Superannuation fund trustees have been reminded that they need to be careful in assessing total and permanent disablement insurance claims and whether nominated persons are capable of gaining appropriate employment.
The Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) has warned that there is often an irreconcilable difference between the physical movements a person is able to make and those required to undertake particular jobs.
The chairman of the SCT, Graham McDonald said there was clearly a difference between what occupations a person might be able to undertake when examining doctors have imposed restrictions on that person’s physical movements and those occupations when no limitations are imposed.
“The Tribunal has found that there is often an irreconcilable difference between the conditions of movement imposed with the activity expected in the nominated position,” he said. “In such circumstances the person would not be able to successfully carry out the work expected of him or her and the job nomination should be discounted.”
McDonald said it needed to be remembered that in most cases it was not only the capacity of the person to undertake the nominated work which had to be assessed but also the realistic likelihood of the person being able to attract an employer prepared to offer them person employment.
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