You work hard to build the life you want. You have a good job to continue earning an income, so that you can take care of your family and meet your financial obligation. But, what would happen if that money suddenly stopped coming in because of an illness or injury and you are unable to work?
You might be able to manage for a short while using your savings which could help you maintain your cash flow. However, after a few weeks or months of this, where would your carefully managed finances and your plans for the future be?
With no sufficient protection in place, you are putting your family at risk financially in the event that you are affected by a long-term disability. AustralianSuper income protection cover can provide the financial buffer that you and your family need should anything happen to you and you are unable to work.
What are the features of AustralianSuper Income Protection Insurance?
AustralianSuper income protection insurance pays a portion of your regular wage while you are unable to work because of an illness, injury or accident. Each unit of income protection cover with AustralianSuper provides a benefit of $500 per month before tax, and you can continue to receive your income protection benefit for up to two years. You will remain covered by your Australian Super Income Protection policy until you are 70 years old.
Other features of AustralianSuper income protection cover include:
- Nominate your cover amount: You can apply for income protection cover amount of up $20,000 (40 units) or 85% of your average salary (whichever is lower).
- Cover for rehabilitation expenses: AustralianSuper will cover the costs incurred from your rehabilitation.
- Ability to increase your cover when your first join AustralianSuper: You can increase your cover at any time without needing to provide additional health information up to a certain limit.
- Increase your level of cover when your salary increases: You can also increase your cover without needing to provide additional health information when your income level has changed. Specific terms and conditions may apply.
- Access to cover even when you are not employed: You will continue to be covered even if you are not in active employment. Although your level of cover will be limited until you return to work.
- Increase your cover at important life events: With AustralianSuper income protection, you have the flexibility to change your cover when a specific life event occurs and you won't have to provide health information. Life events that are covered under AustralianSuper cover include marriage, birth of children, divorce or death.
- Interim accident cover: When your application is being assessed by the insurer, you will be covered under interim accident cover of up to $15,000 per month.
- Waiting period: You must be disabled for at least 14 days before you are eligible to claim on your AustralianSuper income protection policy. You have a choice of either 30 or 60 day waiting period.
- Recurring disability: If you suffer from a similar or related illness or injury within six months of your previous income protection claim, no new waiting period is applicable.
- Extended waiting period: AustralianSuper can extend the waiting period if you have another income protection policy in place and are receiving benefit payments from this cover. If you continue to be disabled when your other policy has cease the payments, AustralianSuper will start paying you the benefits.
When will AustralianSuper Income Protection payout?
There are two types of payments for available under this income protection:
- Full. This is full amount of income protection you'll get paid if you are totally disabled.
- Partial. You'll get paid part of your income if you are partially disabled or work part-time.
According to the product disclosure statement (PDS):
Note: The above is a general tip based on AustralianSuper's Insurance Guide.
I Would Like Income protection insurance if i take this out can i claim it on my tax like with any other income protection policy ??
Hi Brent,
Thanks for your inquiry.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) explains that you can claim the cost of premiums you pay for insurance against the loss of your income. As long as your income protection premiums relate to earning an assessable income, and provided the policy is held outside of your superannuation fund, your premiums can be claimed as a tax deduction.
To know how to claim your deduction, you may check out this page and look for “How do I claim a deduction?” topic to see the information.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
I have income protection with AUST Super, does that cover all illnesses?
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your comment.
According to Australian Super’s PDS, you won’t be covered for any illnesses or injuries you had before you got your cover and it may last for different lengths of time. Your Income Protection comes with a benefit payment period of up to two years which means benefits may be paid a maximum of two years if you’re temporarily unable to work due to illness or injury. The type of illness will be assessed by your insurer so it’s best to verify your claim with Australian Super.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn