Income Protection Insurance
Financial protection if you are temporarily unable to work due to illness or injury.





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TAL Income Protection
TAL Income Protection is designed to suit you and your loved ones, offering a range of flexible and innovative benefits to support you when you need it most. When you set up your policy, you’ll be able to create cover that gives you exactly what you need.
We offer two options each with its own benefits to suit your needs.
Income Protection Extend
Income Protection Focus
Key features & benefits
Maximum benefit amount
Your policy can cover up to 70% of your monthly income. You can get a quote online for cover up to $20,000 per month. For cover up to a maximum benefit of $30,000 per month, please call us on 131 825 or speak to your Financial Adviser.
Waiting Period
Choose a waiting period that suits you. The waiting period starts when you first become unable to work due to a sickness or injury. The Income Protection benefit only starts after the end of the waiting period and is paid one month after the end of the waiting period.
Benefit Period
Select a benefit period to meet your needs – this is how long you will receive payments for if you are unable to work. Choose from a period of one, two, five years or up to age 65.
Premiums could be tax deductible
Since your premiums are directly related to your work, they could be tax deductible. Check with your accountant or the ATO to ensure you are eligible.
Calculate the cover you might need
Use our new Life Insurance Calculator to get an idea of how much cover you might need to keep life going if the unexpected happens.

What is Income Protection Insurance and how does it work?
Income protection insurance provides you with regular monthly payments if you’re unable to work due to sickness or injury.
By maintaining regular household income, income protection allows you and your family to keep up with your expenses, even if you aren’t working. This eases the financial pressure, so you can focus on getting back on your feet.
Payment amount and length of cover will depend on your circumstances.
Differences between IP Focus and IP Extend
To better understand each option, please read the Income Protection Insurance key facts for examples and the Product Disclosure Statement which contains important information including what's covered and what's not covered.
Income Protection Focus | Income Protection Extend | |
---|---|---|
How much can you apply to receive | Up to 70% of your Earnings | Up to 70% of your Earnings |
How long can benefits be payable for a claim | 1, 2 or 5 years | To age 65 |
How long do you have to wait from when you're unable to work and start to accrue benefits | Choice of 4, 8 or 13 weeks | Choice of 4, 8 or 13 weeks |
How much will you be paid if you are Totally Unable to Work | Your Benefit Amount1, 2 | Your Benefit Amount1, 2 |
How much will you be paid if you are Partially Unable to Work | The Benefit Amount3 less 75% of Earnings when Partially Unable to Work | 1 - 24 months on claim: Benefit Amount3 less 75% of Earnings when Partially Unable to Work After 24 months on claim: Benefit Amount3 less 100% of Earnings when Partially Unable to Work |
What Occupation definition is used when a claim is paid? | Own Occupation—see example. | In the first 24 months on claim, we use the Own Occupation. |
1. If the claim started after the Policy anniversary before your 60th birthday, the amount used to calculate the benefit payable will be 2/3rd of the Benefit Amount after the Claim Period exceeds 24 months.
2. The amount payable may be reduced if an offset applies (such as when you receive payments from certain other income protection insurance or workers’ compensation related to the injury or sickness which causes you to cease work).
3. The amount payable may be subject to an adjustment (for example if partially working but not working to the your full capability).
What important details do I need to know?
What’s not covered
No payment will be made under Income Protection and any included or optional benefits (if applicable), if the claim arises:
directly or indirectly because of an intentional, self-inflicted act by the Life Insured;
because of normal and uncomplicated pregnancy, miscarriage or childbirth. Normal and uncomplicated pregnancy includes, but is not limited to morning sickness, backache, varicose veins, ankle swelling, bladder problems, multiple pregnancy, carpal tunnel syndrome, or participation in an IVF or similar program;
directly or indirectly because of War or an act of war, even if the disability manifests itself after the War or warlike activity;directly or indirectly as a result of the Life Insured participating in criminal activity. No payments will be made for any periods where the Life Insured was incarcerated due to their participation in a criminal act; or
directly or indirectly as a result of a permanent or temporary banning, deregistration, disqualification or restriction being placed on the Life Insured from performing all or some of the duties of their Working Occupation.
