Health & Finance Integrated

03/11/2026

Has Centrelink stopped your payments after a compensation settlement?

A medical condition doesn’t automatically exempt you from a preclusion period. But in exceptional cases, Services Australia can review how compensation affects your payments. This may happen where serious illness, unexpected medical costs or financial hardship have changed your situation.

Our latest guide explains:
✔️ the difference between a medical exemption and a special circumstances review
✔️ when your health may be relevant
✔️ what else Centrelink considers
✔️ how to ask for a review, including the SS484 form

Facing a preclusion period? Call HFI on 1300 10 44 99.

General information only.

27/10/2026

Applying for the Disability Support Pension while a compensation claim is underway?

Many people aren’t sure whether Centrelink needs to know before any money has been paid. In most cases, it does. You generally need to declare compensation to Centrelink if you’re planning a claim, have one underway or have already received a payment.

Our latest article covers:
✔ What counts as compensation (and how TPD and income protection are treated differently)
✔ When to report and how
✔ What your lawyer and insurer may need to do
✔ Why the NDIS needs to be told separately

When in doubt, disclose the claim and let Services Australia assess it.

Read the full guide: https://healthfinance.com.au/declare-compensation-centrelink/

General information only. Call HFI on 1300 10 44 99 to discuss your situation.

Do you need to declare compensation to Centrelink when applying for DSP? Learn when to report a claim, what counts and how payments may be affected.

19/10/2026

Financial advice is not always about investments and retirement.

Paul Conte works with people facing some of life’s biggest financial curveballs, including serious health conditions, disability, insurance and compensation payouts, Centrelink, superannuation, family matters and estate-planning issues.

These situations often involve several systems at once and can have far-reaching financial consequences. They can also feel confusing and overwhelming when you are already dealing with a major change in your life.

Through this channel, Paul shares clear and practical information to help you understand your options, ask better questions and feel more in control of your financial future.

Learn more about Health & Finance Integrated:
https://healthfinance.com.au/

This video contains general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Personal financial, legal or tax advice may be required.

19/10/2026

How much money can you have in the bank and still get the Disability Support Pension?

It's one of the questions we hear most often. The answer depends on more than your bank balance.

Services Australia looks at your total assessable assets, including savings, shares, cars and investment property. Your bank balance is also deemed to earn income, so it can affect your DSP under the income test as well.

Our new guide explains:
✔️ what counts as an asset, and what usually doesn't
✔️ how deeming works on your savings
✔️ common events that push people over the limit, like a settlement, TPD payout or inheritance
✔️ what happens if your assets go over

General information only. Speak with a specialist before making decisions about your DSP.

Read the full guide :

Learn how DSP asset limits work, what counts as an asset, how deeming affects bank savings, and when to get advice before moving a lump sum.

14/10/2026

Does the TPD tax-free uplift mean your whole payout is tax-free?
Not necessarily.
Paul Conte explains what the disability tax-free uplift actually does and how it can increase the tax-free component of an eligible TPD benefit held in superannuation.
The remaining taxable portion may still be taxed when withdrawn, depending on your age, super balance and individual circumstances.
Before withdrawing a TPD benefit, it is worth understanding:
• how much may become tax-free
• what may still be taxable
• whether you need to withdraw the full amount
• what may be better left inside super
A TPD payout can be substantial, so the tax structure matters.
Learn more at healthfinance.com.au
General information only. Personal financial and tax advice may be required.

13/10/2026

Your TPD claim has been approved. What happens next can matter just as much as the approval itself.
Paul Conte explains why the order of your financial decisions matters after a TPD benefit is paid into super.
Before withdrawing money to pay off the mortgage, cover expenses or make other major decisions, it can be important to understand how the withdrawal may affect tax, superannuation and your longer-term options.
Sometimes the right decision is not just about what you do with the money, but when you do it.
Learn more about specialist TPD and superannuation advice at healthfinance.com.au
General information only. Personal financial and tax advice may be required.

12/10/2026

A TPD payout can be life changing, but the tax treatment is not always straightforward.

In this reel, Paul explains the TPD tax discount, sometimes called a tax uplift, and why details like your date of birth, service history and superannuation record can matter.

The right strategy can make a real difference, but it needs to be considered carefully alongside Centrelink, cashflow and the bigger financial plan.

If you have been approved for TPD or are deciding what to do next, it is worth getting advice before making withdrawals.

Call Health & Finance Integrated on 1300 10 44 99 or visit healthfinance.com.au

12/10/2026

Have a medical condition and wondering whether you can still get disability insurance?

A past injury, chronic illness or mental health history doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be refused cover. Depending on your circumstances, an insurer may offer standard terms, a higher premium, an exclusion or a deferral. Different insurers can also assess the same condition differently.

Before applying for anything new, check the cover you already hold. Rolling over or closing a super account can cancel the insurance attached to it, and replacement cover may be harder to get.

General information only. Consider your own circumstances and the relevant PDS before making any decisions.



Read our guide:

Can you get disability insurance with a pre-existing condition? Learn how insurers assess health issues, how super cover differs and what to check first.

21/09/2026

What happens when retirement comes much earlier than you ever planned?

In this video, Paul shares the story of a client in her 30s who was forced to stop working because of her health. When her insurance payout arrived, it did not automatically feel like a relief. Suddenly there were decisions to make around tax, debt, investing and how to make the money last.

The approach was kept practical and simple, including paying down the mortgage, creating some breathing room and putting a flexible structure in place for the future.

Because when life throws you a curveball, you do not need to have every answer straight away. Sometimes the first step is simply understanding your options.

If you have received a TPD or insurance payout and are unsure where to start, reach out for a chat.

📞 1300 10 44 99
🌐 healthfinance.com.au

15/09/2026

A TPD benefit can involve two separate sets of rules: the rules that determine whether you can access the money from superannuation, and the tax rules that apply when it is withdrawn.

Paul Conte explains how these systems work together.

Under the superannuation rules, a fund trustee must be satisfied that the relevant condition of release has been met. For permanent incapacity, this generally requires medical evidence that the member is unlikely to return to work for which they are reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.

The tax rules then determine how the payment is treated, including whether the disability tax-free uplift may increase the tax-free component of an eligible lump-sum withdrawal.

The outcome can depend on factors such as:

• Your eligible service date
• The date you stopped working or became disabled
• Your expected retirement date
• The taxable and tax-free components already in your account
• Whether the payment is taken as a lump sum or income stream
• The timing of the withdrawal

Different super accounts may have different service dates, which can produce different uplift calculations. The uplift can also reduce over time, so delaying a decision may affect the outcome.

The taxable component of a withdrawal may also affect adjusted taxable income and could have consequences for Centrelink or other income-tested payments.

Learn more about specialist TPD and superannuation advice:
https://healthfinance.com.au/

This video contains general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. Please obtain personal financial and tax advice before accessing or restructuring a TPD benefit.