Support when recovering from an illness or injury

Get financial help

If the bills are starting to stack up, there are plenty of financial support options you can explore.

Government payments

Depending on your circumstances, the government may be able to help with regular payments, one-off funding and support services.

Find out:

• which payment and support services you may be able to claim with the Department of Human Services payment finder, opens in new window
• whether you can get home modification funding, opens in new window to make your day-to-day easier
• which work-related government benefits, opens in new window you may be able to claim if you became injured at work or ill from your workplace.

Insurance payouts

If you have any personal or life insurance, an insurance payout can help greatly with staying on top of expenses. Check your policies to see what’s covered and make any claim applications quickly to get on top of lengthy processing times.

Check your super fund as well. You might have insurance that covers a loss of income due to illness, injury or disability.

Early access to your super

You may be able to access some of your super on the grounds of severe financial hardship.

Your eligibility depends on a number of things, so contact your super fund as soon as you can.

Getting your money back in shape

Use these tips and tools to get back on track:

• simple ways to save money
  
• creating and sticking to budgets
• working out income and expenditure
• dealing with debt to ease money troubles, opens in new window
• top 10 ways to organise your money, opens in new window
• apps and calculators to help you stay on track., opens in new window

Counselling and support services

Why not talk to someone who understands what you’re going through? The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) can provide you with financial counselling – and is generally free. Find out how financial counselling works, opens in new window.

We've also put together a list of support services and practical tips offered by the government and non-profit organisations.

How we can help

• Get in touch if you're having trouble staying on top of your NAB repayments. Call 1800 701 599 or learn more about the specific ways we help with repayments.
• Discover 5 tips for when things don’t go to plan.

Turn to your support network

With a chronic illness or injury, you'll have a lot on your plate - and you should never hesitate to seek support.

Family and friends

Spend time with people who care about you and let them know what's on your mind. Not only are they usually happy to lend an ear, they might have some comforting advice.

Support groups

Support groups are great for connecting with people going through a similar thing, both online and in person. Or, you can try the following services.

• Lifeline, opens in new window crisis support and suicide prevention. Call 13 11 14 or chat online, opens in new window.
• https://www.beyondblue.org.au/, opens in new window. Call 1300 224 636 to get some helpful tools for dealing with depression and anxiety.
• https://relationships.org.au/, opens in new window. Call 1300 364 277 for tips on nurturing relationships with an illness or injury.
• Department of Human Services, opens in new window. Call 13 17 94 for social work services if you're a Centrelink customer.

Your key support contacts

Contact NAB Assist

Call 1800 701 599 to find out how we can help you or visit NAB Assist.

Contact Financial Counselling Australia

Call 1800 007 007 for free financial counselling or visit the https://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au/, opens in new window website.

Contact Beyond Blue

Call 1300 224 636 for help looking after your mental health, or visit the https://www.beyondblue.org.au/, opens in new window website.

Contact Lifeline Crisis Support

Call 13 11 14 if you’re having troubling coping or chat online at the https://www.lifeline.org.au/, opens in new window website.

Get help at home

As illness and injury can impact your ability to work, it’s handy to know what you’re legally entitled to from an employment perspective.

Sick leave and carer’s leave

Not sure how much sick or carer's leave you can take?

• Read about sick and carer's work at the Fair Work Ombudsman, opens in new window.
• Ask your employer how much paid personal leave you’ve already accumulated.

Returning to work after an illness or injury

Talk with your employer to plan your return:

• Find out their responsibilities in planning your return to work, opens in new window.
• Find out the return to work authority in your state, opens in new window.
• Know your rights regarding unfair dismissal or redundancy. Find out how - and on what grounds - you can make a complaint., opens in new window

More support options

• Set up financial safety nets for illness and injury.
• Put essential plans in place with this checklist.
• Learn about the roles and responsibilities of carers.

Glossary

Insurance

Financial protection you pay for now so you could be covered by an agreed compensation payment for the unexpected life events outlined in your policy, such as illness, injury or death. Different types include private health insurance, income protection insurance, life insurance and mortgage protection insurance.

Super

Super is a regular payment made into a super fund by an employee towards a future pension. For most people, your employer must pay an amount equal to 9.5% of your salary into your super fund account. Your super savings can be self-managed, or controlled by the superannuation fund of your choice.

Financial hardship

NAB may be able to offer if you’re struggling to repay your loan or credit card. This could be because of illness, injury or other unexpected life events. Learn more about financial hardship.

Carer’s leave

Time off work to care for a member of your immediate family or household who is sick, injured or has an emergency. It's taken as either paid or unpaid personal leave. Learn more about carer’s leave, opens in new window.