TAL says mental injury was its leading source of claims in the six months to September.

Psychological conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder accounted for 29% of claims, followed by physical injuries and fractures (18%), and musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases (16%).

The life insurer paid $2.3 billion across all claim types to more than 36,200 customers and their families. In the year-earlier period, it paid $2 billion to 32,456 recipients.

TAL says an increase in living claim benefits continues to be driven by income protection and total and permanent disability cases related to mental health.

Chief claims officer Georgina Croft says this highlights the important role life insurers play.

“Life insurance offers more than financial support when a loved one passes away,” she said. “Helping Australians during their toughest times with care and compassion is the most important thing we do.

“We do this by providing the financial, emotional and physical support they need to get back to health and on with life.”

TAL says support for customers includes a virtual mental health tool that facilitates access to psychiatrists for assessment, and an in-house health and rehabilitation team.

“By connecting a person with the services they need early in the claims process – and removing the financial burden of paying for them – we can help customers on a path to recovery faster,” claims recovery and support specialist Kate Tran said.