Income Protection Cover

income-protection-cover-image

You might have sick pay, but what happens if that runs out whilst you are still recovering from an accident or sickness? Income Protection Cover pays you a monthly tax-free income which can be used to pay your bills, your mortgage or your rent.

  • Cover if accident or sickness stops you working
  • Cover up to 50% of your monthly income before tax
  • Simple-to-set up cover with no medical questions
  • For UK residents aged 18-60
  • Choose when you want your payouts to start, from 30 to 365 days
  • Monthly cash pay-out for up to 12 months
  • This policy is underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd
  • What is it?

    Gets to work when you can't

    Income Protection Cover pays out money every month if an accident or sickness stops you from working. It will help you to cover regular outgoings - from bills, rent, and mortgage repayments to a Friday night takeaway - if circumstances take a sudden turn for the worse.

    The policy will pay out until you're able to return to work or you reach the end of your 12 month benefit period, whichever is sooner.

    Your cash benefits kick in after you have been off work for a period of time, that you choose when you take out your policy (waiting period). This is how long you would need to be off work before your benefits kick in.

    We’ll deliver your monthly cash after your chosen waiting period (30 to 365 days – you decide). The longer waiting period you choose the cheaper your premium will be.

    To summarise, Income Protection can:
    • help cover your regular outgoings if you can't work
    • protect you and your lifestyle
    • make sure that incapacity doesn’t become a financial disaster for your family
    • ensure that you can continue to provide for your loved ones even if you can’t work
    • mean that you don’t have to rely on savings or state benefits if you're unable to work

    Essentially, it gets to work when you can’t!

    There are other providers of short term income protection and other products designed to protect you against loss of income. For impartial information about insurance, please visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

    This policy is underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, register number 203188. Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd and Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd are both members of the same group of Companies and are ultimately owned and controlled by the Parent Company Embignell Ltd, registered in England no 05871053.

  • Who is it for?

    Income Protection Cover is designed to meet the needs of working people with nothing to fall back on, or who wouldn't want to have to use their savings to pay bills, should they lose their income due to sickness or accident.

    Would you need a regular income to pay for:

    • Rent
    • Mortgage Repayments
    • Food
    • Bills
    • Holidays
    • School expenses
    • Servicing debt
    • Everyday living expenses

    You may not need it however if you already have one or more of the following financial safety nets:

    • Company sick pay allowance
    • State benefits
    • Savings (and are happy to use these during a period of disability)
    • Family or partner support.

    If you don’t think these would be enough if you were off work for a long period then Income Protection Cover might provide a useful alternative.

  • Tips to Buy Safely

    Things to think about before buying:
    This is a short-term income protection insurance policy. We are not offering any advice about the product so it’s important you check whether the product meets your needs, is right for you and if you will benefit from the cover.

    A checklist of useful points:
    Before deciding whether this type of insurance is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

    1) Are you permanently employed?
    To be eligible for this cover you need to be in permanent paid employment, including self-employment, for at least 16 hours per week.

    2) What sick pay do you receive from your employer?
    Income Protection Cover is designed to pay out benefits once your employer stops paying you sick pay or if you receive no sick pay from your employer. If you receive sick pay for a reasonable period of time then you should consider whether you could survive on that or whether you would still benefit from extending that period with benefit payments from Income Protection Cover.

    3) Do you have a partner who is working?
    Are you the major breadwinner in your household? If you are, then could your household survive without your income? If not, then could you survive on your partner’s wages for a period of time if you needed to?

    4) Do you receive any kind of state benefit support while you are working e.g. Universal Credit?
    You should check your entitlements to state benefit in the event of sickness or accident. Receiving payments from Income Protection Cover may affect your entitlements to state benefits.

    5) Do you have savings that you could fall back on?
    If you have savings, would you be prepared to use them for living expenses while unable to work? If so, then how long could you keep going on that basis?

    6) What age are you?
    Would you be able to take early retirement if you became unable to work due to sickness or accident?