Travel outside Australia
If Life Insured is outside Australia, the Totally Unable To Work Benefit and/or the Partially Unable to Work Benefit will be limited to three months of payments. Entitlement to further and/or ongoing benefits will be assessed once the Life Insured returns to Australia and has met the necessary claim requirements (refer to Section 3 of the PDS for details).
If we limit payment of the Totally Unable to Work Benefit and/or Partially unable to Work Benefit payment to three months and the Life Insured remains Totally Unable to Work or Partially Unable to Work, the Overseas Assistance Benefit may be available to assist the Life Insured to return to Australia.
This limitation will not apply during periods when the Life Insured is medically certified as unfit for air travel, or where air travel to Australia is not possible.
Waiting Periods
A choice of Waiting Periods applies from the Date of Disablement before Benefits commence:
4 weeks;
8 weeks; or
13 weeks
Occupational restrictions may apply when applying for new Income Protection cover or when you increase your Income Protection cover.
See example in the Income Protection Insurance key facts.
Benefit Periods
Your benefit period options will depend on the income replacement option you choose:
Income Protection (IP) Focus covers up to 70% of your income with a choice of a one, two or five-year benefit period. The Own Occupation definition applies for the duration of the benefit period.
All benefits will stop on the policy end date (even if the benefit period extends beyond the policy end date). For each claim condition or event, the total cumulative benefits we will pay is limited to the benefit period that you have chosen.Income Protection (IP) Extend covers up to 70% of your income for the duration of your benefit period. The Own Occupation definition applies for the first two years of the claim, and after two years on claim changes to the Any Occupation definition.
Conditions
All benefit payments under Income Protection are limited by the terms and conditions set out in Section 2.6, Section 3 and Section 9 of the PDS.
The benefit payable may be reduced or stopped as a result of the following:
If you are not working or earning to your full capability (refer to ‘How much is payable and what are the ongoing benefit payments?’ and ‘When will we adjust your benefit payments?’ in Section 2.6.1 of the PDS for details).
If you are receiving other payments (refer to Section 2.6.5 of the PDS for details).
The Totally Unable to Work Benefit or Partially Unable to Work Benefit will stop after three months if you are overseas (refer to Section 2.6.4 of the PDS for details).
A claim resulting from or related to any of the following will be excluded (refer to Section 2.6.4 of the PDS for details):
Intentional self-inflicted act.
Normal and uncomplicated pregnancy.
War or act of war.
Deregistration, disqualification or restriction which prevents or restricts you from performing your occupation.
Participation in a criminal act and/or for any period that you are incarcerated due to your participation in criminal act.
A claim may not be paid or paid at a reduced amount, if a special condition applies. If applicable, the special condition will be shown in the Policy Schedule.
What is underwriting?
Underwriting is a term used to describe the process of assessing insurance risk prior to issuing a policy. It usually takes the form of questions about your occupation, medical history and activities you enjoy doing. Underwriting is designed to ensure the premiums and cover terms for your insurance plan are appropriate for your own medical situation, lifestyle and occupation, and for the insurer to assess if insurance can be provided to you and if so on what terms.
Loadings & Exclusions
In some cases we will be unable to provide you with all or some parts of the Cover for which you have applied.
In other cases, Cover may be subject to conditions such as a Premium Loading, or an Exclusion. A Premium Loading will mean that you pay a higher premium for the Cover.
An Exclusion will mean that you will not be Covered if you suffer a specified excluded medical condition, or you are injured as a result of participating in an excluded pastime or activity.
At time of claim, you will need to provide proof of your Pre-Claim Earnings to support the Benefit Amount. If your Pre-Claim Earnings do not justify your monthly insured Benefit Amount, any benefit payable to you will be reduced. If your income has reduced since you purchased your Policy, you may want to review your Income Protection cover and/or speak to a financial adviser.
