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Receive an income protection quote from these direct brands

	Product details	Maximum cover	Maximum Entry Age	Cooling-off (days)
Virgin Income Protection	Cover up to 85% of your income up to $10,000 per month if you can't work due to sickness or injury. Cover for over 1,000 jobs and full-time, part-time and self-employed.	$10,000	60	30	Get quote More info
ANZ Income Protection	Receive up to 75% of you income (up to $10,000 per month) of your income if you're unable to work due to serious illness or injury.	$10,000	59	21	Get quote More info
Income Protection	Cover up to 75% of your monthly income if you can’t work due to illness or injury, up to a maximum of $10,000 a month. Take out cover today and you could get a bonus $100 Gift Card.	$10,000	59	30	Get quote More info
NobleOak Income Protection	Cover up to 75% (to a maximum of $25,000) of your monthly income with NobleOak Income Protection. Benefit period can be tailored to suit your needs.	$25,000	59	30	Get quote More info

Our users want to know how income protection works, so we deliver

Not sure how income protection works?

What is income protection?

Income protection replaces your income (in the short term) if you're unable to work due to the following:

Serious illness

Injury
Redundancy (depending on the policy)

What type of benefit does income protection provide?

Most policies in Australia will provide you with a monthly payment up to 75% (with some up to 85%) of your total income to keep you afloat during recovery. Your income can include any commissions, bonuses or fringe benefits that you are eligible to receive.

What does the monthly benefit cover?

The monthly benefit can cover your everyday expenses as well as any long-term debt repayments. These expenses can include the following:

Food
Petrol

Education fees
Credit card debt

Mortgage payments
Everyday bills

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Learn the basics of income protection in three minutes

Looking for a more specific type of cover?

The finder.com.au income protection comparison

The table below shows just some of the income protection policies available via the finder.com.au quote engine.

Policy	Monthly quote*	Weekly quote*
ClearView Income Protection	$39.14	$9.79
TAL Accelerated Income Protection	$46.04	$11.51
Zurich Futurewise Income Protection	$47.60	$11.9
MLC Protection	$47.75	$11.94
AMP Elevate Income Protection	$30,000	$12.2

*Prices quoted above are the monthly premiums for a $4,000 income protection benefit for a 35-year-old, non-smoking male office worker. Quotes are for May 2017 and are subject to change. Any weekly premium mentioned is for reference only as most providers offer yearly, monthly and fortnightly payments.

Skip ahead

Is income protection the same thing as life insurance?
What are the different types of income insurance in Australia?

How do I actually compare policies?
Guides to help you understand income protection

When will I qualify for payment?

How much will I be paid if I'm unable to work?
How is income protection different from WorkCover?
Frequently Asked Questions

Is income protection the same as life insurance?

Income protection and life insurance are not the same products as both forms of insurance serve different cover needs.

What are the different types of income insurance in Australia?

Standalone Income Protection

This is basic to comprehensive coverage for up to 75% of your income. You can tailor the cover to meet your needs.

Group Salary Continuance

This is a policy usually taken out by an employer on behalf of their employees or offered to members of group super funds.

Personal Accident

This is accident cover that provides either a lump-sum benefit or an ongoing payment if you suffer a serious accident.

Cover facts

Income Protection

Policies are issued by life insurance companies.
They provide coverage for up to 75% of your income, although some policies will cover up to 80%.
The insurer cannot cancel the policy as long as the policyholder continues to pay their premiums.
The provider is unable to adjust the terms of the policy once you have taken it out.
It offers a more comprehensive range of benefits and features than other types of income cover.

Group Salary Continuance Insurance

Employers usually take out these policies on behalf of their employees.
It is offered to members of group super funds.
It offers coverage of up to 75% of an employee's income.
The cover provided is usually quite basic and does not take into consideration unique features relevant to the policyholder.

Personal Accident Insurance

This is a simplified and more affordable form of cover for accidental injury, disability and death of the insured person.
It can provide either a lump-sum benefit or an ongoing payment if you suffer a serious accident/disability and are unable to work.
The ongoing benefit payment is generally up to 75% of your income from age 2 to age 65.
Some policies will provide additional benefits for rehabilitation expenses.

Likelihood of actually needing income protection over your working life?

Over 60% of Australians will be disabled for a period over one month during their working life with 25% being disabled for longer than three months².
Over 2.6 million Australians under the age of 65 have suffered a physical disability³.

Yes, premium payments are generally tax deductible.
An ongoing benefit can be paid until age 65.

How do I actually compare policies?

1. Understand your needs
2. Compare benefits
3. Check policy structure

Understand your needs Compare benefits Check policy structure

Is your income fluctuating or fixed?

