How Income Protection Works In Ireland

In a previous blog post, I looked at the alternatives to income protection.

As you can tell, I don’t think any of the alternatives provide peace of mind should you be unable to work long-term.

Income protection is the only way you can properly safeguard your income.

So today, we’ll jump into how income protection works….in plain English.

I’ve got to thank readers of my blog for their input to this post as they provided the question so excuse the language!

Can you simplify the shit out of how income protection works?

If you

• are unable to work
• for over 4 weeks
• due to any illness, injury or disability (pre-existing conditions are  excluded),

the insurer will pay you up to 75% of your income (less social welfare benefits) until you get back to your job or retirement

So let’s say you earn €50,000 and are entitled to the maximum illness benefit of €198 per week (€10,296 per year)

You can insure up to 75% of your income less €10,296  per year = (75% x €50,000) – €10,296  = €27,204 per year.

If you are unable to work for more than 4 weeks, the insurer will pay you an income of €2267 every month until you get back to your job or until you reach retirement age.

Why can I only insure up to 75% of my income, why not 100%?

You must have some incentive to return to work.

Is income protection really useful, there seems to be a lot of conditions attached to these policies. Is it really worth having?

I think it’s incredibly useful.

And the terms and conditions are very straightforward…

..unlike serious illness cover, where you have to contract a specific, defined illness in order to claim.

See more on income protection v serious illness cover

Income protection will pay out for ANY illness, injury or disability that prevents you from doing YOUR job.

So once you’re unable to work due to an identifiable illness, your policy will pay you until you get back to work or until you reach retirement.

What are the exclusions that will prevent your policy from covering your income loss?

Exclusions vary between insurer so please be careful when it comes to choosing which provider you go with.

The cheapest isn’t always the best.

The following exclusions are common to all providers:

• Pre-existing medical conditions you were aware of before taking out a policy
• Disabilities or illnesses as a result of a criminal act
• Self-inflicted injuries
• Normal pregnancy and childbirth
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• War
• Failure to follow medical advice

How sick do you have to be before income protection will pay out?

A common theme I’m seeing from clients is the confusion between serious illness cover and income protection.

They’re 2 totally different products – it looks like we, as an industry have made a balls of differentiating them.

Serious illness cover – pays out a lump sum should you contract a specific illness as defined on your policy.
e.g certain types of cancer, stroke, heart attack – so muse be seriously ill for a successful claim.

Income protection – pays you an income for as long as you cannot work due to ANY illness or injury
e.g backache, stress – once the illness prevents you from doing your job, your policy pays out.

Serious illness cover exists to clear debt / pay medical bills.

Income protection can provide you with an income for the rest of your life to continue living as you do now.

Is there a limit or time-frame on how long your income will be fully covered when you are unable to work? Does its scale back as time goes on?

You pick the limit or time-frame.

You can cover your income for 10, 20, 27, 32 (however many  years you like) up to a maximum age of 70.

So if you buy an income protection policy to age 65, your policy will pay you a replacement income until you hit 65.

The income you receive doesn’t scale back.

If you insure yourself for €5000 per month, you’ll receive a taxable income of €5,000 per month until your policy ends.

In fact you can add “claim escalation” to your policy – this means your payout increases by 3% every year you are out on claim.

If I had income protection cover and I unexpectedly lost my job would they pay me the equivalent of my lost income?

This is important.

Income protection does not cover redundancy.

It pays out if you’re unable to do your job not if you lose your job.

You can get redundancy cover as part of mortgage payment protection but we don’t offer that product. It’s gotten bad press for a reason.

If I have income protection from my employer, can I get another one as part of mortgage protection which will pay my mortgage while I am unable to work?

You can have as many income protection policies as you like but you must stay within the 75% of income rule.

So let’s say you earn €100,000 and you have a policy for €50,000 (50% of your income) through your employer.

You can take out an additional policy for the remaining 25% of your income i.e €25,000

If I have income protection, can I also get social welfare/illness benefit

Yes, if you are entitled to a social welfare payment, you will receive it in addition to your income protection payment.

What is the main advantage of having a separate income protection policy compared to life insurance and mortgage protection?