The Totally Unable to Work Benefit and the Partially Unable to Work Benefit only become payable after the end of the Waiting Period. The only benefits that are potentially payable for an event that occurred during the Waiting Period are the Bed confinement Benefit and the Death Benefit.
The Totally Unable to Work Benefit and the Partially Unable to Work Benefit are paid monthly in arrears after the Waiting Period ends. For example, if you have a 4 week Waiting Period, the first monthly benefit will be paid to you around the end of the second month from when the Waiting Period started and monthly thereafter (unless we agree to an alternative).
What other benefits does Income Protection include?
Not all benefits, options and sum insured levels are available online.
Totally Unable to Work Benefit
Pays a benefit after the end of the Waiting Period and monthly in arrears if you are Totally Unable to Work because of a Sickness or Injury.
What does Totally Unable to Work mean? Totally Unable to Work means that solely because of Sickness or Injury, the Life Insured is:
not working in any capacity (this includes fulltime, part-time and casual, whether or not for remuneration);
following the advice and treatment plan of a Medical Practitioner in relation to the Sickness or Injury, and
unable to perform all the duties necessary to generate income in the Life Insured’s Own Occupation (if the Life Insured is able to perform any duties necessary to generate income in their Own Occupation*, they are not Totally Unable to Work).
* If the ‘to age 65’ Benefit Period applies, following the first 24 months of the Claim Period, Own Occupation will be replaced with Any Occupation.
Partial Disability Benefit
Pays a portion of the benefit after the end of the Waiting Period and monthly in arrears if you are Partially Unable to Work because of a Sickness or Injury.
What does Partially Unable to Work mean? Partially Unable to Work means that solely because of Sickness or Injury, the Life Insured is:
Working (whether or not for remuneration) in a reduced capacity or capable of working in a reduced capacity;
Following the advice and treatment plan of a Medical Practitioner in relation to the Sickness or Injury; and
Not capable of working more than 80% of the Life Insured’s usual average working hours in the 12 months immediately before the start of the Waiting Period. The usual average working hours immediately before the start of the Waiting Period will be limited to 40 hours a week (if the Life Insured is working more than 40 hours a week).
Recurrent Claim Benefit
If you become Totally Unable to Work or Partially Unable to Work because of the same or related cause of claim within 12 months from the date the claim was last paid to, we will recommence payments without a further Waiting Period.
Inflation Protection Benefit
Automatically increases the Insured Benefit Amount on the Policy anniversary date by the Indexation Factor to help keep pace with inflation. Your premiums will also increase as a result of the Benefit Amount increasing. You can opt out of this benefit by contacting us.
Bed Confinement Benefit
Pays a benefit if you are Totally Unable to Work and Bed Confined for at least 72 consecutive hours during the Waiting Period.
Waiver of Premium Benefit
Waives your Income Protection premiums when the Totally Unable to Work Benefit or Partially Unable to Work Benefit is payable.
Death Benefit
If the Life Insured dies, we will pay $10,000. If you receive any death benefits from other income protection cover with TAL, these amounts will reduce the death benefit paid under this Policy.
This benefit will not be paid if the death arises directly or indirectly as a result of an intentional, self-inflicted act by the Life Insured:
within 13 months after the Plan start date;
within 13 months after the date of any increases applied for, but only in respect of the increase amount; or
within 13 months after the most recent date we agreed to reinstate the Plan or Policy.
Premium Pause Benefit
Suspend your Income Protection Plan for up to 12 months if you become Unemployed or are on Long Term Leave.
Elective Surgery Benefit
Allows you to make a claim if you are Totally Unable to Work because of undergoing an elective surgery. This benefit is not available within six months of the Plan start date, the date your policy was reinstated or the date of any increase you applied for (but only in respect of the increased portion).
Blood Borne Diseases Benefit
If you are a healthcare professional and you contract a blood borne disease such as HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C and it prevents you from performing Exposure Prone Procedures or you suffer a reduction in income as a result of this, we may assess you to be disabled even if you are physically able to work. The SIS definition of Temporary Incapacity or Permanent Incapacity must be satisfied if Income Protection is structured through superannuation.
