What Disability Income Protects

Most people don’t like to think about it—but illness or injury can happen to anyone. A back injury, cancer diagnosis, or mental health challenge could keep you out of work for weeks or even months.

You might think you’ll rely on paid time off or savings, but how long will those really last? Nearly 4 in 10 Americans can’t afford an unexpected $400 expense. If your income stops, your bills won’t.

You have insurance for your home, car, and health—but none of those replace your paycheck. Disability insurance is income protection insurance. It protects your ability to pay for:

• Rent or mortgage
• Groceries and utilities
• Car payments and other day-to-day expenses

If a covered illness or injury keeps you from working, disability insurance pays a portion of your income while you recover—reducing financial stress when you need support most.

Even before the pandemic, about 1 in 20 workers experienced a short-term disability (under 6 months). These claims often last two to three months, sometimes longer. What’s your plan if you couldn’t work for that long?

And for younger adults, the risk stretches further. Nearly 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a long-term disability (12 months or more) before retirement age. These aren’t rare or extreme cases—they include:

• Knee, shoulder, or back injuries
• Cancer or heart conditions
• Depression and anxiety
• Pregnancy-related medical leave

If you’re like many Americans, your savings wouldn’t last three months. More than a third of adults say they’d need a loan or would have to sell something to cover a $400 emergency.¹

Disability insurance bridges the gap. Whether you’re out for a few weeks or a few years, it helps replace a portion of your income—so your finances stay stable while you recover.

The name “disability insurance” itself can be confusing. This isn’t just about catastrophic health issues. You may be completely healthy, but something like a broken bone or pregnancy can put you out of work for days, weeks, or months at a time. This poses a financial challenge: how do you pay your bills while you recover?

Disability insurance helps you recover from mental and physical illnesses and injuries by providing a financial safety net. It helps keep your life on track.

It’s not health insurance. Health coverage helps with medical bills, but it won’t pay your rent or grocery bill.

It’s not workers’ comp. That only covers injuries that happen at work.

It’s not just for catastrophic disabilities. Even a broken bone or difficult pregnancy can keep you off the job long enough to strain your budget.

Disability insurance works alongside your other coverage to protect what matters most—your ability to earn a living.

You insure your car, your health, and your home. But without income, none of that is sustainable. Disability insurance is about protecting your foundation—your ability to earn a paycheck when life takes an unexpected turn.