Fluctuating

You'll want to compare agreed-value policies. This means that at the time of application, you and the insurer agree on the income level that's covered.

Fixed

You'll want to consider an indemnity-value policy.

How long can you go without income?

Not very long

In this case, you should look at policies with a shorter waiting period. A shorter waiting period usually means a higher premium.

I have some sick leave to pull me through

If you have some savings or sick days left, you might opt for a longer waiting period. A longer waiting period will mean a lower premium in most cases.

How long do you want cover for?

For as long as possible

You should look at getting the maximum benefit period on a policy. This will be the most expensive option.

Just in the short-term

If you have additional savings or a support network that can help you cover a long-term injury or illness, then a shorter benefit period may be suitable.

Understand your needs Compare benefits Check policy structure

Compare the following policy benefits

Protecting your income is serious business and you want to make sure the policy you are paying for is going to protect you in the way you need. Assess the following benefits as you compare policies:

Benefits usually offered automatically
Optional available at an additional cost

Total disablement benefit. You will receive a monthly benefit if you meet your policy's definition of total disablement. You will receive your benefit from the end of the waiting period to the end of the benefit period.
Partial disability benefit. You will be paid the monthly partial disability benefit if you meet the definition of partial disability.
Benefit indexation. Each year, your insured monthly benefit will increase to keep pace with inflation.
Premium waiver. You will not have to pay your premium if you are eligible to receive the monthly benefit.
Rehabilitation expenses cover. Your insurer will pay for the cost of an approved rehabilitation course if it is necessary for your recovery.
Recurrent benefit. Your insurer will pay a benefit without a waiting period if after a specified period of time at work (usually about 12 months), you suffer the same or a related disability from a previous claim.
Death benefit. Your beneficiaries will receive a lump-sum benefit equalling a multiple of your insured monthly benefit if you pass away before the policy expires.
Needlestick injury benefit. This is a benefit paid if you become infected with HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis A or Hepatitis C as a result of a splash or needlestick injury that occurred while performing the normal duties of your occupation. This benefit is normally only offered to medical practitioners.

Cosmetic or elective surgery benefit. This is the total disablement benefit you will receive if you become totally disabled as a result of cosmetic surgery, other elective surgery or as a result of surgery to transplant an organ from your body into the body of another person.
Specified injury benefit. You will be paid the insured monthly benefit in advance without a waiting period if you suffer an injury listed in your policy.
Bed confinement benefit. You will be paid a portion of your monthly benefit if you are confined to a bed and require the attendance of a full-time nurse.
Accommodation benefit. You will be reimbursed for the accommodation costs of an immediate family member if you become totally disabled and they travel more than 250km to see you.
Family care benefit. A benefit will be paid if at the end of the waiting period, a family member's income is reduced as a result of looking after you while you are totally disabled.
Overseas assistance benefit. This covers the cost of transporting you back to Australia if you are travelling overseas and become totally disabled for more than a specified period of time (usually three months).

Worldwide protection. You will be covered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week anywhere in the world.

Day-one accident benefit. In the event of an accident, you can receive the benefit of your income protection policy from day one. Watch out for policies that will require you to be injured for a certain period before backdating the benefit.
Claim escalation benefit. If your claim has been paid for more than a specified period, your benefit payment will be increased by the CPI increase.
Lump-sum payment. You will receive a lump-sum payment as opposed to a monthly payment if you satisfy the company's definition of total disablement.
Child care benefit. You will receive a benefit payment if you are unable to work and your child is dependent on you for everyday needs.
Retirement optimiser. This covers a portion of your monthly income so that your superannuation fund can continue to grow while you are under an income protection claim.

Business expenses. This covers the fixed expenses of your business if you are a self-employed worker.
Increasing claims option. This is a paid option that increases the monthly benefit you receive over time by an agreed percentage (often 5% a year) or in line with annual CPI (inflation) increases. The increasing claims option is suited to those whose income protection policy pays a monthly benefit of longer than two years and who are not sure if the amount they would receive in the event of a loss of income would be sufficient for their needs after future inflation has reduced its value. Naturally, a benefit such as the increasing claims option has the potential to cost an insurer more money in the long run, so the cost is passed on to the insured in the form of a higher initial premium. However, some Australian life insurance companies have recently started offering this option as an inclusion in their income protection policies.