    7) What is your current state of health?
    If you have any pre-existing medical conditions at the start date of your cover these will be covered after you have had your policy for 24 months.

    Based on the questions above, do you think that Income Protection Cover will benefit you? If you do, simply call our friendly UK customer services team on 0343 178 1226.

  • How it Works

    It's simple. First you need to choose the policy that best suits your needs:

    Benefit Period – the maximum length of time that the policy pays out for any one claim:
    • Benefits will pay out for 12 months or when you return to work, whichever is sooner.

    Monthly Cash Benefit – the money that you'd receive on a monthly basis in the event of a claim:
    • Choose how much cash you'd need to receive on a monthly basis (up to £1,500 or 50% of your monthly income before tax, whichever is lower).

    Waiting Period – the number of days you'd need to be continuously incapacitated and off work before the benefits are paid. Choose between:
    • 30 days
    • 60 days
    • 90 days
    • 120 days
    • 180 days
    • 365 days

    It’s important that you select cover with a monthly premium that you can afford, so if you could survive for 60 days on savings, then you could choose a 60 day waiting period rather than 30 days to reduce the premium. And remember, this is a flexible policy which means that if your personal requirements change, then assuming you are not already claiming, you’re able to make changes to the cover to suit your circumstances.

    Once covered, Income Protection Cover pays out a monthly cash sum for you to spend when and how you like if an accident or sickness keeps you at home. 

    What's not covered?
    As with all insurance policies, there are certain exclusions. You'll not be able to claim if you're off work as a result of one of them:

    This policy does not cover inability to work:
    a) due to unemployment.
    b) that began before the start date.
    c) resulting from a chronic condition that you knowingly suffered with before the start date.
    d) resulting from any medical condition that you have received treatment for; had diagnosed or had investigations for, in the 12 months before the policy start date and which comes back within 24 months of the start date.
    e) due to spinal and related conditions where there is no physical or radiological evidenced abnormality confirmed by a doctor.
    f) due to intentional self-inflicted injuries.
    g) due to conditions or injuries resulting from taking alcohol or drugs (unless they are taken under the direction of a doctor and are not for the treatment of drug addiction).
    h) due to conditions or injuries resulting from you being detained in prison.
    i) due to conditions or injuries arising from war, military duty, riot as an active participant, revolution or similar.
    j) arising from a Pandemic.
    k) as a result of CBRN terrorism.
    l) as a result of you being detained in prison under the direction of a court of law.
    m) arising from ionising radiation or contamination by biological or chemical agents or radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste or from the combustion of nuclear fuel or the radioactive, toxic, explosive or other dangerous properties of any nuclear assembly or nuclear component machinery thereof.

    For a full explanation of the policy exclusions, please see the Policy Wording in the ‘Policy Documents’ tab.

  • Policy Documents

    Download policy documentation

    Please read the policy documents carefully. Clicking on the files below will open a new window in which a PDF document will appear. You will need Adobe Reader to see these documents.

    Policy Wording

    Insurance Product Information Document (IPID)

    We do everything we can to ensure we’re giving you the best possible service, whatever your circumstances. If you require additional support and would like to find out more or to request information in a different format, please contact our friendly customer services team on 0345 026 1101.

  • Testimonials

    Here's what some of our customers have said about what income protection insurance means for them. These customers purchased an income protection cover that we no longer offer, which covered sickness and accident:

    Allen (46) from Coventry – Support Worker - No dependents
    “I took out income protection insurance for the security of knowing that Steve and I are going to be secure if I’m unable to work…I wanted to know in the background that there’s something there that is going to protect us should the unforeseeable happen”

    “We need that insurance, we need that guarantee that something is there that we can fall on if we need it”

    “Thankfully I haven’t had to use it, but it’s nice to know that it is there if I do need it”

    Andrew from Dorset
    “...this insurance has helped me financially to overcome times during the past two years. To cope mentally and physically and not to have the stress and strains of income worries.”

  • Why might I need income protection?

