Types of Salary Insurance

30/05/2019

Many employers no longer offer additional sick pay benefits and there are an increasing number of us going self-employed, which means that we face a higher risk of substantial financial loss if we are unable to work. 1 in 10 people have been unable to work due to illness or injury for over 6 months(Guardian / Unum Survey 2011).

And according to the LV risk calculator, the chances of a 35 year old taking at least 2 months off work due to accident or sickness before the age of 65 is 45% for woman and 30% for men.

Salary protection insurance pays out if you are unable to work due to accident or sickness and sometimes unemployment, which means you wouldn’t need to rely on statutory sick pay or unemployment benefits.

Your Salary Protection Options

Long term income protection insurance

Your most comprehensive option…

Formerly known as permanent health insurance, a long term insurance policy pays out if you are unable to work due to accident or sickness. The length of the payout period can be set up to retirement age, covering you for that entire period.

The payments are tax free and cover up to 70% of your earnings. The plans pay out after an agreed period of time known as the deferred period. This can range from one day to one year. The average length of an income protection claim with LV in 2012 was 7 years, which shows that it is worth considering a long term income protection plan.

Premiums can be guaranteed with this type of insurance so that you know in advance what you will be paying each year.

According to consumer group Which?, Income Protection is the one policy every working adult should consider.

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Short term income protection insurance

The budget option…

Structured the same as a long term policy a short term income protection plan may be better suited for those on a budget where long term cover maybe unaffordable.
It can offer the same comprehensive sickness cover protecting you in your ‘own occupation’ however should a claim arise the the policy would only pay a claim for a maximum of two consecutive years.

Of course, a shorter term plan poses the risk that you will not be covered should you be unable to return to work after the payout period. However, some cover is better than no cover and this is a viable option for anyone with a limited budget.

Accident Sickness and Unemployment Cover

The alternative…

It is important to note accident, sickness and unemployment (ASU) policies are different to traditional long term income protection policies, they are short term policies paying a claim for a maximum of 12 or 24 months.

The most important consideration when choosing your salary protection is the occupation definition the insurer uses to assess a claim.

Most long term policies will cover you in your ‘Own Occupation’ paying a claim should you be unable to do your current job role. However many ASU policies will only cover you in a ‘Suited Occupation’, only paying a claim if you are unable to do your own job role or another you maybe suited to based on your experience and education.

This is why it is vital you speak to an expert or at least read all the fine print when it comes to making a decision on how best to protect your salary.

If you are a part time worker, self employed or on a temporary contract then the unemployment cover might not cover you so it would be wise to speak to an independent adviser first.

Unemployment Cover

Unemployment insurance is a short term benefit which pays out if you have been made redundant or in some cases dismissed. Most insurers will allow you to cover up to 65% of your earnings or £2,500 per month (which ever amount is less). Plans can pay out for a maximum of 12 or 24 months.

We would only recommend unemployment cover for those that are employed however it can be difficult for self employed people to claim on this type of policy.

Getting Income Protection Advice

At Drewberry, we offer free and impartial Income Protection advice, helping to pair you with the right protection to meet your needs.

If you’re interested in taking out Income Protection, our advisers will help you find one that suits your needs. We have access to the entire UK market, so are well-suited to search out the right policy for you.

Why Speak to Us…

We started Drewberry because we were tired of being treated like a number and not getting the service we all deserve when it comes to things as important as protecting our health and our finances. Below are just a few reasons why it makes sense to let us help.

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