Understand your income needs Compare benefits Check policy structure

Check the structure of your policy

Make sure you ask your insurer the following key questions when comparing policies:

Checklist before you buy

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when taking out income protection insurance. The following are a few simple tips to help you navigate your options:

Ask for all the details. Don't be afraid to ask question after question of your insurer until you're sure you've got all the information. This means knowing exactly what is and isn't covered, how much your benefit amount will be and what your premiums will be now and in the future.
Keep up with inflation. You can look for a policy which has index-linked premiums and benefits, so that you know that your benefit amount will always keep up with inflation costs.
Look for a non-cancellable policy. A non-cancellable policy means that your insurer won't reassess your health or circumstances each time you renew your policy, so you won't be refused cover or have a premium loading added. You can also take out a policy with guaranteed future insurability so that you can increase your level of cover without your application needing to go back to the underwriter.
The effects of other income. Be aware that offset clauses can allow your insurer to reduce your benefit payout if you are receiving income from another source, such as sick pay from an employer or Centrelink benefits.
Know the conditions of insurance through your super. When you take out income protection insurance through your super, the policy is between the trustee of the fund and the insurer. Therefore, you need to make sure that both the trustee and the insurer know who your nominated beneficiaries are so the benefits go where they are needed.
Make sure you're happy with the waiting period and benefit period. The waiting period is the time you have to wait before you receive your benefit payout after a successful claim. The waiting period you choose will depend on how much you have in savings, and how long you can survive financially on other benefits, such as sick leave. The benefit period is the length of time you receive the benefit for, whether it is for two months, two years or until retirement.
Own occupation or any occupation. Make sure you know whether you will be expected to return to any job you are able to perform after an illness or injury, or if you can continue to receive a benefit until you are able to return to your own occupation.
Understand the terms and conditions. As boring and time consuming as it is to read the fine print of an insurance policy, you want to make sure you understand all of the terms, inclusions, exclusions and conditions of your policy, so that you know you have the coverage you want and need. You don't want to be paying premiums for a policy, only to find out at the time of a claim that you're not eligible for benefits.

Compare income protection quotes with an adviser

Guides to help you understand income protection

Self-Employed Cover

Find out how to get income protection if you're self-employed

Agreed Value or Indemnity Cover?

You'll need to choose between agreed value and indemnity when you apply.

Waiting Periods

A waiting period is the amount of time you'll need to wait before you can make a claim.

Specific Occupation Cover

For some occupations, getting cover is straight forward. For others, not so much.

Cover Inside Super

Find the advantages and disadvantages of getting cover inside super.

How much does it cost?

Understand what factors influence the cost of income protection.

When will I qualify for a payment with income protection?

One of the most important steps when comparing policies is to find out when you will actually be covered. Providers will class disabilities as either partial or total and permanent. The exact definition of total disablement will vary among insurance providers but most will use the following characteristics to approve a benefit payment:

You suffer a serious accident or illness.
You are unable to work due to suffering a serious accident or illness.
You experience a decrease in income following a serious accident or illness.

This is where it can get confusing. In this definition of "unable to work" or "disablement", life insurance companies use these different definitions of disability;

Duties-based disability

You are unable to perform one or more important duties in your role at work because you have suffered an illness or injury.
Such duties may include manual work, supervision, desk work, meeting with clients or presentations.

Income-based disability

You have suffered a reduction in your income of 20% or greater because of an accident or illness.

Hours-based disability

This means you are unable to perform the duties of your own occupation a certain number of hours per week (usually 10 hours) after suffering a serious accident or illness.

How much will I be paid if I'm unable to work?

You will receive up to 75% of your total monthly income. Your total monthly income is based on either your income when you apply or your income when you make a claim.

A key factor that you must consider when taking out income cover is whether to take out an agreed-value or an indemnity-value income protection policy. This will help determine how much you will receive.

Agreed value

You are insured for the amount of income you are earning at the time of your application.
To apply, you will need to provide financial documents to your insurer, but you won't need to produce this documentation again if you make a claim.
You will know what you will be paid regardless of your income at claim time.
The monthly benefit amount will remain the same, regardless of fluctuations in your income over the policy period.

Who does agreed value suit?

This option is ideal if you are a self-employed worker or the nature of your work means that your income fluctuates frequently.

Indemnity value

Indemnity value will pay you for what you say you earn at the time you complete an application.
You will need to verify your income when you claim.
If your salary has decreased since you took out cover, your benefit will be reduced to reflect this.

Who does indemnity value suit?

Indemnity value is generally a good option if you are not a self-employed worker or concerned about how your income may change in the future.

What do insurance companies recognise as income?

Employed worker
Self-employed worker, directors and partners

Pre-tax remuneration paid by your employer, including salary, fees and fringe benefits of the previous financial year.
Superannuation contributions made by your employer.
Commissions and bonuses paid by your employer.

Income generated due to the worker's own exertion minus expenses that have occurred during the previous financial year.

