An ADL TPD definition is a non-occupational test for Total and Permanent Disability. It asks whether the insured can perform a defined list of basic self-care tasks without assistance, instead of whether they can perform the duties of an occupation.
ADL is the most restrictive of the common TPD definitions. It requires a severe level of physical or cognitive impairment, and it is the default fallback definition for non-working applicants and for older policyholders across several panel insurers (AIA, Zurich, TAL, OnePath, ClearView, NEOS, Encompass, Acenda, Futura).
The standard ADL set
The activities vary slightly across the panel, but the core set is consistent:
- Bathing or showering.
- Dressing (putting on and taking off all garments).
- Eating (feeding food from a plate into the mouth once prepared).
- Toileting (using a toilet to maintain personal hygiene).
- Mobility / transferring (moving from a bed to a chair, or from one room to another).
- Continence (some lists include this; others fold it into toileting).
The test is typically failed if the insured is permanently unable to perform two or more of the activities without the physical assistance of another person.
Where ADL appears across the panel
The trigger language varies, but every panel insurer carries a non-occupational ADL branch in some form. PDS source citations:
- TAL Accelerated Protection (PDS 12 December 2024, Section 9 Definitions, page 88): names ADL as a third TPD definition alongside Own Occupation and Any Occupation. The list covers five activities (Bathing, Dressing, Feeding, Toileting, Mobility). The life insured must be 'totally and permanently unable to perform at least two of the five Activities of Daily Living without the physical assistance of another person'. Performance using a prosthesis or appropriate assistive device counts as performance.
- OnePath OneCare (PDS 1 October 2025, page 34): the 'Loss of Independent Existence' branch is functionally an ADL test. It requires permanent inability to perform at least two of five activities (bathing/showering, dressing/undressing, eating/drinking, using a toilet, getting in and out of bed/chair) without another adult person assisting. A separate 'Cognitive Loss' branch carries a six-month confirmation and continuous-care requirement.
- AIA Priority Protection (PDS 9 November 2025, Section 12.1, page 221): 'Loss of Independence' is a branch of the TPD definition, alongside the standard three-month-absence test and the loss-of-limbs/sight branch. The definition of Loss of Independence sits in the AIA Definitions section.
- NEOS Protection (PDS 6 December 2024, page 67): from the plan anniversary after age 70, the TPD definition automatically reduces to a non-occupational test covering 'loss of independent existence (permanent and irreversible), loss of use of limbs (total and irrecoverable), or blindness (total and irrecoverable)'.
- Futura Protection (PDS 1 October 2025, pages 21 to 24): from the plan anniversary after age 65, the TPD definition reduces to loss of independent existence, loss of use of limbs, or blindness in both eyes.
- ClearView ClearChoice (PDS May 2024 with update effective 5 June 2025, pages 40 to 41): the TPD definition reduces to a Non-Occupational definition from the policy anniversary after age 65, and applies as the default for unemployed claimants who have been out of work for more than 12 months at the date of disability.
- Encompass Protection (PDS 26 September 2025, pages 16 to 17) and Acenda Insurance (PDS 27 September 2025, page 19): include equivalent loss-of-independent-existence branches.
- Zurich Wealth Protection (PDS 1 November 2025): Platinum TPD's Partial Impairment Benefit pays 40% or 65% of the TPD benefit amount for functional impairment of two or three extended activities of daily living, sitting alongside the standard definitions.
When the ADL definition applies
Three common triggers:
1. Non-working applicants at issue
Several panel insurers cover applicants performing domestic duties or those without a defined occupation. The default TPD definition for these covers is non-occupational (Home Duties, ADL, or Loss of Independent Existence). Acenda, NEOS, Encompass, and Futura assess clients who were performing full-time domestic duties at application (and for the 12 months prior) under a Home Duties definition rather than Any Occupation.
2. Age-based switches
OnePath OneCare converts Own and Any Occupation TPD to Non-working TPD at age 65, and to a more severe definition at age 70. ClearView ClearChoice converts to Non-Occupational TPD at age 65. NEOS Protection and Futura Protection reduce TPD cover to loss-of-independence/limbs/sight branches at age 65 to 70.
3. Selected occupations
Some heavy-manual or special-risk occupation classes are restricted to ADL or non-occupational definitions at the underwriting stage. The policy schedule confirms which definition was issued.
Why ADL is harder to satisfy than Any Occupation
Many conditions that prevent work do not prevent self-care. A cognitive disorder, severe chronic pain, or a complex psychiatric illness can leave an insured permanently unable to work in any occupation while still allowing them to wash, dress, and feed themselves. Such conditions would meet an Any Occupation test but not an ADL test.
The ADL test sits at the severe end of the spectrum. It is closer to the standard for permanent residential aged care than to the standard for unemployability.
What to check on your specific cover
- The definition shown on the policy schedule (Own Occupation, Any Occupation, ADL, Home Duties, Non-working).
- The age at which the definition automatically switches.
- Whether holding cover inside super carries an additional SIS r.6.01(2) permanent-incapacity test (it always does).
For the cross-panel definitional landscape see how TPD insurance differs across the panel of Australian insurers and what 'total' and 'permanent' actually mean in TPD claims.