    If you couldn’t work due to accident or sickness and lost your income as a result, you would still need to pay your rent or mortgage repayments, utility bills, loan repayments and all your other living expenses. If you are concerned about how you would manage this, then income protection might be something to consider.

    Income protection is designed to provide a monthly cash benefit to replace lost wages. There are other ways to do this, for example you may be able to fall back on:

    • Company sick pay allowance
    • Claiming state benefits
    • Using savings
    • Family or partner support.

    However, if you don’t think these would be enough or would help if you were off work for a long period then Income Protection Cover might provide an alternative safety net.

  • What if I live in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, can I get cover?

    No. Cover is only available to residents of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

  • How does Income Protection Cover affect state benefits I might be entitled to?

    Benefit payments that are available for loss of income due to sickness or accident are usually means tested. Therefore payouts from an income protection policy will affect your entitlement to state benefits. The amount you can claim will depend on your personal circumstances. You can check this with the Department of Work and Pensions or a financial adviser.

  • Am I eligible for Income Protection Cover?

    Income Protection can cover you if you are a permanent resident of the UK and are aged 18 to 60 at the start date. This includes those currently employed as an offshore worker, seafarer or mariner, whose permanent residence remains in the UK. You must be working for more than 16 hours per week and you must be permanently employed on a permanent (or fixed-term of more than 12 months) contract of employment or self-employed.

  • Do I have to answer any medical questions?

    There are no medical questions and, if you meet the eligibility criteria, you are guaranteed to be accepted. If you suffer any pre-existing conditions then this will not affect your acceptance onto the policy but you will not automatically be covered for these conditions. 

  • What if I already have a medical condition or injury?

    You will not be able to claim benefits for any chronic condition that you knew you were suffering from on or before the start date of your policy. A chronic condition is one that continues indefinitely; is controlled rather than cured; has recurring symptoms or requires long term treatment or monitoring.

    You could be eligible for a waiver of the chronic condition exclusion if you:
    • held a similar policy covering sickness and accident for more than 6 months before the start date of this policy.
    • you did not knowingly suffer from that chronic condition at the start date of your previous policy.
    • have not claimed on that previous policy in the 24 months before the start date of this policy.
    • have replaced your previous policy with this policy.
    This waiver would only apply to a corresponding level of Monthly Benefit provided by your previous policy

    You will not be able to claim benefits for any medical condition that has been diagnosed or treated during the 12 months immediately before the start date and which comes back within 24 months after the start date. This exclusion will not be applied after 24 months have passed without treatment or advice for that medical condition.

    You could be eligible for a waiver of the initial 24 months exclusion on a pre-existing medical condition if you:
    • held a similar policy covering sickness and accident for more than 6 months before the start date of this policy.
    • have not claimed on that similar policy in the 24 months before the start date of this policy.
    • have replaced your previous policy with this policy.
    This waiver would only apply to a corresponding level of monthly benefit provided by your previous policy.

  • I am self-employed, can I have the cover?

    Yes.  You can be covered if you carry on business in the UK alone or with others or if you work for a company that is controlled by your immediate family.

  • I am a contract worker, can I have the cover?

    Yes, you can be covered if you are employed on a contract for a specific term or undertaking for at least 12 months duration.

  • What am I covered for?

    Your policy provides monthly cash benefits if you can’t work due to sickness or accident for up to 12 months.

  • When will my cover start?

    You must first complete and return the application pack to us. Once received and entered into our system, your cover will start immediately. We will send you an email or send you a letter (according to your mailing preferences) confirming your cover start date.

  • How long will my benefits pay out for?

    You policy will pay your benefits while you remain unable to work up to the maximum benefit period. Your benefits will stop when you return to work or when your maximum benefit period is reached, whichever is sooner. The maximum benefit period on this policy is 12 months.

  • Can I make changes to the cover?

    This is a flexible policy which means you’re able to make changes to the cover as your personal requirements change. You can request an increase or decrease in:

    • your monthly benefit
    • your waiting period

    All agreed changes will take effect from the next premium collection date. No changes can be made to your policy while you are claiming on your cover. 