Read the full guide to income protection for self-employed workers.

In this case your income and in turn your benefit amount, are assessed at the time you make a claim. Therefore, when you make a claim you will also need to provide financial documents, so if you income has reduced since you applied for the policy, your benefit will also be reduced, however, if your income has increased, your benefit will too. An indemnity policy can also often be around 20% cheaper in premiums than an agreed value policy, and can be ideal if you are in a steady job, where you receive regular pay raises and b

How is income protection different to WorkCover?

income-protection

WorkCover is a nationwide initiative where all employers pay the government a premium in case one of their employees is injured at work. The employer can then make a claim and WorkCover will pay out compensation and other benefits, but only if the injury occurred at work.

WorkCover should only be viewed as the minimum insurance cover you need.

While all Australian employees are covered under WorkCover, that doesn't make income protection insurance obsolete. You should view WorkCover as the minimum amount of insurance cover you need. Potential benefits are not always guaranteed by WorkCover. See the table below for how the two cover types are different;

Income protection

Provides an ongoing benefit payment of 75% of your monthly income if you suffer a serious illness or injury.
Will cover injury and illness that occurs both at work and outside of the workplace.
Provides additional benefit payments to cover rehabilitation expenses.
You can choose to have your benefit paid for 2 years, 5 years or to age 65.

WorkCover

You are generally entitled to compensation if you suffer an injury, disease, illness or psychological injury through the course of your work.
You may be entitled to compensation if through the course of your work, a pre-existing condition reoccurs.
Workers Compensation provides cover for reasonable medical, surgical and hospital care for work-related injuries.
A lump-sum payment may be provided for permanent impairments.
Premiums are funded by the employer.
Benefit payments will usually last for a minimum of 13 weeks at 90% of the workers Annual Weekly Earnings (AWE). From 13 to 26 weeks, this amount is reduced to 80% of the AWE.
You may not receive payment benefits when you are first injured, which can be when you need them the most to cover medical bills, mortgage repayments and other immediate expenses.

Some more questions you might have about income cover

Can I apply for cover if I am already ill or injured?

If you have become ill or injured and are unable to work and earn an income, you will not be able to obtain income protection insurance to cover you for the current situation. However, you can still apply for income protection insurance for future events. Since your health is taken into consideration when you apply for income protection insurance, you may find that your current illness or injury may become a pre-existing condition. This means that you may have to pay higher premiums for your coverage, although this can depend on the nature of your condition or the type and level of injury.

What is the difference between high-risk and standard-risk cover?

All insurance approvals and premiums are assessed based on your level of risk, and the higher your risk level, the more you have to pay in premiums. In some cases, it can be harder to secure cover. Being classified as a standard risk means you have a low-risk job, lifestyle and health factors. High-risk cover can be more expensive for people with riskier jobs and leisure activities.

What is the minimum working hours required to receive cover?

This is a condition set by each insurer, requiring that you work a certain number of hours each week to be eligible for cover.

Can I get income protection if I am 65?

Unfortunately, the maximum application age for most income protection policies in Australia is 64 (age plus next birthday). It may still be worth speaking with an insurance consultant about other insurance options that would be worth considering for your situation.

Can I get income protection with immediate cover?

If you know what you are looking for in a policy and are keen to get cover in place straight away, you may wish to take out cover with a direct insurer. Cover can generally be put in place online or over the phone and on the same day provided you meet the provider's entry requirements and no additional information is required.

Your policy

What is a benefit period?

This is the maximum length of time your policy will pay you an income if you are unable to work. Typical benefit periods are 2 years, 5 years or to age 65, and the longer the benefit period, the higher the premium.

How do income protection insurers define disability?

Each insurer will have their own specific definition, but in most cases you can be classified with a duties-based disability where you are unable to perform the core tasks of your job, an income-based disability where your income is reduced because of you disability, or an hours-based disability where the hours you are able to work are reduced because of your disability.

Your benefit

Can I get an income protection benefit for more than 75% of my current income?

In general, most income protection insurance providers will offer to cover your average salary up to 75% at most. However, you may find other insurers that may offer additional cover in excess of up to 15%. It is important to note that the additional amount must be used as a superannuation contribution. This means, you will receive the 75% benefit amount and the remainder will be paid into your super fund. It is unlikely that you will find insurers who offer to cover 100% of your income, as there should be an incentive for you to return to the workforce once you have recovered.

How much will I get?

Policies will usually pay out up to 75% of your regular gross income.

Am I covered for redundancy?

Income protection insurance generally doesn't provide cover for redundancy, although there are a number of general insurance providers that do provide cover for redundancy in Australia.

When will I get paid?

