Understanding the Importance of Disability Insurance for Your Future

Who Needs Disability Insurance?

Why do some people need disability insurance to protect their income?

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

If you are like most people on this planet, you are not financially free. You would not be able to stop working and still support yourself and your family from your financial resources. Your continued ability to work in order to earn an income would therefore be one of your greatest assets.

Your ability to work for a salary or wages would therefore be one of your greatest assets.

Have you insured this asset?

If disability suddenly stops you from being able to work, how would you earn an income?

How long would you survive without a paycheck?

If the situation described above is a cause for concern, you need disability income insurance.

You can become disabled either from an accident or for medical reasons.

One life insurance company defines disability as "the inability of the life assured to perform any part of any occupation in which he was engaged immediately before the onset of the incident

Further, the life assured must not be following any other gainful occupation"

Disability is often referred to in life insurance circles as the worse hazard, because if you become disabled: -Â

You stop earning salaries or wages,Â
Your life insurance policies will not pay a claim, since you didn't die,Â
Your illness

will consume a significant portion of available funds.

Here are a few facts on disability: -Â

Each year, 1 person in 8 will suffer disabilityÂ
1/3 of all people between the ages of 30 and 64 will become disabled sometime in their livesÂ
At age 32, the chance of being disabled for 90 days is 6.5 times greater than the chance of deathÂ
75% of disabilities are caused by an illness rather than an accidentÂ
Workers today are 3 times more likely to suffer a long-term disability than die during their working yearsÂ
The likelihood of being disabled for more

than 3 months is greater than dying in any given year

As you can see, the risk of disability due to illness or injury is great.

The cost of not being prepared is severe. Why take the chance? Even substantial savings can run out quickly if it is your only source of financial support.

If you are like most people who need to work in exchange for money, there is a need to protect one of your most valuable assets, i.e. your ability to earn an income.

Disability income insurance should therefore, be an important part of your long-term financial security plans.

It can help to secure your dreams, lifestyle and income, regardless of your occupation or industry.

This valuable income replacement plan is available from your local life insurance companies.

Call your life insurance advisor or enquire online for more information on this useful long-term financial security plan.

Published: Friday, 11th Sep 2020
Author: Paige Estritori

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Life Insurance Articles

Tax and Income Protection Insurance in Australia

Income protection insurance can have important tax consequences in Australia. Premiums may be deductible in some circumstances, while claim payments are generally treated as assessable income. The outcome depends on policy ownership, structure and your personal situation. - read more

Income Insurance: The Safety Net for Your Financial Goals in Australia

Financial security is pivotal for anyone striving to meet their life goals, be it owning a home, educating children, or ensuring a comfortable retirement. In Australia, where uncertainties can disrupt our best laid-out financial plans, having a safety net in place is essential. Income insurance offers just thatâ€”protection against the unforeseen events that could impact your income earning abilities. - read more

Income Protection Insurance for Employees, Contractors and Self-Employed Workers

Income protection insurance can work differently depending on whether you are a PAYG employee, contractor, sole trader, freelancer, gig worker or small business owner. Your employment structure may affect income evidence, policy design, premiums, exclusions and claim documentation. - read more

Income Protection Insurance and Workers Compensation in Australia: Key Differences

Income protection insurance and workers compensation can both provide income support after illness or injury, but they work in different ways. This guide explains the key differences for Australian employees, contractors and self-employed workers. - read more

The Essential Role of Income Insurance in a Financial Plan

Income insurance, often called income protection insurance, is designed to provide a regular payment if illness or injury prevents you from working. It can help replace part of your pre-tax income during an eligible period away from work, supporting everyday expenses and financial commitments while you focus on recovery. - read more

Insurance News

Why Advice Reform Could Help Australians Understand Their Income Cover

03 Sep 2026: Paige Estritori

Australia’s financial advice reform debate has moved back into the spotlight, with life insurers and advice groups continuing to argue that many people need simpler, more affordable help to understand the insurance they already hold. For income insurance customers, the issue is practical: cover can look straightforward on a statement, but the detail often sits in definitions, waiting periods, offsets, exclusions and claim conditions. - read more

New claims data sharpens focus on income protection details

27 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

APRA's latest life insurance claims and disputes statistics have again put the practical side of personal cover in front of Australian workers. While headline numbers often focus on the overall performance of life insurers, the data is especially relevant for anyone relying on income protection insurance or salary continuance cover to keep household cash flow steady after illness or injury. - read more

Why Claim Clarity Matters More Than Ever for Income Insurance

13 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent complaints reporting from Australia's financial dispute resolution system has put a practical issue back in front of workers: the value of income insurance is not only in the monthly benefit promised, but in how clearly a policy works when a claim is made. - read more

What Genetic Testing Reform Could Mean for Income Protection Applicants

05 Aug 2026: Paige Estritori

Australiaâ€™s move to restrict the use of adverse genetic test results in life insurance underwriting is an important development for people who have been hesitant to explore personal cover. While the reform is usually discussed in relation to life insurance, it also matters for income insurance because many retail policies sit within the broader life insurance framework. - read more

What a More Stable Income Protection Market Means for Your Pay Packet

29 Jul 2026: Paige Estritori

Recent APRA life insurance performance data has given the income protection sector a cautiously positive signal: the market appears to be moving through a more stable phase after several years of product redesign, pricing pressure and closer regulatory attention. For consumers, the important point is not that cover has suddenly become simple, but that insurer sustainability and claim reliability remain central to the value of any policy. - read more

Click for more Insurance News

Start Here !

Apply now for your free Insurance assessment and price comparisons!

Who Needs Disability Insurance?

Why do some people need disability insurance to protect their income?

Start Here: