Long-Term Income Protection
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Written by:
Richard Johnson
Ascot Protection Expert
Last Updated:
29.10.2024
Written by:
Richard Johnson
Ascot Protection Expert
Last Updated:
29.10.2024
What Is Long-Term Income Protection?
Long-term income protection, sometimes referred to as long term disability insurance or permanent health insurance UK, is a type of insurance that provides a steady income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. This policy is designed to pay out a portion of your salary, typically between 50% and 70%, until you are able to return to work or reach retirement age, depending on the policy terms. This form of insurance helps protect you financially during extended periods of incapacity, ensuring that your essential expenses are covered even when you’re not able to earn.
What's the Difference Between Short and Long-Term Income Protection?
The key difference between short and long-term income protection lies in the length of time the policy pays out. Short-term income protection typically covers you for a period of up to 12 months, offering temporary relief if you’re recovering from a minor injury or short illness. In contrast, long-term income protection continues to provide payments for as long as you’re unable to work, potentially right up to retirement age, depending on the policy.
Long-term policies, such as disability insurance long-term, are designed to offer peace of mind for individuals with chronic or long-term conditions that prevent them from working for extended periods.
What Does Long-Term Income Protection Cover Me For?
A long-term income protection policy usually covers you if you’re unable to work due to:
- Serious illness: Conditions such as cancer, heart disease, or mental health issues that prevent you from performing your job.
- Accidents: If you suffer an injury that makes you unable to work for a significant amount of time.
- Chronic conditions: Long-term health conditions that affect your ability to earn, such as back problems or long-term mental health conditions.
The policy pays out a monthly income to help cover essential living costs, such as mortgage or rent payments, bills, and daily expenses, until you’re able to return to work or reach the policy’s end date.
Do I Need Long-Term Income Protection?
If you rely on your income to cover essential expenses, long-term income protection is an important safety net. While some employers offer limited sick pay, this may not be enough to cover you during extended periods of illness or injury. For those who are self-employed, long-term income protection is even more crucial, as there’s no employer-provided sick pay.
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you need this cover:
- How long could I manage financially without my regular income?
- Do I have significant savings to cover months or even years of lost earnings?
- Am I self-employed or do I rely on a single source of income?
If the answers to these questions raise concerns, long-term disability insurance can provide the protection you need.
How Long Will I Receive Benefits From My Income Protection Policy?
The length of time you receive benefits from a long-term income protection policy depends on the terms of the policy. Typically, policies pay out until:
- You’re able to return to work.
- You reach the policy’s end date, which can be a specified period or your retirement age.
Policies vary, so it’s important to check the specific terms when choosing a policy to ensure it meets your needs.
What Will My Income Protection Policy Define as Incapacity?
Incapacity, or the inability to work, is defined differently depending on the policy:
- Own occupation: You’re unable to perform the duties of your specific job.
- Suited occupation: You’re unable to perform jobs related to your skills and experience.
- Any occupation: You’re unable to perform any type of work.
Choosing a policy with an own occupation definition offers the most comprehensive cover, as it pays out if you can’t do the specific job you’re trained for, even if you could potentially do another type of work.
What Should I Look Out for When Buying Long-Term Income Protection?
When buying long-term income protection, consider the following:
- Deferred period: This is the period you wait before payments begin. A longer deferred period reduces premiums, but you’ll need savings to cover the gap.
- Level of cover: Choose a policy that covers enough of your salary to meet your essential living costs.
- Policy term: Ensure the policy provides cover for as long as you need it, whether until retirement age or a set period.
- Exclusions: Check for any conditions or situations that might not be covered, such as pre-existing medical conditions.
- Premium type: Decide whether you want fixed premiums (which stay the same) or reviewable premiums (which may increase over time).
Comparing quotes from different providers will help you find the best long-term income protection policy for your needs.
Why Use Ascot Mortgages for Long-Term Income Protection?
At Ascot Mortgages, we specialise in helping you secure the best long-term income protection tailored to your individual needs. Our expert team will assist you in comparing policies from leading providers, ensuring you find the right level of cover to protect your income should illness or injury prevent you from working. Whether you’re seeking long term disability insurance or permanent health insurance UK, we are dedicated to helping you make informed decisions and providing peace of mind for your financial future.
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FAQ
Long-term income protection provides regular payments to replace lost income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. Critical illness cover provides a one-off lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness. The two can complement each other, but they serve different purposes.
Long-term income protection can last until you are able to return to work or until you reach the end of the policy term, which is often linked to your retirement age. Some policies also offer payouts for a fixed number of years.
The payout from an income protection policy can be used for anything you need, including:
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Utility bills
- Food and daily living costs
- Medical expenses
- Childcare
The goal is to provide financial support during periods when you’re unable to work due to long-term illness or injury.
The cost of long-term income protection depends on factors such as:
- Your age: Younger individuals tend to pay lower premiums.
- Your health: Pre-existing conditions or lifestyle factors like smoking may increase premiums.
- Deferred period: A longer deferred period reduces your premium but delays payments.
- Level of cover: The more income you want to protect, the higher your premium will be.
On average, premiums can range from £30 to £80 per month, depending on the level of cover.
The deferred period is the time between when you become unable to work and when your income protection policy starts to pay out. Deferred periods typically range from one to 12 months, and choosing a longer deferred period can lower your premiums.
Yes, self-employed individuals can take out long-term income protection. In fact, it’s often essential for self-employed workers, as they don’t receive sick pay from an employer. A disability insurance long-term policy can help ensure you still receive a regular income if you’re unable to work.
If you change jobs, most long-term income protection policies will still remain valid, provided you continue paying your premiums. However, if your new job is more physically demanding or carries greater risk, it may affect the terms of your cover.
To compare long-term income protection policies, consider the following factors:
- Monthly premiums
- Deferred period
- Definition of incapacity
- Exclusions and limitations
- Level of income covered
Using comparison tools or consulting an independent financial adviser can help you find the best policy to meet your needs.
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