What is income protection insurance?

Insurance for something you can’t see or touch, such as your income, may seem strange, but how would you pay your mortgage if you were unable to work?

When considering insurance, it’s common for people to pass it off as a pesky added fee involved in owning a car, running a business or protecting a house against damage. Income insurance, on first glance, can seem like another costly precaution that’s unlikely to prove useful.

However, when you think about how your income facilitates your lifestyle, it’s often at the top of the list regarding things that you can’t afford to lose. Cars and houses can be replaced, but losing an income, perhaps for life, could see both lost. 

Income protection insurance covers salary loss due to injury or sickness. Unlike workers compensation, it applies to injury or sickness at any place or time. And, unlike government allowances, it pays in accordance with your earning capacity. 

Income protection policies vary regarding their terms and conditions, but usually offer 75 per cent of gross wages for a maximum period. It’s a form of insurance that is particularly important for people who have regular repayments to make against debts. 

Having your income insured against the possibility of being away from work, or not being able to earn an income, helps you avoid defaulting on mortgage payments, personal loans or credit cards.

It can be the difference between continuing along within your current lifestyle following illness or accident, or being forced to dramatically change your lifestyle due to an inability to repay your debts.