Will a claim for critical illness affect any State Benefits?

No, it should not affect your claim for State Benefits.

STEP 1 of 2
Type of cover
Life Insurance       Mortgage Life Insurance
 
Cover Level (£)

Number of years
Do you want:  
Critical illness cover
Family income benefit
 

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Why do you need to consider a new Critical Illness policy if you already have one?
Because older policies were often limited in the illnesses they covered; your own circumstances may have changed; you may now need to increase the sum insured.
What could Critical Illness cover be used for?
Anything you want. Medical expenses, repaying the mortgage, making your home easier to live in, school fees, general living expenses, but to name a few.
Is there a waiting period to receive payment on a Critical Illness claim?
All Critical Illness policies require you to survive a specified number of days following diagnosis in order to have a valid claim. The typical survival period is 28 days but some insurance companies have reduced this to 14 days.
What level of critical illness cover could your children get?
Insurance companies normally impose a maximum limit on any claim under the policy’s provisions for children. Sometimes the limit will be lower of a percentage of your own sum assured (e.g. 25% or 50%) or a set amount (typically £15,000 or £20,000).
What happens if your condition improves after making a claim on your Critical Illness policy?
Once the insurance company has paid you the money is yours to spend how you like. The policy is terminated and your insurer has no interest on how you live your life or indeed whether your condition improves or is healed.
There are a number of State Benefits obtainable if you are sick or disabled and some of these may apply if you are off work as a result of a critical illness.

The allowances concerned are Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance. (From time to time the Government changes these benefits so please double check this information with your local Benefits Office.)

Currently, none of these benefits are means tested. Therefore, they will not be affected by your receipt of a lump sum from your insurer.

If you have a partner who is a carer (or may become a carer as a result of your illness) they may also be entitled to a Carers allowance. At the moment this allowance is only paid if their income is below £77 per week (2003/04)

Remember, all lump sum payouts from a critical Illness policy are tax-free.

Frequently Asked Questions related to the above topic.
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