Insurance

Income protection insurance: a smart step for financial security

3 MIN READ 19/08/2025
Discover how income protection can secure your future when the unexpected disrupts your ability to work/earn.

 

A manual worker suffered a serious back injury that left him able to perform only 25% of his normal duties. Although he received support through ACC, the compensation fell short of what he was earning before his accident, prompting him to claim on his income protection policy. The insurer completed a full assessment of his claim and once it was approved, they covered his mortgage repayments and provided a portion of his lost income to help with bill repayments. Once approved, he received full benefit payments and even a refund of premiums paid allowing him to maintain financial stability during recovery and protect his longterm commitments.

At Haven Financial, we recognise that your income is the foundation of your financial wellbeing. Yet, many New Zealanders don’t consider how easily that income could be disrupted by illness or injury. Income protection insurance provides peace of mind, ensuring that your lifestyle, your plans, and the people who depend on you remain supported-  even when the unexpected happens.

What is income protection insurance?

Income protection insurance provides a regular monthly payment—usually up to 75% of your pre-tax income—if you can’t work due to illness or injury. Whether you’re self-employed or working for someone else, this cover helps you manage essential expenses while you focus on recovery.

Why income protection should be part of your financial strategy

  • Keep your lifestyle on track – If you couldn’t work for six months or more, how would you manage rent or mortgage payments, food, bills, or school fees? Income protection helps ensure those essential costs are covered—without relying solely on savings or external support.
  • Reduce financial stress – Focusing on your health is easier when you’re not worried about money. A steady income stream gives you the headspace to recover properly, without rushing back to work before you’re ready.
  • Safeguard your future plans – Injury or illness can disrupt life goals—like buying a home, raising a family, or building your retirement savings. Income protection helps keep those plans within reach, no matter what life throws your way.

At Haven Financial, we customise every income protection policy to suit your profession, remuneration level, and personal goals.

Income protection policies can seem complex, but the key features are:

  • Wait period – The length of time you must be unable to work due to illness or injury before benefit payments start. Common options range from 2 weeks to several months; the shorter the wait period, the higher the premium.
  • Benefit period – The maximum length of time the insurer will pay benefits for a single claim. This could be a set term (e.g., 2 years or 5 years) or until a set age (e.g., age 65).
  • Agreed value – Your benefit amount is fixed at the start of the policy based on an agreed figure (usually your income at application). Payments won’t change even if your income drops later.
  • Indemnity value – Your benefit amount is based on your income at the time of claim, not at the time of application. This can mean a lower payout if your income has decreased since you took out the policy, but premiums are usually cheaper than agreed value.

You can also add optional extras such as rehabilitation and retraining support to assist with your return to work. To ensure your cover remains effective over time, we offer inflationadjusted benefits that keep pace with the rising cost of living

When selecting a policy, it’s important to seek professional advice. A Haven Financial adviser can help tailor a plan that suits your needs now and safeguards your future ambitions. 


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