    If you increase your cover the increase will not apply to a claim for any condition that you knew about before applying for the increase.

  • What happens if I change my job?

    As long as your new job does not affect your eligibility to claim then your policy is unaffected – you must continue to work for more than 16 hours per week, under a permanent contract or fixed-term contract of employment and be working in the UK. You may want to check the level of cover is still appropriate if your conditions of employment or your salary/wages change. 

  • When will my cover end?

    The policy and any benefits you may be receiving will end on the earliest of the following:

    • You reach 65 years of age
    • Cease to be a UK resident
    • You permanently retire
    • Your death
    • You fail to pay the premium when due

  • Who provides this cover?

    This policy is underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd. It is arranged by Union Insurance Services which is a trading name of Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd.

  • What if I change my mind?

    You can cancel the policy within 30 days of the start date and you will receive a refund of any premium you have paid, if no claim has been made. Following this you may cancel the cover at any time in writing to Union Insurance Services, 39/51 Highgate Road, London NW5 1RT or by phone on 0343 178 1226, however you will not receive a refund of any premiums.

  • Can I claim if I can’t work due to Coronavirus?

    Claims for any condition resulting from a pandemic will not be covered by the policy.

  • Can I claim for stress?

    Claims for any condition of stress, anxiety or depression will be considered.

  • Can I claim for back related injuries?

    Claims for spinal or related conditions are considered. However, we require physical or radiological evidence of a medical abnormality, confirmed by a suitably qualified consultant that the condition prevents you from working.

  • What would happen if I become sick or injured immediately after taking out this policy or within the first few months?

    Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from a condition that you have had diagnosed or treated in the 12 months before the start date, a self-inflicted injury, drug and alcohol abuse or, under certain circumstances, from spinal conditions, stress, anxiety or depression.

  • How much will I get if I claim?

    That depends on the monthly benefit you’ve chosen. You can cover up to 50% of your gross income (which means 50% of your salary/wages before tax) up to a maximum of £1,500. In the event of a claim you will receive payments on a monthly basis and these will continue until you return to work or reach your maximum number of benefit payments.

  • When will my benefits start paying out if I claim?

    Your benefits will pay out after your chosen waiting period. The waiting period is the number of consecutive days that you will need to be off work before any benefit will be due on your cover. You can choose a waiting period of 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 or 365 days. The longer the waiting period the lower your premiums will be. You should consider how long you could manage before you would want the benefits to pay out. For example: if you receive 3 months sick pay from your employer then you may want to choose a waiting period of 90 days.

  • What if I already have loan or mortgage protection or any other payment protection?

    If you have other payment protection insurance this may affect the amount of benefit paid by this policy. In the event of a claim you will be asked to provide details of any other income, repayment or payment protection insurance that you have. The monthly benefit paid by this insurance will be reduced so that the total of all the benefits paid does not exceed 50% of your gross monthly income. You will receive a proportionate refund of premium if this is the case.

  • Can I claim more than once?

    Yes, you can claim more than once on this policy. If you are claiming again for a re-occurrence of the same condition then this may be considered a continuation of a previous claim. If you are claiming for a new condition then this will be treated as a new claim.

  • What is not covered by the policy?

    As with all insurances, there are certain exclusions on the cover which means that benefits will not be paid if you are off work as a result of one of them. For a full list of exclusions, please see the Policy Wording in the ‘Policy Documents’ tab.

  • How do I make a claim?

    In the event of a claim, please email customerservices@unioninsurance.co.uk or call our customer services team on 0343 178 1226 and they will send you a claim form.

  • How do I pay for my cover?

    Premiums will be collected from your nominated bank account by Direct Debit on the 1st of each month or the next working day.

  • When will I start to pay for my cover?

    Your first premium will be collected on the 1st of the month following the start date of your policy, unless this falls with the last 8 working days of the month.

    If the start date of your policy falls within the last 8 working days of the month, the first premium collection will be on the 1st working day of the next month.

