Disability Insurance
Your most valuable asset is your ability to work. Protect that asset with individual disability coverage that provides a regular, monthly income stream in the event you’re unable to work. Stay safe and recover a large premium refund. Better still, unlike many employer-provided disability insurance plans, CWF individual disability benefits are paid out tax-free, and many even allow you to receive disability benefits while only partially disabled.
Tax-free replacement income if you become ill or injured.
Why should you consider a personal disability insurance plan?
- Worker’s Compensation only covers work related accidents.
- Unemployment insurance only covers 15 weeks.
- Canada Pension Plan: Are you comfortable relying on the government for a benefit that can change?
- Group and association coverage can fill a valuable role in long-term disability protection. However, the benefit may be limited by the definition of disability and coverage amount.
Remember, a custom designed individual disability insurance plan will provide you with guaranteed coverage and guaranteed premiums.
Options for customizing your disability insurance policy
- Benefit period (short or long-term): the length of time a benefit is paid during your disability. This period can vary from 2 years of coverage, to the age of 65 depending on your occupation, budget, and requirements.
- The amount of coverage you purchase cannot exceed a percentage of your current earnings (i.e. you cannot insure what you do not have). Benefits are always paid out tax free.
- Occupation affects costs. People in safe jobs are less likely to become disabled than people in dangerous jobs, so their insurance costs are lower.
- Waiting period: the number of days from the date you are disabled until the benefit start date, typically 30, 60, 90, or 120 days. Longer waiting periods are less expensive.
There are 3 “types” of disability insurance
1. Own Occupation
Click here to expand- pays a benefit if you are unable to perform the duties of your regular job for which you are highly trained or skilled due to an illness or injury. Own Occupation is the most expensive type of disability insurance because it allows you to earn a tax free benefit even if you are still gainfully employable. For example: a surgeon loses the use of his or her hand and is no longer able to work as a surgeon. He or she would collect a disability benefit even if they were employed somewhere else. In short, with an Own Occupation definition of disability, you are insuring your specific job or career.
2. Regular Occupation
Click here to expand- pays a benefit if you are unable to perform the essential duties of your current job due to disability or illness, and are not gainfully employed elsewhere. Benefits cease when you are able to work again up to full capacity. For Example: An office worker who injures his back would collect a full benefit for missing over a month of work, and a partial benefit thereafter as a percentage of their full wage, as they are eased back into a full time roll. Regular Occupation is less expensive than Own Occupation, and recommended to people who do not qualify for an Own Occupation disability policy.
3. Any Occupation
Click here to expand- provides you with a monthly benefit only if are unable to perform the duties of any occupation whatsoever. This definition of disability is strict. To receive benefits, you have to be unable to work in any job. Occasionally, however, the wording is modified to take into consideration your earning level, education, training, and experience. Any occupation is a good entry level disability insurance feature, until you are eligible for regular or own occupation. It is often used to define the Waiver of Premium rider on a life insurance policy.
The peace of mind that income protection can provide is available for professionals, business owners, business executives, seasonal workers, new grads and more.
CWF Group lends clarity to these questions and so many more. To find out more click here to speak with one of our specialist.