Disability Income (DI) Insurance

Disability Income (DI) Insurance is a type of insurance that provides income replacement benefits to policyholders who become disabled and unable to work due to injury or illness. The policy typically pays a monthly benefit to the policyholder to replace a portion of their lost income while they are disabled and unable to work.

Key features of Disability Income (DI) Insurance include:

• Monthly benefit amount: The policyholder can choose the amount of monthly benefit they wish to receive in the event of disability. The benefit amount is usually a percentage of the policyholder's pre-disability income.

• Elimination period: The elimination period is the waiting period after the onset of the disability before benefits start. The policyholder can choose the elimination period at the time of policy purchase.

• Benefit period: The benefit period is the length of time during which the policyholder will receive disability benefits if they are unable to work due to disability. The benefit period can vary depending on the policyholder's needs.

• Definition of disability: The policy will define what constitutes a disability and when benefits will be paid. Some policies have a more liberal definition of disability while others are more restrictive.

• Premiums: The policyholder pays a premium for the insurance coverage. The premium amount will depend on several factors including the age, health, occupation, and benefit amount selected by the policyholder.

Example: John is a 35-year-old accountant who earns $80,000 per year. He purchases a disability income insurance policy with a monthly benefit of $4,000 and a 90-day elimination period. The policy has a benefit period of 5 years. If John becomes disabled due to illness or injury and is unable to work, he will receive a monthly benefit of $4,000 after the 90-day elimination period for up to 5 years or until he is able to return to work, whichever comes first.