    Examples:

    • if your policy start date is the 15th of March, the first premium collection will be the 1st April and one premium will be collected.
    • if your policy start date is the 28th of March, the first premium collection will be the 1st May and one premium will be collected.

  • Can my premiums change?

    Yes, your premiums may change – they can go up or down and there is no limit to the amount that they can change. Your premiums are calculated based on your age and the level of cover that you select.

    You will be given 14 days’ notice of any premium changes.

What is it?

Gets to work when you can't

Income Protection Cover pays out money every month if an accident or sickness stops you from working. It will help you to cover regular outgoings - from bills, rent, and mortgage repayments to a Friday night takeaway - if circumstances take a sudden turn for the worse.

The policy will pay out until you're able to return to work or you reach the end of your 12 month benefit period, whichever is sooner.

Your cash benefits kick in after you have been off work for a period of time, that you choose when you take out your policy (waiting period). This is how long you would need to be off work before your benefits kick in.

We’ll deliver your monthly cash after your chosen waiting period (30 to 365 days – you decide). The longer waiting period you choose the cheaper your premium will be.

To summarise, Income Protection can:
• help cover your regular outgoings if you can't work
• protect you and your lifestyle
• make sure that incapacity doesn’t become a financial disaster for your family
• ensure that you can continue to provide for your loved ones even if you can’t work
• mean that you don’t have to rely on savings or state benefits if you're unable to work

Essentially, it gets to work when you can’t!

There are other providers of short term income protection and other products designed to protect you against loss of income. For impartial information about insurance, please visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

This policy is underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, register number 203188. Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd and Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd are both members of the same group of Companies and are ultimately owned and controlled by the Parent Company Embignell Ltd, registered in England no 05871053.

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Who is it for?

Income Protection Cover is designed to meet the needs of working people with nothing to fall back on, or who wouldn't want to have to use their savings to pay bills, should they lose their income due to sickness or accident.

Would you need a regular income to pay for:

• Rent
• Mortgage Repayments
• Food
• Bills
• Holidays
• School expenses
• Servicing debt
• Everyday living expenses

You may not need it however if you already have one or more of the following financial safety nets:

• Company sick pay allowance
• State benefits
• Savings (and are happy to use these during a period of disability)
• Family or partner support.

If you don’t think these would be enough if you were off work for a long period then Income Protection Cover might provide a useful alternative.

Tips to Buy Safely

Things to think about before buying:
This is a short-term income protection insurance policy. We are not offering any advice about the product so it’s important you check whether the product meets your needs, is right for you and if you will benefit from the cover.

A checklist of useful points:
Before deciding whether this type of insurance is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Are you permanently employed?
To be eligible for this cover you need to be in permanent paid employment, including self-employment, for at least 16 hours per week.

2) What sick pay do you receive from your employer?
Income Protection Cover is designed to pay out benefits once your employer stops paying you sick pay or if you receive no sick pay from your employer. If you receive sick pay for a reasonable period of time then you should consider whether you could survive on that or whether you would still benefit from extending that period with benefit payments from Income Protection Cover.

3) Do you have a partner who is working?
Are you the major breadwinner in your household? If you are, then could your household survive without your income? If not, then could you survive on your partner’s wages for a period of time if you needed to?

4) Do you receive any kind of state benefit support while you are working e.g. Universal Credit?
You should check your entitlements to state benefit in the event of sickness or accident. Receiving payments from Income Protection Cover may affect your entitlements to state benefits.

5) Do you have savings that you could fall back on?
If you have savings, would you be prepared to use them for living expenses while unable to work? If so, then how long could you keep going on that basis?

6) What age are you?
Would you be able to take early retirement if you became unable to work due to sickness or accident?

7) What is your current state of health?
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions at the start date of your cover these will be covered after you have had your policy for 24 months.

Based on the questions above, do you think that Income Protection Cover will benefit you? If you do, simply call our friendly UK customer services team on 0343 178 1226.

