your application.
Who gets my super when I die?
Generally, you can’t leave your super to a particular person in your will. And while you don’t have to nominate a beneficiary, it helps us to know who you want to look after financially if you die.
Find out more at Nominate a beneficiary.
How do I make a claim?
If you let us know you’d like to consider claiming, we’ll pair you up with a dedicated case manager who personally oversees the process. Find out more about making a claim.
When does my cover stop?
Your Death and TPD cover stops on the date whichever of the following happens first:
- You stop being a PSSap customer.
- You turn 70.
- You die.
- You tell us in writing that you want to cancel your cover.
- Your unpaid insurance premiums are 60 days overdue.
- You’re not an Australian resident and you permanently leave Australia, or you become ineligible to work in Australia.
- You make a claim for terminal illness or TPD benefits. If your Death cover is higher than your TPD cover, remaining Death cover will be reduced by the amount of the TPD Benefit paid and your cover will change to fixed lifePLUS choice cover.
- We don’t receive a contribution to your super account for a continuous period of 16 months (your account becomes inactive) and you haven’t written to us to let us know you’d like to keep your cover while your account is inactive.
- We terminate the policy with the insurer (if this happens we’ll give you 30 days’ notice).
More information about lifeplus choice
How much is my cover and who pays for it?
Insurance fees and premiums are deducted from your PSSap account each month. See:
- fees and premiums for an overview; and
- download our Insurance and your PSSap Super booklet for pricing and calculations.
How do I apply for or change cover?
Log into your account and use our LIFEapp insurance calculator to apply or request the change. Or if you’d prefer, complete and return the Application and variation form.
How do I cancel my cover?
You can cancel all your Death and TPD cover, or cancel only your TPD and keep your Death cover. (Note, you can’t be insured for TPD cover alone.) To do this:
- log into your account and use our LIFEapp insurance needs calculator to cancel your cover; or
- complete and return the Cancellation of cover form; or
- email members@pssap.com.au or call 1300 725 171.
Am I covered if I take leave without pay (LWOP)?
If you take approved leave without pay or leave with partial pay you must let us know the dates of your approved leave before your leave starts. As long as there’s enough in your PSSap account to cover monthly insurance premium deductions and your insurance doesn’t stop because of ‘inactivity’, your cover will continue for up to 24 months.
Need longer than 24 months? You can also apply for an extension as long as you apply before your 24 months is up or before the documented return-to-work date with your employer—whichever comes first.
If you don’t apply for an extension, the insurance policy rules change. You’ll be classified as having taken leave without approval or unauthorised leave without pay. This means that even though your cover continues, if you suffer an injury or illness during this period:
- you’ll have to meet a tougher disability test to access TPD benefits; and/or
- your Pre-Disability Income will be assessed differently.
Remember to keep your email and postal address up to date, so you don’t miss any important communications while you are on leave.
What happens if I'm not living in Australia?
If you’re posted or seconded or you move overseas, as long as there’s enough in your PSSap account to pay for insurance premium deductions, your lifePLUS cover will continue unless your account becomes inactive. And, even though your cover continues, you can’t apply to increase your cover or transfer cover into PSSap during your overseas posting/secondment.
Inactivity explained
To protect your super balance, under super law we have to make accounts inactive if we don’t receive any contributions for 16 consecutive months. Making an account ‘inactive’ stops your insurance cover.
If your account is made inactive but you want to keep your cover, you’ll need let us know in writing within 60 days of your account becoming inactive. Your insurance cover will continue as long as there’s enough in your PSSap account to pay for insurance premium deductions.