Mortgage protection – leaves a lump sum to your bank to clear your mortgage on death.

Life insurance – leaves a lump sum of money to your loved ones to replace your income should you leave them before your time.

Income protection – pays out while you are still alive. It provides a replacement income should you be unable to do your job due to illness or injury.

From a selfish point of view, income protection is the only one you will benefit from.

Life insurance and mortgage protection are for the ones you leave behind.

My question is income protection for the self-employed – am assuming it’s a non-runner?

No, not at all, in fact income protection is essential if you’re self-employed because you don’t qualify for any state benefit.

You’d have to be a lunatic not to have income protection if you’re self-employed.

Read more here about income protection for the self-employed

How much will income protection cost me?

It depends on your

• Occupation
• Age
• Health
• Smoker/non
• Amount of cover
• Waiting period
• Retirement age
• Income tax bracket

Read this article I wrote on the factors that influence the cost of income protection.

I also covered how to reduce the cost of income protection in this post.

Does the cost of income protection change with age? What guarantee does I have that the modest premium I now pay will not increase to an unsustainable amount in future?

If you choose a policy with a fixed premium then your premium will not change as you get older.

However if you choose a reviewable premium policy, your premium could increase every 5 years.

Here I compare reviewable and guaranteed premium income protection.

Should we both get income protection? (Particularly if one partner earns more than the other)

Ask yourself:

what if the lower paid partner couldn’t work long-term, would you be in trouble financially?

If the answer is yes, then you both need income protection.

But if the answer is no and affordability is an issue, then insure the higher earner only.

Sadly I have seen a case where the higher earner had to give up work to care for the lower earner .

The lower earner’s income protection policy was a lifesaver, without it they would have had to rely on the state.

This is an extreme case but it happens.

With income protection, as with all insurance, you prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

I was always wondering what insurance company should I have my policy with or maybe it does not matter because all insurance companies work the same way. If they are all different how would I know what company to take policy from?

Great question – that’s where I come in.

I know how income protection works in Ireland.

And I know the ins and out of all 5 income protection providers in Ireland so I can recommend the one that suits you best.

Each insurer has its own little quirks like these:

1. Aviva – can insure a homemaker
2. Friends First – allow you to insure up to €262,500
3. Irish Life – no minimum cover- suitable for lower incomes
4. New Ireland – guaranteed payout even if your income falls
5. Royal London – terminal illness benefit

What types of income protection are available in Ireland?

I’m currently on maternity leave, can I get income protection?

Not now as you’re not working, but once you’re back at work you can apply.

I’m self employed, what if I’m unable to work but I can still pay myself, can I claim?

You can claim but the insurer will reduce your payment by any income you receive from your employment, be it in the form of income or shared profits.

Before you take out income protection, make sure you will have an income shortfall to protect if you can’t work.

How do I pay? Monthly or yearly? Is it cheaper to pay annually? And is it by direct debit? 

How does tax relief work on income protection? Does it come back to me as part of a tax return or is it applied at payment?

• If you’re under 35 you can apply for up to €1000 cover per week without having to do a nurse medical.
• Under 40, you can apply for up to €900 per week without a medical.
• Under 45, up to €800.
• Under 50, up to €700.
• Under 55, up to €500
• And under 60, you can apply for up to €400 income protection per week without having to do a nurse medical.

If you cover is below the limits above, you can get cover based on an application form alone.

If I leave Ireland can I transfer it to the country I move to? (I have no plans to do so – but you never know)

Yes, here is Trudy’s story:

Can I have two income protection policies?

You can have as many policies as you like as long as the total cover does not exceed 75% of your income.

So if you have a personal policy or a policy through your employer for 75% then that’s your limit, you can’t have a second policy.

However if your other policy insures only 50% of your income, you can take a second policy for the 25% shortfall.

Over to you…

Please, please, PLEASE don’t just go for the cheapest quote.

Get some independent advice.

How to choose an income protection broker.

If you don’t have an advisor, I’d love to help.

Simply complete the quick outline form below and I’ll be in touch.

Nick McGowan
lion.ie | making life insurance easier