Income protection for "risky" occupations

leanne86

Myself and my partner have recently exchanged contracts on a house and we are setting up insurance. At the moment it is just myself and my partner, no kiddies.

I have taken out a joint life insurance policy which pays the remaining value of the mortage upon either of our deaths.

I have taken out income protection for myself. This is £20 a month. It pays out £800 a month (covers mortagage and bills), from when i no longer recieve sick pay from work (after 3 months). It covers any illness that prevents me from performing my current occupation such as depression / back problems / criticial illnesses and pays out until i am certified to retun to my OWN occupation or until the policy ends (age 65).

Great, but my partner works for the police (hes a detention officer which is a civilian role - he works in custody) but he is applying for the police (the application process can take up to 18 months) and apparantly police officers (and police staff) can not get income protection insurance.

Does anyone know if this is correct? (obviously i understand his premiums would be much greater).

So my back up option is arranging mortgage payment protection and critical illness cover for him. Therefore short term illness up to 14 months would be covered by the MPPI and critical illnesses would be covered. BUT what about all the rest: a long term back injury, a cancer thats not on the list, i wanted to avoid a critical illness policy as they seem so specific with what you have to have and life doesnt work like that.

I'm a bit of a worrier and thought i had all this sorted, but now all the cracks are appearing. I want to know all circumstances are covered if possible.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved. (i will also get him to speak with his colleagues to see if they can offer further advice).

starrystarry

Certainly the insurance company I work for doesn't offer income protection to police officers. Civilian admin staff we would, but not serving police officers or detention officers. I don't know whether all insurers take the same stance though.

Being a police officer is a very stressful job and can be dangerous, so for income protection it represents a very high risk.

Don't police officers get really good sick pay anyway?

leanne86

Thanks for your reply starrystarry.

I can see both points of view. Insurance companies won't insure because of the high risk, but then because of that high risk we want insurance even more!

At the moment his sick pay is 1 month full pay and 2 months half so nothing special. However i don't know if poice officers sick pay is more suitable. We'll have to do more digging!

starrystarry

I'm sure his sick pay would be much better than that if he becomes a police officer.

Any police people out there who can clarify? Does it depend on length of service or anything?

HaytchP

A couple of companies will provide income protection for the police - try Unum or Cirencester Friendly Society.

Once he's a member of the police force his sick pay should be 6 months at full pay, then 6 months at half pay - although I'm not sure whether there is a minimum service length to get this level of cover. The payroll department should be able to help him.