The hands and wrists are essential for most forms of work. Severe injuries — crush injuries, complex fractures, nerve damage, amputations, or severe repetitive strain conditions like carpal tunnel or de Quervain's tenosynovitis — can permanently remove a person's ability to do the work they've trained for.
When does a hand or wrist injury qualify for TPD?
Under an "own occupation" policy, a hand injury that prevents you from performing your specific trade or profession can qualify even if you could theoretically do a different job. Under an "any occupation" policy, the injury must prevent you from working in any role suited to your skills. The former is clearly easier to satisfy for tradespeople and healthcare workers with hand-specific training.
Relevant evidence
- Hand surgeon or orthopaedic specialist reports
- Details of surgeries, nerve repairs and outcomes
- Occupational therapy assessments of hand function
- GP records of lost work time and functional limitations
Consider your occupation
A carpenter who loses hand function is in a very different TPD position than a retired person. If your livelihood depended on manual skill and that's now gone, your claim is worth exploring. Start with our free eligibility check.