What other insurance can I include in my TAL Income Protection plan?
TAL Accelerated protection has a range of Insurances you can include in your Income Protection plan
Life Insurance
Protects your family’s future and gives them options if you are no longer around.
Total and Permanent Disability Insurance
Gives you options to help you live a better quality of life if you are permanently disabled and can't work again.
Critical Illness Insurance
Means you have choices so you can still make the most of life if you have a serious illness.
Why choose TAL?
TAL is a leading Life Insurance specialist
Trusted by over 5 million customers
$4.2 billion in claims paid in 2023/24 FY
Apply for Income Protection Insurance with TAL
Are you eligible for Income Protection Insurance?
To be eligible for TAL Income Protection Insurance, you must be:
Between 18-59 years old (people in certain occupations may be age limited to 54 years old).
A citizen or permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen residing permanently in Australia.
You can be either employed or self-employed, but your work must be for more than 20 to 30 hours per week depending on your occupation.
Note: Only Variable Age-Stepped Premiums are available online. For the alternative premium option (Variable Premiums) and/or a premium illustration, please call 131 825. You can also download our Life insurance premiums key facts for more information.
4 steps to apply for Income Protection Insurance with TAL
- 1
Get a Quote
Use TAL’s online Coverbuilder to get a quick and easy quote. - 2
Chat with Us
One of our consultants will be in touch to help you choose the right cover for you. - 3
Check the Details
Review your quote and the Product Disclosure Statement very carefully to make sure it suits what you need. - 4
Confirm and Pay
Once you’re happy, you’ll confirm and pay. You’ll receive an email with all the details—save all your documents are in case you ever need to make a claim. You’re now covered!
Income Protection FAQs
Your policy can cover up to 70% of your monthly income. You can get a quote for up to $20,000 per month Income Protection cover online. Cover available for ages 19 – 60 (age next birthday) subject to your occupation. For cover up to a maximum benefit of $30,000 please call us on 131 825 or speak to your Financial Adviser.
Life insurance will pay out a lump sum in case of your death or diagnosis with a terminal illness. This lump sum will typically go to one or more beneficiaries who tend to be your spouse or children. Income protection insurance will provide monthly payments in case you are unable to work due to illness or injury, keeping you financially covered while you get back on your feet.
Income Protection Focus covers up to 70% of your income with the choice of a one, two, or five-year benefit period. During your chosen benefit period, the Totally Unable to Work Benefit is payable if you cannot work in your Own Occupation. Your “Own Occupation” means the occupation you were working in immediately before the sickness or injury that caused your disability.
Income Protection Extend covers up to 70% of your income until the age of 65. The claim criteria to be eligible for the Totally Unable to Work Benefit changes if the claim duration exceeds 24 months:
In the first 24 months on claim a benefit is payable if you are Totally Unable to Work in your Own Occupation.
After 24 months on claim, stricter claims criteria apply. The Totally Unable to Work Benefit is only payable if you are Totally Unable to Work in Any Occupation. The Any Occupation assessment is based on your ability to work in a reasonable alternate occupation, after considering your education, training and experience. If you are capable of working in Any Occupation, you will not be entitled to the Totally Unable to Work Benefit but may be eligible for the Partially Unable to Work Benefit.
See examples above or refer to the Income Protection Insurance key facts. Please refer to the PDS or contact us for further information.
Own Occupation means the occupation or business in which you were working immediately before the start of the Waiting Period. If you were Unemployed or on Long Term Leave for more than 12 consecutive months immediately before the start of the Waiting Period, ‘Own Occupation’ will be replaced with ‘Any Occupation’; or Unemployed or on Long Term Leave for less than 12 consecutive months immediately before the start of the Waiting Period, ‘Own Occupation’ means the most recent occupation in which you were working prior to the start of the Waiting Period.
