Disability income insurance provides a steady monthly income to those who are unable to work(disabled) because of an accident or sickness.

Disability insurance is available through:

-group disability insurance policies
-individual disability income insurance policies
-federal government programs
-provincial government programs
-individual life insurance contracts as a rider

If you are not covered at work by a group program,if you are self-employed,work on contract or commission,it is advisable that you get yourself  an individual disability policy.

Before you apply for  disability insurance,make sure you know everything about the policy benefits.

Policy benefits are:

Benefit payments.The income or payment received by the policy owner is called the benefit.Please be aware that the benefit of a disability income policy is NOT designed to replace 100% of lost income;it is designed to replace a percentage of earned income.
Benefit period is the length of time an income will be received ;the longer the benefit period,the higher the premiums.
Elimination period is the time between the ocurence of the disability and when benefits begin.This can be anywhere from two weeks to two years.
Qualification period is the period of time after the accident or illness during which the insured must be totally disabled.Payments begin at the end of the qualification period.