Waiting periods (the time you must be unable to work before you start receiving a payout) range from 14 days to 2 years. The shorter the waiting period, the higher the premium. The cause of your sickness or injury does not need to be work related in order to receive the benefit.

What is a benefit period?

This is the maximum length of time your policy will pay your income if you are unable to work. Typical benefit periods are 2 years, 5 years or to age 65, and the longer the benefit period, the higher the premium.

Will income protection pay my salary during pregnancy?

No. Income protection will not provide any benefit payment during pregnancy. There are a number of insurers that will let you waive your premium during pregnancy.

Your premium

Does my age affect the premium I have to pay?

Generally speaking, the older you are, the more likely you are to suffer an illness; therefore, the premium you pay will be higher. Smoking is also seen as an added level of risk and usually sees your premium rise.

What is the difference between stepped and level premiums?

A stepped premium is one which starts out as very affordable and increases each year as you get older, while a level premium stays the same though out your policy and only increases to keep in line with inflation.

Will my occupation affect how much I have to pay for a policy?

Premiums can be based on the type of occupation the person has and the perceived level of risk. A manual or blue-collar worker such as a miner might be required to pay a higher premium compared to an office worker, who is considered less risky.

References:

¹ AIHW (2008) Cancer in Australia: an overview 2008, Cancer series no. 46, Cat. no. CAN 42, Canberra

² Fabrizio, E (2007) Australia & NZ Disability Income Experience www.actuaries.org/IAAHS/Colloquia/Cape_Town/Walker_-_Income_protection.pdf

³ AIHW (2008) Australia’s health 2008, Cat. no. AUS 99, Canberra

Ready to compare policies? Get quotes from Australian life insurance brands

4 Responses

LornaApril 11, 2017

If a person has been treated for cancer more than 5 years ago will this affect pay out.

- Staff
  
  ZubairApril 12, 2017Staff
  
  Hi Lorna,
  
  Thank you for your question.
  
  finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.
  
  For clarification on whether you are eligible to receive a full claim or not, please refer to your product disclosure statement or contact your insurer.
  
  All the best,
  Zubair
  
jamesSeptember 14, 2016

I want to have my income protected in case of illness of family members (my parents) in the UK

- Staff
  
  MauriceSeptember 14, 2016Staff
  
  Hi James,
  
  Thanks for your question. Unfortunately income protection in Australia will only protects the income in the case of an injury or illness to the person who’s income is insured.
  
  I hope this helps,
  
  Maurice

Get income protection quotes from up to 10 brands

Gender

Smoker

Date of Birth

Edit your details

Receive an income protection quote from these direct brands

Our users want to know how income protection works, so we deliver

How to compare policies in three steps

Not sure how income protection works?

What is income protection?

What type of benefit does income protection provide?

What does the monthly benefit cover?

Learn the basics of income protection in three minutes

Looking for a more specific type of cover?

The finder.com.au income protection comparison

Is income protection the same as life insurance?

What are the different types of income insurance in Australia?

Standalone Income Protection

Group Salary Continuance

Personal Accident

Cover facts

Income Protection

Group Salary Continuance Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance

Likelihood of actually needing income protection over your working life?

How do I actually compare policies?

Is your income fluctuating or fixed?

Fluctuating

Fixed

How long can you go without income?

Not very long

I have some sick leave to pull me through

How long do you want cover for?

For as long as possible

Just in the short-term

Compare the following policy benefits

Check the structure of your policy

Checklist before you buy

Guides to help you understand income protection

Self-Employed Cover

Agreed Value or Indemnity Cover?

Waiting Periods

Specific Occupation Cover

Cover Inside Super

How much does it cost?

When will I qualify for a payment with income protection?

Duties-based disability

Income-based disability

Hours-based disability

How much will I be paid if I'm unable to work?

Agreed value

Indemnity value

What do insurance companies recognise as income?

How is income protection different to WorkCover?

Income protection

WorkCover

Some more questions you might have about income cover

Can I apply for cover if I am already ill or injured?

What is the difference between high-risk and standard-risk cover?

What is the minimum working hours required to receive cover?

Can I get income protection if I am 65?

Can I get income protection with immediate cover?

Your policy

What is a benefit period?

How do income protection insurers define disability?

Your benefit

Can I get an income protection benefit for more than 75% of my current income?

How much will I get?

Am I covered for redundancy?

When will I get paid?

What is a benefit period?

Will income protection pay my salary during pregnancy?

Your premium

Does my age affect the premium I have to pay?

What is the difference between stepped and level premiums?

Will my occupation affect how much I have to pay for a policy?

Ask an Expert

4 Responses

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