Protect the paycheque that pays for everything else.
Most people insure the car that gets them to work, and never the work itself. Disability insurance is about what still arrives each month if you can’t.
Sound familiar?
- You’re self-employed, work in the trades, or have no sick pay.
- Your only coverage is a group plan, and you’ve never read what it pays.
- Your household would struggle if your income stopped for six months.
An income, when you can’t earn one.
Disability insurance pays you a monthly income if illness or injury stops you working. It starts after a waiting period and pays for as long as the policy says, in some cases until 65.
After that, the government support stops. What happens next depends on the coverage you have.
What many group plans replace. If your employer pays the premium, the benefit is usually taxable.
EI rules are federal program rules for 2026. Group plans vary; your benefits booklet has the details for yours.
Three steps from the Clarity Process.
- 01
Conversation
Your income, your bills, and what your work coverage, if any, would pay.
- 02
Clarity
The gap: how much, how soon, and for how long.
- 03
Confidence
Coverage that fills it, with a waiting period and benefit length that fit your savings.
Questions people ask.
Doesn’t my job cover this?
Maybe partly. Group plans often replace a portion of your income, may be taxable, and end when you leave the job. It’s worth reading exactly what yours pays.
What’s a waiting period?
The time between becoming disabled and the first payment, often 30, 90 or 120 days. A longer wait costs less, if you have savings to bridge the gap.
What does “own occupation” mean?
It means you’re considered disabled if you can’t do your own job, even if you could do a different one. Some policies use it for a set period, then switch to “any occupation.”
I’m self-employed. Can I get it?
Yes, and it matters most for you. You’ll usually need to show your income, often from your tax returns.
Are the benefits taxable?
If you pay the premiums yourself, the benefits are generally not taxable. If an employer pays them, the benefits are usually taxable.
Coverage is subject to eligibility and underwriting. Benefit amounts, waiting periods and definitions are set out in each contract.
The first step is a conversation.
Free, 30 minutes, by phone or video. You leave with Your One-Page Picture, and Your 3 Moves arrive in writing within 24 hours.
Book your Complimentary Clarity SessionFree · 30 minutes · no obligation