How it Works

It's simple. First you need to choose the policy that best suits your needs:

Benefit Period – the maximum length of time that the policy pays out for any one claim:
• Benefits will pay out for 12 months or when you return to work, whichever is sooner.

Monthly Cash Benefit – the money that you'd receive on a monthly basis in the event of a claim:
• Choose how much cash you'd need to receive on a monthly basis (up to £1,500 or 50% of your monthly income before tax, whichever is lower).

Waiting Period – the number of days you'd need to be continuously incapacitated and off work before the benefits are paid. Choose between:
• 30 days
• 60 days
• 90 days
• 120 days
• 180 days
• 365 days

It’s important that you select cover with a monthly premium that you can afford, so if you could survive for 60 days on savings, then you could choose a 60 day waiting period rather than 30 days to reduce the premium. And remember, this is a flexible policy which means that if your personal requirements change, then assuming you are not already claiming, you’re able to make changes to the cover to suit your circumstances.

Once covered, Income Protection Cover pays out a monthly cash sum for you to spend when and how you like if an accident or sickness keeps you at home. 

What's not covered?
As with all insurance policies, there are certain exclusions. You'll not be able to claim if you're off work as a result of one of them:

This policy does not cover inability to work:
a) due to unemployment.
b) that began before the start date.
c) resulting from a chronic condition that you knowingly suffered with before the start date.
d) resulting from any medical condition that you have received treatment for; had diagnosed or had investigations for, in the 12 months before the policy start date and which comes back within 24 months of the start date.
e) due to spinal and related conditions where there is no physical or radiological evidenced abnormality confirmed by a doctor.
f) due to intentional self-inflicted injuries.
g) due to conditions or injuries resulting from taking alcohol or drugs (unless they are taken under the direction of a doctor and are not for the treatment of drug addiction).
h) due to conditions or injuries resulting from you being detained in prison.
i) due to conditions or injuries arising from war, military duty, riot as an active participant, revolution or similar.
j) arising from a Pandemic.
k) as a result of CBRN terrorism.
l) as a result of you being detained in prison under the direction of a court of law.
m) arising from ionising radiation or contamination by biological or chemical agents or radioactivity from any nuclear fuel or from any nuclear waste or from the combustion of nuclear fuel or the radioactive, toxic, explosive or other dangerous properties of any nuclear assembly or nuclear component machinery thereof.

For a full explanation of the policy exclusions, please see the Policy Wording in the ‘Policy Documents’ tab.

Policy Documents

Download policy documentation

Please read the policy documents carefully. Clicking on the files below will open a new window in which a PDF document will appear. You will need Adobe Reader to see these documents.

Policy Wording

Insurance Product Information Document (IPID)

We do everything we can to ensure we’re giving you the best possible service, whatever your circumstances. If you require additional support and would like to find out more or to request information in a different format, please contact our friendly customer services team on 0345 026 1101.

Testimonials

Here's what some of our customers have said about what income protection insurance means for them. These customers purchased an income protection cover that we no longer offer, which covered sickness and accident:

Allen (46) from Coventry – Support Worker - No dependents
“I took out income protection insurance for the security of knowing that Steve and I are going to be secure if I’m unable to work…I wanted to know in the background that there’s something there that is going to protect us should the unforeseeable happen”

“We need that insurance, we need that guarantee that something is there that we can fall on if we need it”

“Thankfully I haven’t had to use it, but it’s nice to know that it is there if I do need it”

Andrew from Dorset
“...this insurance has helped me financially to overcome times during the past two years. To cope mentally and physically and not to have the stress and strains of income worries.”

FAQ
Why might I need income protection?

If you couldn’t work due to accident or sickness and lost your income as a result, you would still need to pay your rent or mortgage repayments, utility bills, loan repayments and all your other living expenses. If you are concerned about how you would manage this, then income protection might be something to consider.

Income protection is designed to provide a monthly cash benefit to replace lost wages. There are other ways to do this, for example you may be able to fall back on:

• Company sick pay allowance
• Claiming state benefits
• Using savings
• Family or partner support.