Any Occupation means an occupation that you are suited for after considering your work experience, training, education and transferable skills regardless of whether the work or employment is available. An occupation that you are reasonably suited for includes suitable alternate occupations where upskilling is required, and the training course/program can be completed within 12 months on a full-time basis or 24 months on a part-time basis.
A Waiting Period is the length of time you need to wait between the Date of Disablement (i.e. when you suffered the illness or injury that means you are no longer able to work) and when you will receive income protection benefits. With TAL, you can choose a Waiting Period of 4, 8 or 13 weeks. The length of your Waiting Period is likely to affect your premiums.
When you apply for insurance, your insurer will assess what conditions or pricing should be applied to your policy. This decision will be made based on medical or lifestyle information that you provide and the risks associated for the insurer. Underwriting will ultimately determine how much you will pay in premiums and in some cases whether insurance cover is possible at all.
Before you are covered by TAL, you will need to disclose any health or lifestyle information that could affect the terms for your insurance. This includes disclosing any pre-existing medical conditions, and information around your employment including what your workplace is like and the level of risk you are exposed to. This disclosure will help to determine your premiums and any exclusions that may apply to your policy.
The Benefit Period is how long you will receive regular monthly payments if you claim on your insurance. With TAL, you can choose a Benefit Period of 1, 2, 5 years or up to age 65, meaning you will receive regular income on a monthly basis over this time.
You can be covered by income protection as long as you are working in paid employment for a minimum of 20 to 30 hours per week depending on your occupation—whether you are employed by someone else or self-employed. In fact, Income Protection Insurance can be very valuable if you are self-employed, particularly since you will not be eligible for sick leave from an employer.
Many types of insurance come with a waiting period. This is to ensure that individuals do not take out insurance to cover a pre-existing condition, make the most of their benefit payments and then cancel their cover. This kind of behaviour results in higher premiums for all insurance customers. TAL’s policies offer flexibility so that you can choose a waiting period that suits you.
Income Protection payouts are subject to tax. The first step is to check whether tax has been withheld on your Income Protection monthly payout. Usually if you have received the funds directly from your insurer then the tax will not have been automatically withheld. If tax has not been withheld, then you need to declare any Income Protection payments to the ATO when you complete your annual tax return.
The premiums you pay on Income Protection insurance are usually tax deductible, since they relate to your income. However, premiums on other types of insurance are often not tax deductible. So, if your Income Protection insurance is part of a bundle with other insurance types—like life or trauma insurance—then you will only be able to claim a deduction on the part of the premium that covers Income Protection.
Income Protection Insurance provides valuable peace of mind, removing the financial pressure if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. It is particularly useful if you or your loved ones depend on your monthly income to keep up with household expenses or a home loan. It can also be a suitable option for those who are self-employed and therefore not eligible for employer-funded sick leave.
If you would like to make a claim, please get in touch with a dedicated claims consultant as soon as possible. You can contact TAL via any of the below details:
Post: GPO Box 5380, Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 1800 101 016
Email: claims@tal.com.au
Your claims consultant will work with you to understand you and your individual needs. They’ll explain the steps to take so we can assess your claim, which will involve getting information from you and other sources about the claim event.
Useful links
Claims
What to expect if you need to make a claim and how we can help, every step of the way.
What a claim could look like
Use our handy claim benefits tool with real claims statistics to find out what a claim payment might mean for you.
Health Sense
TAL Health Sense – our prevention program to enhance the health and wellbeing of Australians.
How life insurance can help you
Discover how life insurance offers the flexibility and security to protect what matters most.
Speak to an expert
Our Life Insurance Specialists are here to answer any of your questions.
Any financial product advice is general in nature only and does not take into account any person’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on it, the appropriateness of the advice for any person should be considered, having regard to those factors. Persons deciding whether to acquire or continue to hold life insurance issued by TAL should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). The Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product is also available.
TAL acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and Culture. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and their Elders, past and present.
© TAL Services Limited a Daiichi Life Group Company. "TAL is Australia's leading life insurer" based on Inforce premiums for risk only life insurance policies, NMG Consulting (2022).
Life insurance issued by TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450 AFSL 237848.