Will you be eligible to claim benefits under the policy?

Eligibility
Please note that this is provided as an overview. It is important that you read the eligibility you are presented with when completing an application.

Your age is between 18 and 64
To get cover under this insurance, you have to be over 18 and under 64. If you are close to 65, cover will automatically terminate when you reach the age of 65 and any benefit payable under the policy will terminate when you reach 65 if it has not terminated before that date. If you have reached the statutory retirement age, your application may be declined.

You are living and working in the UK
It is a condition that you are permanently living and in paid employment in the UK for at least 16 hours per week and eligible to register as unemployed.

Your work is permanent
You cannot apply for this Income Payment Protection Insurance if your work is temporary (including agency work), casual, seasonal, irregular, a period of training/apprenticeship or for a specific task.

You have worked for the last 6 months
You can apply for this payment protection insurance if you have worked continuously for the past six months.

Maximum insured benefit
The sum insured under this policy and any other similar insurance policies must not exceed 50% of your monthly earned income before tax. If you exceed this limit benefit will be reduced.

Medical conditions
You may not be covered for any accident or sickness that occurred before the start date of your policy, and that recurs after you have bought it. Check out the policy wording, which is available throughout the application process

Contract workers
If you are looking for Unemployment Insurance and are a contract worker (as defined by this insurance) please read the contract worker section in the policy wording, which is available throughout the application process, carefully. The underwriters require contracts to be of a minimum set length and/or to have been renewed at least once. Furthermore unemployment will not be covered beyond the date the contract would have otherwise expired naturally and non renewal of a fixed term contract will not be covered unless specific conditions of the policy are met.

Self-employed
If you are looking for unemployment insurance and are self-employed (as defined by the policy wordings for your selected insurance) please read the self-employed section in the policy wording, which is available throughout the application process, carefully. There are additional requirements you will need to meet to support a claim, including having involuntarily ceased to trade and advised HM Revenue and Customs of this.

Initial exclusion period
There is a 120 day initial exclusion period for unemployment or Carer Benefit. This means that you are not covered for unemployment that arises from any programme of job losses, any departmental or company re-structure, or merger with another company, announced by your employer before the start date of your policy, or within 120 days after the start date of your policy. This may be waived if you are transferring your cover from another provider.

Apply when your job is secure
You cannot apply if you are aware of impending unemployment, whether or not you have received official notification, or your employer has announced any job losses, departmental or company restructure or merger with another company.