However, if you don’t think these would be enough or would help if you were off work for a long period then Income Protection Cover might provide an alternative safety net.

What if I live in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, can I get cover?

No. Cover is only available to residents of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

How does Income Protection Cover affect state benefits I might be entitled to?

Benefit payments that are available for loss of income due to sickness or accident are usually means tested. Therefore payouts from an income protection policy will affect your entitlement to state benefits. The amount you can claim will depend on your personal circumstances. You can check this with the Department of Work and Pensions or a financial adviser.

Am I eligible for Income Protection Cover?

Income Protection can cover you if you are a permanent resident of the UK and are aged 18 to 60 at the start date. This includes those currently employed as an offshore worker, seafarer or mariner, whose permanent residence remains in the UK. You must be working for more than 16 hours per week and you must be permanently employed on a permanent (or fixed-term of more than 12 months) contract of employment or self-employed.

Do I have to answer any medical questions?

There are no medical questions and, if you meet the eligibility criteria, you are guaranteed to be accepted. If you suffer any pre-existing conditions then this will not affect your acceptance onto the policy but you will not automatically be covered for these conditions. 

What if I already have a medical condition or injury?

You will not be able to claim benefits for any chronic condition that you knew you were suffering from on or before the start date of your policy. A chronic condition is one that continues indefinitely; is controlled rather than cured; has recurring symptoms or requires long term treatment or monitoring.

You could be eligible for a waiver of the chronic condition exclusion if you:
• held a similar policy covering sickness and accident for more than 6 months before the start date of this policy.
• you did not knowingly suffer from that chronic condition at the start date of your previous policy.
• have not claimed on that previous policy in the 24 months before the start date of this policy.
• have replaced your previous policy with this policy.
This waiver would only apply to a corresponding level of Monthly Benefit provided by your previous policy

You will not be able to claim benefits for any medical condition that has been diagnosed or treated during the 12 months immediately before the start date and which comes back within 24 months after the start date. This exclusion will not be applied after 24 months have passed without treatment or advice for that medical condition.

You could be eligible for a waiver of the initial 24 months exclusion on a pre-existing medical condition if you:
• held a similar policy covering sickness and accident for more than 6 months before the start date of this policy.
• have not claimed on that similar policy in the 24 months before the start date of this policy.
• have replaced your previous policy with this policy.
This waiver would only apply to a corresponding level of monthly benefit provided by your previous policy.

I am self-employed, can I have the cover?

Yes.  You can be covered if you carry on business in the UK alone or with others or if you work for a company that is controlled by your immediate family.

I am a contract worker, can I have the cover?

Yes, you can be covered if you are employed on a contract for a specific term or undertaking for at least 12 months duration.

What am I covered for?

Your policy provides monthly cash benefits if you can’t work due to sickness or accident for up to 12 months.

When will my cover start?

You must first complete and return the application pack to us. Once received and entered into our system, your cover will start immediately. We will send you an email or send you a letter (according to your mailing preferences) confirming your cover start date.

How long will my benefits pay out for?

You policy will pay your benefits while you remain unable to work up to the maximum benefit period. Your benefits will stop when you return to work or when your maximum benefit period is reached, whichever is sooner. The maximum benefit period on this policy is 12 months.

Can I make changes to the cover?

This is a flexible policy which means you’re able to make changes to the cover as your personal requirements change. You can request an increase or decrease in:

• your monthly benefit
• your waiting period

All agreed changes will take effect from the next premium collection date. No changes can be made to your policy while you are claiming on your cover. 

If you increase your cover the increase will not apply to a claim for any condition that you knew about before applying for the increase.

What happens if I change my job?

As long as your new job does not affect your eligibility to claim then your policy is unaffected – you must continue to work for more than 16 hours per week, under a permanent contract or fixed-term contract of employment and be working in the UK. You may want to check the level of cover is still appropriate if your conditions of employment or your salary/wages change. 

When will my cover end?

