What is Disability Income Insurance?

Disability income insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides income replacement benefits to individuals who become disabled and are unable to work. The policy pays a monthly benefit to the policyholder, typically a percentage of their pre-disability income, to help cover living expenses while they are unable to work.

Disability income insurance can be purchased by individuals or provided by employers as part of a benefits package. The policy may be short-term, providing benefits for a few months to a year, or long-term, providing benefits until the policyholder reaches retirement age or is able to return to work.

There are two main types of disability income insurance policies:

Own-occupation
Any-occupation

Own-occupation policies provide benefits if the policyholder is unable to work in their own occupation, while any-occupation policies provide benefits only if the policyholder is unable to work in any occupation for which they are reasonably qualified.

The cost of disability income insurance can vary based on several factors, including the policyholder's age, health, occupation, and the amount of coverage needed. Some policies may also require a waiting period before benefits are paid, typically ranging from a few weeks to a few months.

Disability income insurance can be an important source of financial protection for individuals who rely on their income to support themselves and their families. It can provide peace of mind in the event of an unexpected illness or injury that prevents the policyholder from working.