The policy and any benefits you may be receiving will end on the earliest of the following:

• You reach 65 years of age
• Cease to be a UK resident
• You permanently retire
• Your death
• You fail to pay the premium when due

Who provides this cover?

This policy is underwritten by Stonebridge International Insurance Ltd. It is arranged by Union Insurance Services which is a trading name of Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd.

What if I change my mind?

You can cancel the policy within 30 days of the start date and you will receive a refund of any premium you have paid, if no claim has been made. Following this you may cancel the cover at any time in writing to Union Insurance Services, 39/51 Highgate Road, London NW5 1RT or by phone on 0343 178 1226, however you will not receive a refund of any premiums.

Can I claim if I can’t work due to Coronavirus?

Claims for any condition resulting from a pandemic will not be covered by the policy.

Can I claim for stress?

Claims for any condition of stress, anxiety or depression will be considered.

Can I claim for back related injuries?

Claims for spinal or related conditions are considered. However, we require physical or radiological evidence of a medical abnormality, confirmed by a suitably qualified consultant that the condition prevents you from working.

What would happen if I become sick or injured immediately after taking out this policy or within the first few months?

Benefits will not be payable if your claim results from a condition that you have had diagnosed or treated in the 12 months before the start date, a self-inflicted injury, drug and alcohol abuse or, under certain circumstances, from spinal conditions, stress, anxiety or depression.

How much will I get if I claim?

That depends on the monthly benefit you’ve chosen. You can cover up to 50% of your gross income (which means 50% of your salary/wages before tax) up to a maximum of £1,500. In the event of a claim you will receive payments on a monthly basis and these will continue until you return to work or reach your maximum number of benefit payments.

When will my benefits start paying out if I claim?

Your benefits will pay out after your chosen waiting period. The waiting period is the number of consecutive days that you will need to be off work before any benefit will be due on your cover. You can choose a waiting period of 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 or 365 days. The longer the waiting period the lower your premiums will be. You should consider how long you could manage before you would want the benefits to pay out. For example: if you receive 3 months sick pay from your employer then you may want to choose a waiting period of 90 days.

What if I already have loan or mortgage protection or any other payment protection?

If you have other payment protection insurance this may affect the amount of benefit paid by this policy. In the event of a claim you will be asked to provide details of any other income, repayment or payment protection insurance that you have. The monthly benefit paid by this insurance will be reduced so that the total of all the benefits paid does not exceed 50% of your gross monthly income. You will receive a proportionate refund of premium if this is the case.

Can I claim more than once?

Yes, you can claim more than once on this policy. If you are claiming again for a re-occurrence of the same condition then this may be considered a continuation of a previous claim. If you are claiming for a new condition then this will be treated as a new claim.

What is not covered by the policy?

As with all insurances, there are certain exclusions on the cover which means that benefits will not be paid if you are off work as a result of one of them. For a full list of exclusions, please see the Policy Wording in the ‘Policy Documents’ tab.

How do I make a claim?

In the event of a claim, please email customerservices@unioninsurance.co.uk or call our customer services team on 0343 178 1226 and they will send you a claim form.

How do I pay for my cover?

Premiums will be collected from your nominated bank account by Direct Debit on the 1st of each month or the next working day.

When will I start to pay for my cover?

Your first premium will be collected on the 1st of the month following the start date of your policy, unless this falls with the last 8 working days of the month.

If the start date of your policy falls within the last 8 working days of the month, the first premium collection will be on the 1st working day of the next month.

Examples:

• if your policy start date is the 15th of March, the first premium collection will be the 1st April and one premium will be collected.
• if your policy start date is the 28th of March, the first premium collection will be the 1st May and one premium will be collected.

Can my premiums change?

Yes, your premiums may change – they can go up or down and there is no limit to the amount that they can change. Your premiums are calculated based on your age and the level of cover that you select.

You will be given 14 days’ notice of any premium changes.

Union Insurance Services is a trading name of Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd (UIB) who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to distribute non-investment insurance products, register number 307575. This can be checked on the FCA website: www.fca.org.uk .

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